Ah, ghee – such a versatile and treasured part of many diets. Let’s delve straight into this. So, in Ayurveda, ghee is generally considered to be ‘cooling’. It has the unique ability to balance all three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, though how you use it matters. Despite being cooling, it also increases digestive fire (agni), which might explain why you feel warmer at night.
How you’re using ghee—with rice, chapatis, dal—it’s actually quite balanced. However, too much too often, especially in someone who already feels ‘heat’, might indeed be why you’re feeling warmer. A spoonful at every meal might be overdoing it if your Pitta (associated with heat) is high. Could be time to cut back just a bit, or maybe mix it with cooling foods like cucumber or mint chutney on hotter days.
And yes, ghee has tons of benefits—helps digestion, nourishes tissues, and even calms the mind. The thing is, that heating or cooling effect depends a lot on your body’s constitution (prakriti) and current balance of doshas. If you’re predominantly Pitta, or if it’s summer, you might want to cool down your usage. But for Kapha or Vata types, ghee’s pretty much always a good addition.
Honestly, there isn’t a strict no-go season, but moderation’s key. Morning use is traditionally very good—on toast or in your porridge, as it starts the digestive fire for the day. Just be sure not to use it too much at night, where excess can become burdensome.
If you’re adjusting how you use it, remember balancing with spices can help. Coriander or fennel seeds are great since they’re cooling, and help reduce potential excessive heat from ghee. And maybe skip the ghee if you’re cooking with fats like coconut oil or olive oil in the same meal.
Try re-evaluating how much you’re including. If cutting it back doesn’t cool you down at night, maybe there another factor at play. But ghee, in itself is a powerful, sattvic food and a truly valuable part of a balanced diet, especially if you get the balance just right.
