Concept of rasa : Ayurveda identifies 6 tastes or 6 Rasa. These 6 ayurvedic tastes play an important role in nourishing body and maintaining states of tridoshas.

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Shadrasa or 6 tastes in ayurveda.

Panchamahabhuta and 6 Tastes or Rasa

Effect of Rasa or 6 tastes on Tridoshas

How foods with these tastes can imbalance body ?

We relish food because of its taste. Rasa means “essence,” “taste,” or “flavour,” “sap” or “juice” in Sanskrit. According to principles of Ayurveda the 5 building elements of universe or Panchamahabhuta are present in all matters. 6 Rasas are not an exception to this. All 6 tastes are made up of 5 elements or panchamahabhuta, out of which 2 elements are predominant.

Here is the list of shadrasa or 6 tastes in ayurveda.

1. Madhura Rasa (Sweet Taste)
2. Amla Rasa (Sour taste)
3. Lavana Rasa (Salt taste)
4. Tikta Rasa (bitter taste)
5. Katu or Ushna Rasa (Pungent taste)
6. Kashaya Rasa (Astringent taste)

When used wisely, foods which contain these tastes energise our body and help to balance tridoshas. Kashaya rasa or Astringent taste provide least energy whereas Madhura rasa or sweet taste provide maximum energy. The energy boosting factor successively increases from Kashaya rasa to Madhura Rasa

Relationship Between Pancha mahabhuta and 6 Tastes or Rasa

As said earlier all 6 tastes contain 5 basic elements or Pancha mahabhuta. But in each taste two basic elements are dominant. This is known as panchabhoutikatwa of rasa. Here goes the list

Vata, Pitta and Kapha are three energetic forces which are main reason for body functions. When these are in balanced condition the body will be devoid of diseases. Any imbalance in these cause diseases.

Effect of Rasa or 6 tastes on Tridoshas

Effect of 6 tastes on VATA DOSHA :

Sweet, Sour and salt tastes alleviate Vata dosha whereas Bitter, Pungent and Astringent tastes increase it

Effect of 6 tastes on PITTA  DOSHA:

Astringent, Bitter and Sweet tastes alleviate Pitta dosha whereas Sour, Salt and Pungent tastes increase it.

Effect of 6 tastes on Kapha  DOSHA:

Bitter, Pungent and Astringent tastes alleviate Kapha dosha whereas Sweet, Sour and  Salt tastes increase it.

Based on individual prakruti or constitution, to keep all tridoshas in balance we have to include foods which contain these tastes (all 6 tastes) in our diet.

How foods with these tastes can imbalance body ?

Example 1:

If you regularly eat foods which are sweet, salty and sour, the Kapha  dosha increases and leads to obesity (sthoulya ) , diabetes (madhu meha ) etc.

If you eat less foods with sweet, salty , sour tastes and more foods which are bitter, pungent and astringent you can reduce body weight and control blood sugar level.

Example 2:

If you regularly eat foods which are sour, salty , pungent the Pitta  dosha increases and leads to acidity, belching and burning sensation etc. (amla pitta)

If you eat less foods with sour, salt, pungent tastes and more foods which are astringent, bitter and sweet you can control the above symptoms.