Typically, flavour isn’t considered when discussing dietary supplements, especially in the case of pills and tablets. In other instances, products are flavoured (often artificially) to mask certain tastes or non-active ‘filler’ ingredients.
But flavour is an essential component when it comes to our food - yes, to make it taste great and be enjoyable. But is there something more to flavours? Can they enhance biochemical processes in the body?
Taste and flavour play a critical role in Ayurveda and the digestion process, plus there’s a science behind it! Let’s discover more about the importance of flavour in Ayurveda and how it benefits us.
Rasa means taste in Sanskrit. And in Ayurveda, ‘rasa’ holds a wider holistic meaning; it also encompasses ‘experience’, ‘enthusiasm’ and ‘essence’. This does resonate when you think of the enjoyment of a wholesome meal with loved ones.
In Ayurveda, there are six identified tastes – Sweet, sour, salty, pungent, astringent and bitter. When in balance and not in excess, each rasa not only feeds our body, but also our minds, senses and spirit. It is recommended to include a combination of these different tastes to maintain a healthy digestive system and general well-being.
Sweet
Sweet flavours are comforting and nourishing; they cultivate compassion and they provide energy, strength and vitality. Dates, ripe bananas, oats, coconut, ripe berries, mango, sweet potato, honey and Ceylon cinnamon are examples of sweet flavours.
Sour
The sour rasa helps to enhance one’s appetite and digestion. Sour notes increase the secretion of saliva, gastric secretions and digestive enzymes to aid the breakdown of foods, and stimulate the metabolism. In the sour food category are citrus fruit, tomatoes, yoghurt and fermented foods.
Salty
Salty flavours are warming and improve the nervous system and digestion by supporting the absorption and assimilation of nutrients. Salty foods like rock salt, seaweed, olives and soy sauce help to maintain the water-electrolyte balance in the blood.
Pungent
The pungent rasa is effective in stimulating digestive fire and blood circulation. Intense in flavour, it is deeply penetrating and helps the body detoxify. Most herbs & spices contain pungent properties including black pepper, ginger and clove; while other foods include garlic, onion, leeks and buckwheat.
Astringent
The astringent flavour is grounding and tends to promote healing and muscle tone. Astringent foods include most beans, red wine, parsley, avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, walnuts and asparagus.
Bitter
Cooling in nature, the bitter rasa helps to absorb nutrients, purify the blood and is considered deeply cleansing to the body. Examples of bitter foods include dark leafy greens, celery, eggplant, turmeric, sesame, coffee and dark chocolate.
How flavour helps digestion
We commonly hear the old adage, ‘we are what we eat’. But to be more precise – ‘we are what we absorb’. Although we eat a variety of foods, our bodies may not fully absorb all the nutrients and thereby truly benefit from them.
Recent research studies have revealed that taste receptors are not only found in the oral cavity. They are widely distributed in other organs and tissues of the body, including the stomach, intestines, liver, brain, kidney and pancreas, and form a large chemosensory system. Therefore, taste doesn’t end in the mouth, but continues to play a role in signalling the digestive tract to secrete specific enzymes for proper digestion.
Flavour in BOTANISTRY organic health supplements
What is unique about BOTANISTRY Blends is they were mindfully formulated through Ayurveda with both function and flavour in focus. Flavour was not an afterthought, but very much a part of the formulation and purpose of each powder blend. Sweet, sour and bitter flavours found in herbs & spices as in BOTANISTRY Blends help the digestive process, informing the body to be better prepared to break down what is consumed.
Only 100% natural plant ingredients are blended for BOTANISTRY Ayurvedic supplements. They are pure and unadulterated, without any additives, flavourings, sweeteners, binders, fillers, etc. It has been found that dried herbs & spices are more potent than their fresh counterparts. In addition, the stronger the aroma, the fresher and better quality the ingredient. Premium grade plant ingredients are harvested specifically for BOTANISTRY Blends. This all means the powders are powerful in function and flavour to benefit you.
