Six Tastes In Food - Know Their Impact On Diseases!
The six tastes in food that we know are, Madhur (sweet), Amla (sour),
Lavana (salty), Katu (Pungent), Tikta (bitter) and Kashay (Astringent).
All these six different tastes have got their impact on health. Most of
us eat food to avoid hunger. The most important function of foods, which
people have lost touch with is the fact that foods are medicine.
Most of the diseases usually occur as a result of the imbalance of the rasa in our food. Let us take a look at the six tastes and their effects:
Madhur (sweet) :
When consumed in moderate amount, it helps to promote a strong body and good health. On the other hand, excess amount of madhur rasa in foods leads to kapha disorders like:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Heart diseases
- Hypothyroidism.
If taken a moderate quantity, it is invigorating and very good for the digestive system. Excess usage of amla creates:
- Acidity
- Heartburn
- Ulcers
- Skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis.
Salt, if consumed in moderate amount, this helps to promote growth and maintain water-electrolyte balance. It also helps to improve the digestive system and elimination of wastes. Excess use of lavana ras leads to problems like:
- Hair fall
- Baldnesss
- Thickening of blood
- Impotency
This katu rasa, if taken in moderate amount, helps in digestion and clear up the mouth and sinuses. It also improves blood circulation and breaking up the blood clots.
In excess, it causes problems like:
- Impotency
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Tikta rasa, when consumed in moderate amount, due to its anti-toxic nature, helps to relieve people from heated conditions, skin diseases and also reduction of fat. In excess amount, the problems that arise are:
- Depletes various elements of the body including muscles and bones.
- Creates dryness
- Leads to constipation and impotency.
Kashay rasa possesses the characteristics of cooling, drying and heaviness. When taken in moderation, this helps to absorb water, heals ulcers. Excess amount of Kashay rasa can lead to :
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Increase in constipation
- Circulatory issues.
A proper balance needs to be maintained on a daily basis by consuming the three rasas so that we can stay fit. The three rasas can be put in the diet through having Adarak /ginger, Methi / fenugreek and Haldi / turmeric, as they are the key sources of Katu, Tikta and Kashay Rasa.