Sweet Taste: Effects on the Mind and Body

The relationship of the six tastes with the health of the body and soul is described in ancient Ayurvedic texts based on the records of Rishis (sages in Hinduism). The sweet taste has been of particular importance in the human diet of all time, but its abuse, like the other five, was already associated with serious negative consequences.

Ayurveda experts recognize the primacy of sweet among all six tastes. David Frawley in his writings writes “from a nutritional point of view, the sweet taste is the most important because it has the highest nutritional value.” Sweetness is the predominant taste of foods made up of the elements Water (ap) and Earth (prthvi). The energy of these elements, which contains a sweet taste, is necessary for health.

Frawley writes about sweet: “Each taste has its own specific therapeutic effect. Sweet taste strengthens all body tissues. It harmonizes the mind and saturates with a sense of contentment, soothes the mucous membranes, acts as a very mild laxative. The sweet taste cools the burning sensation. All these qualities of sweetness support the processes of digestion.” With Subhashu Renaid, Frawley notes: “Sweetness is of the same nature as the body, improving human tissues: plasma, muscles, bones, nerve endings. Sweet taste is also prescribed to nourish the senses, improve complexion, and give vigor. Psychologically, sweetness lifts the mood, gives energy and carries the energy of love.”

In support of the importance of the sweet taste, John Doylard writes: It is the sweet taste that is the key to making a dish not just satisfying, but tasty. On this occasion, Charaka said the following:

Too much sweet taste

Ayurvedic Dr. Doilard, explaining the root of this problem, explains: “The problem is not with sweets as such. Leaving the mind, body and emotions without proper nourishment of all 6 tastes at every meal, we gradually become emotionally unstable. There will be no nutritional foundation, which is necessary to maintain balance during a period of stress. As a result, when mentally or physically weak, a person often tries to balance with too much sweetness. As a rule, not sweet fruits are used, but for example, chocolate, cakes, cakes and so on. . Indeed, sweets, especially simple sugars and simple carbohydrates, can provide solace and mask dissatisfaction, but only for a while. This is confirmed by Dr. Robert Svoboda: “All cravings are originally an addiction to the sweet taste – a taste that creates a sense of satisfaction in ahamkara.” 

Long-term use of white sugar in large quantities exhausts our body’s ability to properly digest it. This in turn leads to hypersensitivity to sugar and aggravates Vata dosha.” 

Since the Charaka Samhita, it has been found that overindulgence in habits and foods that aggravate Kapha dosha. This can lead to prameha – known as Ayurvedic diabetes, in which excessive urination occurs. Modern Ayurvedic practitioners warn: “Too much sweets are harmful to the spleen. The sweet taste creates heaviness by blocking the channels, which increases Kapha and decreases Pitta and Vata.”

Ayurvedic philosophy defines the mind as existing in the subtle or astral body. Frawley describes it as “the finest form of matter; the mind is easily agitated, disturbed, upset, or distracted. He is able to react sharply to momentary events. In fact, there is nothing more difficult than mind control.

In evaluating the effect of sweet taste, it is necessary to understand both the physical and mental constitution. Out of balance, the mind brings problems both emotionally and physically. Unhealthy eating habits lead to disorder, causing addiction. According to Mark Halpern, “The greatest amount of prana and prana vayi enters our body through the mouth and nose. Imbalance of prana vayi causes chaos in the head, which gives rise to excessive destructive thoughts, fear, anxiety, nervousness.

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