The Ghaani Journal
Honest reading on oil, food & wellness
What refining really does, how Ayurveda reads your body, and how to use every oil we press — written plainly, no jargon.
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The first Diwali almost began with a fire: Bharat’s story from the Ramayan
On the last evening of Ram’s fourteen years in exile, his brother Bharat stood before a fire, ready to keep a promise. This is the story behind the first diyas of Diwali, told from Valmiki’s Ramayan, Kamban’s Tamil Ramayan and Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas.
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Vitamin E foods: which cooking oils have the most vitamin E
The top vitamin E foods are wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, almonds, and sunflower and safflower oils. Here are NIH and USDA figures, how...
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Expeller pressed vs cold pressed vs solvent extracted oil
Expeller pressed vs cold pressed: the first means no solvent, not low heat; the second should mean both. Solvent extraction uses hexane and is...
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Calories in 1 tbsp of oil: every common oil compared
There are about 120 calories in 1 tbsp of oil, whichever oil you choose, because every oil is almost pure fat. Here are the...
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Oil for joint pain in winter: what warm oil massage can and cannot do
There is no magic oil for joint pain, but warm oil massage is a much-loved winter comfort. Here is what the tradition holds, what...
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Face massage with oil: the Ayurvedic way, step by step
A face massage with oil takes five quiet minutes in the Ayurvedic tradition. Here is which oil suits your skin, each stroke step by...
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Ubtan and udvartana: the Indian body scrub, done gently
Ubtan is the gram flour and turmeric paste of Indian weddings; udvartana is its classical Ayurvedic cousin. Here is how to make and use...
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Does oiling cause hair fall or dandruff? Myth vs fact
Oiling does not make hair fall out, but heavy oil left on a dandruff-prone scalp can make flaking worse. Here is what really causes...
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Best oil for baby massage: is mustard oil a good choice?
The best oil for baby massage is plain, unscented and mild. Here is what newborn studies found on mustard, sunflower, coconut and sesame oil,...
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Does jaggery contain iron? The anaemia myth, checked
Does jaggery contain iron? Yes, a little: a typical piece gives about 3% of a day's need, along with plenty of sugar. Here are...
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Flaxseed oil with quark or cottage cheese: the German way
Flaxseed oil and cottage cheese, or quark, is an old German pairing: fresh linseed oil over creamy quark with jacket potatoes. Here is how...
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How to use body oil: damp skin, dry skin and which oil
How to use body oil: press it onto damp skin within minutes of a warm shower. Here is how much to use, how oil...
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