What are six tastes (Rasas) of Ayurveda?

The food taste should be optimized to nourish body and mind, and avoid accumulating toxins. The taste starts with reaction of foods to taste buds on the tongue and continues through digestive juices in the stomach
The foods tastes are called 'Rasa'. There are six tastes: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter, and Astringent. A 'complete meal' should consist of all the six tastes, the amount varies for a proper balance to meet individual needs to achieve and maintain good physical mental and spiritual health. The foods in a meal should be eaten in an orderly fashion starting with sweet: sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter, and finally astringent

Sweet Sour and Salty Tastes

In moderation, this group helps calm down nerves, add flavor to food increase appetite and digestion, maintain and build body tissue. Lack of this group may cause anxiety, trembling, phobias, dryness, insomnia, underweight, gas, bloating, constipation, and lack of energy. In excess, this group can lead to weight gain, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Bitter Astringent and Pungent Tastes

These tastes are used to counter or balance the impact of sweet sour and salty tastes. In other words, they help alleviate weight gain, high cholesterol diabetes and high blood pressure caused by excessive use of sweet sour and salty tastes. This group of tastes reduces our craving to eat foods.

Sweet Bitter and Astringent Tastes

This taste group helps with irritability, and anger, skin eruptions, colitis, heartburn, premature gray hair, and chronic inflammation can lead to heart diseases, cancer, and arthritis.

Sweet (Madhura)

Sweet foods help build body tissues (blood, fat, muscle, bones), make us feel us feel content and satisfied emotionally and physically. Creates a soothing feeling.
In excess, it may cause loss of appetite, make feel dull and drowsy, build toxins and lead to tumors obesity edema and diabetes
Whole grains (Wheat, Rice, Rye, Barley, Corn). Grains should be cooked. Processed grains are not recommended,
Simple Carbohydrates (Raw Sugar, Honey, Jaggery, Molasses, Maple syrup). Refined sugar is not recommended.
Root vegetables such as: Beets, Potatoes, Yams, Carrots. Vegetables should be cooked
Non-fermented dairy milk products (Milk, Cream, Khoya, Butter Ghee)
Fresh sweet fruits, Dried fruits (Raisins, Dates)
Meats, Nuts

Sour (Amla)

Adds flavor to foods, improve appetite and digestion, increase blood circulation, add fluid retention.
In excess, it causes stomach acid, ulcers and perforation in stomach lining, burning sensation in throat chest, urinary tract infection. Excessive fermenting foods can cause skin inflammation, acne, eczema, boils.
Souring agents (Tamarind, Citric acid, Amchoor, Lime juice, Vinegar, Amla)
Fermented and curdled dairy milk products (Yogurt, Cheese, Buttermilk, Sour cream)

Citric fruits (Lime, Lemon, Grapefruit)

Fermented foods (Idli, Dosa, Sauerkraut, Tempeh, Kim-chee, Wine ,Beer, Alcohol). Alcoholic beverages are not recommended.
Pickles

Leafy vegetables, Tomatoes

Fish

Salty (Lavana)

Salty food adds flavor, improve appetite. It starts digestive enzymes (flow of saliva, and stomach enzymes), maintain metabolism, hydrates body, cleanse body. I has laxative effect and lessens spasms and pain in the colon. It helps to maintain electrolyte balance
In excess, it may cause hypertension and hyperacidity, water retention edema and bloating, skin disorders (skin eruptions, wrinkles, baldness)

Salts (Table salt, sea salt, Rock salt, Kala Namak, Pickling salt, Kosher salt).
Pickles, Chutney, Soya sauce

Seafood, seaweed, kelp

Bitter (Tikta)

Bitter taste helps tone organs, detoxify, reduce bloating, purify blood. It helps relieve burning sensation, and itching. It is good for liver. It may help lower blood glucose level. It may relieve intestinal gas. It balances out sweet and salty tastes.
In excess, it may damage heart, it depletes tissue and it is anti-aphrodisiac. It may deplete blood plasma, bone marrow and semen.
Karela (Bitter gourd), Dark Leafy Greens (Mustard greens, Spinach), Mooli (Indian white raddish)
Turmeric, Aloe Vera, Nettle, Basil, Tulsi, Golden seal, Lemon rind, Barley, Fenugreek seeds.
Dark bitter chocolate, burdock root, dandelion and goldenseal. Coffee, Lettuce, Pomegranates

Astringent (Kashai)

Astringent taste makes your mouth feel dry and puckered. It reduces secretions, particularly sweating. Purifies blood, helps digestion, decrease diarrhea, heal ulcers, reduce body tissue. Improves tone up by drying excess water in body. Reduces oiliness
In excess, it creates gas, heart spasm, constipation, depletion of sperm cause dryness and thirst.
Un-ripened fruits (apples, bananas)
Pomegranates, Cranberry

Turmeric Coriander
Dried beans such as Dal Chickpeas, and products as Tofu. Mangori
Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Potatoes. Alfalfa Sprouts, Mung sprouts, Okra, Cilantro

Pungent Hot (Katu)

It improves digestion, helps absorb nutrients, stimulate blood circulation, kill parasites and help with passing feces. It helps increase metabolism and lose weight.
In excess, it may cause heart burn, peptic ulcers, sexual debility, fainting and fatigue.
Ginger, Radishes, Onions, Garlic, Chili peppers, Asafetida

Hot and spicy foods

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