Six Tastes-Why is it that we reach for certain foods

We all grab for certain foods when we feel hungry. Have you ever thought about why we choose certain foods over others?  One of the reasons is due to the taste.  There are 6 different tastes that the tongue can distinguish between.  They are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent.   These six tastes according to Ayurveda are a combination of the 5 elements in nature just as the body is made of these 5 elements as well.  Our bodies naturally try to balance any imbalances occurring in the body through these tastes. For example if someone is suffering from a vata disorder such as insomnia or anxiety they might naturally go for sweet or salty foods to balance the vata dosha. This is because the sweet taste is a combination of earth and water elements which is grounding for air and ether predominant concerns. 

Let’s take another example.

When we talk of pungency we are referring to spicy.  For example-garlic, ginger, onions, chili pepper.  These foods have the quality of being heating.  Due to its heating nature a pitta individual would want to avoid these foods whereas a kapha person would benefit greatly.  Someone with obesity or mucous congestion would benefit because pungent foods are invigorating and help to flush out the tissues whereas someone with an ulcer or any other pitta condition would be aggravated by these foods. 

In this way it can be interesting to assess the diet and discover the imbalances that are created. The most important thing to keep in mind is that all 6 tastes at each meal can be very balancing and leave one feeling very satisfied.

The VATA TYPE

Are you the type that suffers from insomnia, worries constantly, experiences constipation, has frequent spells of forgetfulness or just can’t seem to follow a routine? If yes, it is the Vata dosha that is out of balance.

 

According to Ayurveda the elements existent in nature such as water, earth, fire, air, and ether are existent within us.  Therefore, the vata dosha consists of the air and ether elements governing all movement in the mind and body.  This includes blood flow, breathing, and movement of thoughts across the mind.  The key qualities of vata include dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile and clear. This gives a good foundation for the necessity of therapies that are beneficial for soothing the vata dosha; specifically abhyanga and shirodhara- two ancient time-honored techniques have tremendous therapeutic value.

 

Both treatments are grounding and warming which is exactly what balances vata- opposite of cold and mobile. 

 

Abhyanga is a specific type of massage technique that can be performed by another individual in a therapeutic setting or as a self-massage as part of a daily morning activity prior to showering.  Essential oils may be used in a base of sesame oil that is warmed slightly.  This massage stimulates both arterial and lymphatic circulation, enlivening and revitalizing the body. 

 

Shirodhara is one of the best forms of calming the mind and achieving a deep state of inner silence.  It is becoming one of the most popular Ayurvedic treatments in the United States. The word Shirodhara translates into shiro meaning head and dhara meaning stream.  This treatment involves a continuous stream of warm oil poured on the third eye. It is very beneficial whenever the mind is over stimulated mostly in the case of vata imbalances.

 

There is of course many other avenues such as diet, exercise and herbs that lead to the healing of vata imbalances but these two therapies have proven to have very good results with the Vata individual.  

A time to unleash that creativity that lies dormant!

As we move into the holiday season it is the vata season that predominates. Holidays are a time when that challenge comes to slip out of the routine of life and slip into that space in which one can reconnect with oneself. Why oneself? Because if we cannot give to ourselves and connect with our spirit, how can we connect to another’s during this loving time of gathering with our loved ones.

How do we accomplish this? We begin by gifting ourselves by taking care of one’s own health during this stressful time where the ayurvedic dosha (vata) can begin to accumulate. In order to balance this vata we must engage in vata pacifying activities such as finding time to meditate and breath deeply daily, giving yourself a warm sesame oil massage, and taking a pinch of grated ginger and lime juice prior to digesting a heavy meal. We must then give to others by unleashing that creative side in each one of us that allows us to shine which is a healing trait for vata individuals. It is up to us to break out of the mundane routine of gift buying and begin to become creative: not only in our gift ideas but also in creating space in our minds to forgive those who have hurt us in the past and in creating new intentions for the new year that is on its way.

Ayurzona – Dr. Purnima Mehta, M.D., – What it means to heal

 

This is the General Overlay, written by Dr. Prunima Mehta, M.D. for Ayurzona. It gives you an insight into what it takes to have emotional healing. These words are recited from her heart, as a healer, and they really capture the essence of Dr. Purnima Mehta.   

Any present emotional difficulty or concern you might have is a manifestation of emotional pain. Pain is a natural response to hurt. Psychological or emotional pain is the mind and body’s way of signaling to us that there are wounds or hurts in our mind stored at a cellular level that need identification, clarification and understanding. It is a natural human tendency to build walls around these wounds to protect ourselves. These walls disconnect us from others, but most of all from ourselves and our essence and spirit. The spirit, our unwounded self, aligns us with our purpose in life. Purpose provides us with joy, energy, zest and meaning. It connects us to ourselves at the deepest level and empowers us to experience love, for ourselves, an essential ingredient for the recipe of life. Walls can be flexible or rigid. They become habit patterns and largely out of our immediate awareness, guarding those old buried, open wounds with a sentinel eye. My work involves helping identify walls, understanding their function, respecting & honoring their protective need value, simultaneously, those old buried hurts and wounds surface gently and gradually, reliving them in the context of a safe relationship and exploring it once again only to be let go. This can be somewhat uncomfortable but this allows the walls to diminish and be replaced with new and empowering protective skills. Letting go promotes further healing and makes us feel whole and connected, experiencing ourselves in new ways. Healing involves understanding, awareness and letting go.

GETTING BACK INTO ROUTINE USING AYURVEDA!

Summer is a time when many individuals especially kids are on a break from school. This may result in falling out of routine, traveling/vacationing abroad with family, eating out,  and possibly many late nights.  As one moves from the summer season, also known as pitta season, into fall, the vata season, one starts to notice changes.  Not only climactic/ external environmental changes but also internal shifts in mind, body, and spirit.  Ayurvedically vata is made up of space and air elements and governs movement of all kinds while pitta is made up of water and fire elements and governs digestion and transportation. As this vata season comes into effect kids have already built up their vata during the vacation by traveling and irregular schedules therefore having to balance it even more.  It is a blessing that school starts up and gets kids back into routine which is great for grounding them.  In addition to school following are some tips for parents to keep in mind while kids begin to slip back into the groove and balance their increased vata dosha.  

Signs that vata is out of balance:

• Mind- inability to stay focused
• Body- trouble falling asleep
• Spirit-emotions such as fear, worry, anxiety

TIPS to balance Vata:

·        Eating warm cooked meals and staying away from raw cold foods

·        Getting to bed on time, starting to wind down around 8:30-turning the computer and TV off

·        Getting into a regular routine involving after school activities and homework

·        Lot of hugs- sense of touch balances vata

·        A warm glass of milk before bedtime with nutmeg and cardamom

 

Meghana Thanki ND (Naturopathic Physician)

480-229-8047 is the co-founder of Ayurzona coming soon to Old Scottsdale.

doctormeghanand@gmail.com