DESCRIPTION
SIX TYPES OF TASTES ARE DESCRIBED IN AYURVEDA |
||
|---|---|---|
| Taste (Ras) | Elements | Dosha Description |
| Sweet | Earth + Water | Increases Kapha, Decreases Vata and Pitta. (Increases Weight) |
| Sour | Earth + Fire | Increases Kapha and Pitta, Decreases Vata. (Increases Weight) |
| Salt | Water + Fire | Increases Kapha and Pitta, Decreases Vata. (Increases Weight) |
| Pungent | Air + Fire | Increases Vata and Pitta. Decreases Kapha. (Decreases Weight) |
| Astringent | Earth + Air | Increases Vata. Decreases Kapha. (Decreases Weight) |
| Bitter | Air + Space | Increases Vata. Decreases Kapha and Pitta. (Decreases Weight) |
SWEET |
|
|---|---|
| Nourishes body, builds muscles. | |
| Calms the sense organs. | |
| Good for eyes and brain. Improves memory power. | |
| Cool (Sheeta), Increases weight (Snigdha), Hard to digest (Guru). | |
SOUR |
|
|---|---|
| Improves digestion. | |
| Nourishes the body. | |
| Strengthens sense organs. | |
| Boosts testosterone, Decreases laziness. | |
| Hot (Ushna), Increases weight (Snigdha), Hard to digest (Guru). | |
SALT |
|
|---|---|
| Improves digestion. | |
| Increases water retention in the body. | |
| Piercing (Tikshna): reaches all corners of the body easily. | |
| Excision: Breaks down the food particles. | |
| Hot (Ushna), Increases weight (Snigdha), Hard to digest (Guru). | |
PUNGENT |
|
|---|---|
| Improves digestion. | |
| Decreases water retention in the body and muscle growth. | |
| Decreases sexual interest and performance. | |
| Strengthens sense organs. | |
| Good for skin. | |
| Hot (Ushna), Decreases weight (Rooksha), Easy to digest (Laghu). | |
ASTRINGENT |
|
|---|---|
| Dries moisture from body (Decreases oiliness from the skin). | |
| Decreases sexual interest and performance. | |
| Decreases urine production. | |
| Not good for heart. | |
| Decreases sputum production. | |
| cool (Sheeta), Decreases weight (Rooksha), Easy to digest (Laghu). | |
BITTER |
|
|---|---|
| Cleans the body. | |
| Kills germs inside the stomach. | |
| Good during fever. | |
| Not good for heart. | |
| Decreases sweating and cholesterol. | |
| Decreases sexual interest and performance. | |
| Produces coolness in the body. | |
| Cool (Sheeta), Decreases weight (Rooksha), Easy to digest (Laghu). | |