In pre-Vedic times, sweet taste was very hard to find. Slowly, as crops and fruits started to be cultivated, there was sweetness everywhere, or in other words, we can say there was life everywhere, as sweetness is an integral part of life.
Why do I need to know about sweet taste?
As we have already discussed that food is at the core of Ayurvedic philosophy, and every food has a unique taste which determines the effects it has on the body and mind. Sweet is the foremost in the order of tastes, as our existence is dependent on it. Our body is made up predominantly of earth and water elements, which is also the constitution of the sweet taste. As like builds like, the earth and water elements in sweet-tasting foods and herbs help in building up the body. On the flip side, excess consumption of this taste will lead to side effects, which are discussed later.
From the modern angle, it can be understood that the building blocks of the body are fats and proteins. Sweet taste includes nourishing foods like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Anything nourishing is always sweet.
What does the sweet taste do to my body?
Sweet taste has been praised in Ayurveda as having the following properties·
Snigdha (Unctuous/greasy),sheet(cold),guru(heavy)
- Promotes growth-that is why we see children have a natural craving for sweets.
- Life-giving – most of the Ayurvedic medicines/foods given to a pregnant lady are sweet. Ants and bees are attracted to sweets as it, to some extent, prolongs their short life span.
- Nourishes the sense organs.
- Enhances energy and complexion.
- Good for skin and hair – In rural India, ladies still apply fresh milk cream on their faces, and the glow on their faces is to be seen to be believed.
- Improves voice quality – Singers like to have anything sweet, like Liquorice,mishri(crystalline sugar).
- Lends stability to body and mind.
- Wound healing properties – purified butter and honey are excellent non-infectious wound healers.
- It pacifies Vata and Pitta doshas, so good for predominantly air and fire personalities.
- Good for dryness, thirst, and burning sensations.
How does it affect my mind?
It gives a feeling of contentment, togetherness, and happiness. By being aware, one can realize these. In excess, it builds up inertia, mental blockages.
Is every sweet thing good for me?
First of all, it is very important to understand that sweet does not include only sugary things in which the taste is very evident. Most of the time it represents a very subtle sweetness, as is seen in milk and milk products, cereals like rice and wheat, lentils like mung (green gram), tubers like potato, and many more.
Once we have an understanding that the idea of sweetness is way beyond sugary taste, it’s also important to pick and choose from the available options.
Ayurveda talks about natural sweets like honey, jaggery, fruits, dairy, cereals, etc. All these have complex carbohydrates, which have a low glycemic index, which means they release sugar very slowly and hence do not exhaust the system.
All the modern-day sweets like refined (white) sugar and cereals have simple carbohydrates and are too strong for regular use, as they have a high glycemic index and overburden the system. They don’t have the above-mentioned qualities of sweet taste
What if I have too much of a sweet taste?
If we consume too much of only the sweet taste, it will lead to
- Obesity
- Suppleness
- Lethargy
- Sleepiness
- Heaviness
- Loss of appetite
- Flabbiness around the neck
All the above can be attributed to the aggravation of the Kapha dosha
How does it affect my lungs?
Sweet taste brings about heaviness by increasing mucus production and causes diseases like cough and asthma.
How does it affect my digestive system?
Sweet taste is heavy to digest, so in excess, it slows down the metabolism and leads to fatty liver, IBS, jaundice, hypothyroidism, and metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, etc.
How does it affect my Kidneys?
It causes stasis and hence accumulation of wastes(urea, creatinine) in the kidneys. It leads to water retention or edema.
How does it affect my circulation?
It increases the body fluids and causes their stagnation, resulting in coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, high blood pressure, deep vein thrombosis, etc.
I take too much sweet. What can I do?
Try to satisfy your cravings for sweet taste by shifting from refined simple sugars to natural complex sugars, which are not addictive.
Bitter and astringent tastes are antidotes for the harmful effects of excess sweet taste, so include salads and raw vegetables in your diet. They open up the blocked channels and increase metabolism.
The aim is to bring the body and mind into balance by choosing the right quantity and quality of sweet.