Experience the benefits of function and flavour in Ayurveda through BOTANISTRY Blends.
But flavour is an essential component when it comes to our food - yes, to make it taste great and be enjoyable. But is there something more to flavours? Can they enhance biochemical processes in the body?
Taste and flavour play a critical role in Ayurveda and the digestion process, plus there’s a science behind it! Let’s discover more about the importance of flavour in Ayurveda and how it benefits us.
Rasa means taste in Sanskrit. And in Ayurveda, ‘rasa’ holds a wider holistic meaning; it also encompasses ‘experience’, ‘enthusiasm’ and ‘essence’. This does resonate when you think of the enjoyment of a wholesome meal with loved ones.
In Ayurveda, there are six identified tastes – Sweet, sour, salty, pungent, astringent and bitter. When in balance and not in excess, each rasa not only feeds our body, but also our minds, senses and spirit. It is recommended to include a combination of these different tastes to maintain a healthy digestive system and general well-being.
Sweet
Sweet flavours are comforting and nourishing; they cultivate compassion and they provide energy, strength and vitality. Dates, ripe bananas, oats, coconut, ripe berries, mango, sweet potato, honey and Ceylon cinnamon are examples of sweet flavours.
Sour
The sour rasa helps to enhance one’s appetite and digestion. Sour notes increase the secretion of saliva, gastric secretions and digestive enzymes to aid the breakdown of foods, and stimulate the metabolism. In the sour food category are citrus fruit, tomatoes, yoghurt and fermented foods.
Salty
Salty flavours are warming and improve the nervous system and digestion by supporting the absorption and assimilation of nutrients. Salty foods like rock salt, seaweed, olives and soy sauce help to maintain the water-electrolyte balance in the blood.
Pungent
The pungent rasa is effective in stimulating digestive fire and blood circulation. Intense in flavour, it is deeply penetrating and helps the body detoxify. Most herbs & spices contain pungent properties including black pepper, ginger and clove; while other foods include garlic, onion, leeks and buckwheat.
Astringent
The astringent flavour is grounding and tends to promote healing and muscle tone. Astringent foods include most beans, red wine, parsley, avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, walnuts and asparagus.
Bitter
Cooling in nature, the bitter rasa helps to absorb nutrients, purify the blood and is considered deeply cleansing to the body. Examples of bitter foods include dark leafy greens, celery, eggplant, turmeric, sesame, coffee and dark chocolate.
How flavour helps digestion
We commonly hear the old adage, ‘we are what we eat’. But to be more precise – ‘we are what we absorb’. Although we eat a variety of foods, our bodies may not fully absorb all the nutrients and thereby truly benefit from them.
Recent research studies have revealed that taste receptors are not only found in the oral cavity. They are widely distributed in other organs and tissues of the body, including the stomach, intestines, liver, brain, kidney and pancreas, and form a large chemosensory system. Therefore, taste doesn’t end in the mouth, but continues to play a role in signalling the digestive tract to secrete specific enzymes for proper digestion.
Flavour in BOTANISTRY organic health supplements
What is unique about BOTANISTRY Blends is they were mindfully formulated through Ayurveda with both function and flavour in focus. Flavour was not an afterthought, but very much a part of the formulation and purpose of each powder blend. Sweet, sour and bitter flavours found in herbs & spices as in BOTANISTRY Blends help the digestive process, informing the body to be better prepared to break down what is consumed.
Only 100% natural plant ingredients are blended for BOTANISTRY Ayurvedic supplements. They are pure and unadulterated, without any additives, flavourings, sweeteners, binders, fillers, etc. It has been found that dried herbs & spices are more potent than their fresh counterparts. In addition, the stronger the aroma, the fresher and better quality the ingredient. Premium grade plant ingredients are harvested specifically for BOTANISTRY Blends. This all means the powders are powerful in function and flavour to benefit you.
Experience the benefits of function and flavour in Ayurveda through BOTANISTRY Blends.
