Acharya Vaghbhata says “Fresh butter is vrishya (aphrodisiac), acts as a body coolant, and enhances the complexion of the skin. It is good for eyes, improves digestion, and helps in diseases caused by Vata, pitta, and rakta (blood).”
Table of content
Importance of Butter in Ayurveda,
Health Benefits of Butter – Ayurveda View
Importance of Butter in Ayurveda,
Dictionaries define butter as “a solid emulsion of fat globules, air, and water made by churning milk or cream and used as food”. This milk fat is known as “Navaneeta” in Sanskrit, makkhan in hindi. It is referred as navaneeta in texts of ayurveda too. This is usually made from cow’s or buffalo’s milk. But it can be made from milk of other mammals like sheep, goats, camel etc.
The properties of this fat are explained as follows in ayurveda
Its health benefits are enumerated in “Ashtanga hridaya” the classic ayurvedic book written by Acharya Vaghbhata. Acharya Vaghbhata says “Fresh navaneeta is vrishya (aphrodisiac), acts as body coolant (Sheeta veerya), and enhances the complexion of skin. It is good for the eyes, improves digestion, and helps in diseases caused by vata dosha, pitta dosha, and rakta (blood). Consumption of this fat improves health conditions like hemorrhoids, facial paralysis, and chronic cough”. Ayurveda acharyas recommend butter in Vajikarana Therapy.
Health Benefits of Butter – An Ayurveda View
- Makkhan contains 113% of Vitamin A and is the easily absorbable source of vitamin A.
- This does not contain trans fats.
- The genuine use of navneeta gives a feeling of satiety and reduces food cravings.
- Its short and medium-chain fatty acids are burned quickly in the body to liberate energy.
- This fat is a good source of dietary cholesterol which is rich in antioxidants and protects the heart. The antioxidants prevent the damage caused by free radicals.
- The short and medium-chain fatty acids of makkhan boost immunity and have anti-tumor properties.
- This is a good source of vitamin K2 which prevents tooth decay and builds strong bones.
- According to ayurveda this fat increases sperm count and is the best natural remedy for erectile dysfunction in men.
- Texts of Ayurveda consider this fat as of medicinal value when prepared from the milk of cow, buffalo, and sheep. The health benefits of this dairy fat are very well explained in Ayurveda.
Cow Butter Benefits
Navneeta prepared from cow’s milk has the following medicinal properties.
- It acts as a body coolant.
- This nourishes body tissues and increases body energy levels.
- The complexion of the skin and strength of the body increases when this fat made from cow’s milk is consumed.
- It increases appetite.
- It alleviates Vata dosha and pitta dosha.
- Very effective in piles or hemorrhoids.
- Reduces cough.
- Elderly people and infants are benefited from this. It acts like an elixir when administered to infants and the elderly.
- Mix pure turmeric powder with the butter prepared from cow’s milk. This mixture when massaged on the body enhances fairness, eases wrinkles, and prevents dry skin. This can be used for babies too
Buffalo Butter Benefits
Makkhan prepared from buffalo’s milk has the following medicinal properties
• It increases Vata and Kapha.
• this fat prepared from buffalo’s milk is heavy to digest.
• Consumption of this alleviates pitta, burning sensation, and tiredness.
• It increases the quality and quantity of semen. ( increases sperm count and motility)
• Body fat or medha dhatu gets increased by consuming this regularly.
Sheep Butter Benefits
Navaneeta prepared from sheep’s milk alleviates Vata, pitta, and Kapha and is superior to all other types.
Sheep milk is a treasure of nutrients. It is richer in vitamins A, B, and E, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium than cow milk. The chains of fatty acids in sheep milk have many health benefits. They have little effect on the blood cholesterol level of humans. It is easy to digest the fat portion of sheep milk.
Is Butter Really Bad?
This fat was a staple dietary ingredient for ages. It was being used by many cultures. But all who used this in those times remained healthy and fit. But why has this fat is being pushed aside as saturated fat in the recent past? A study showed that between 1920 and 1960, the use of butter by Americans reduced from 18 pounds per person per year to 4 pounds, but still, the incidences of heart diseases have increased by leaps and bounds. How will they conclude that this fat is the cause of heart diseases?
After 1960 many companies started manufacturing bread spreads using margarine, mono-unsaturated fats, and poly-unsaturated fats which are considered heart-healthy. But these spreads contained “trans fats” (Trans fats are unsaturated fats that are uncommon in nature but can be created artificially and detrimental to heart health). These spreads, fast foods, and sedentary lifestyles increased the incidences of heart diseases.
According to new research by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Enjoying full-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, and butter is unlikely to send people to an early grave,[1] .
The study, published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found no significant link between dairy fats and cause of death or, more specifically, heart disease and stroke — two of the country’s biggest killers often associated with a diet high in saturated fat. In fact, certain types of dairy fat may help guard against having a severe stroke, the researchers reported.
How much butter is better?
How much of this fat should I eat a day? This is the question everyone rise. Saturated fats should be limited to 7% of the total daily calorie intake. According to this, we can consume 20 gms or 3 teaspoons of makkhan per day. The Thumb rule is never to use ghee or vanaspati or any other saturated fats when you consume this dairy fat. Exercise well to help the body to utilize this healthy fat to its full extent. Limit your calorie intake by shunning the use of refined flour, sugars, and oily foods. Fresh navaneeta prepared at home gets a thumbs up. Immense benefits can be reaped by using raw makkhan made from pastured cows. Butter is always better because it is a natural saturated fat.
Health Note:
• If you have atherosclerosis, heart disease, high cholesterol ( hypercholesterolemia) in the upper range 200-239 mg/dL, or high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia), the American Heart Association recommends a maximum daily limit of 200mg of dietary cholesterol and advises no more than 7 percent of calories be eaten in the form of saturated fat.
• A new study shows that exposure to a chemical called diacetyl, a component of artificial butter flavoring, can be harmful.
(Whats App Dr.Savitha Suri @+ 91 6360108663/ to know more about ayurvedic treatments and remedies )
Author: Dr.Savitha Suri , Consultant Ayurvedic Physician
Call us at +91 9945995660 / +91 9448433911
Whats App + 91 6360108663/
