‘Ayur’ means life and ‘Veda’ means science. Ayurveda was intuitively colonised by someone called Dhanvatari, thousands of years ago.

The six tastes are a key principle in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, which emphasises the importance of including all six tastes (called rasas) in your daily diet for optimal health and well-being. Here is a break down this concept clearly:
The Six Tastes or Rasas in Ayurveda:
Ayurveda posits that food is not just about calories and nutrients, but also about the energetic impact it has on our body and mind. These energetic impacts are categorised into six fundamental tastes:

1. Sweet (Madhura): Examples include grains, fruits, root vegetables, honey, milk.
2. Sour (Amla): Examples include citrus fruits, yogurt, fermented foods, vinegar.
3. Salty (Lavana): Primarily from natural salts.
4. Pungent (Katu): Examples include chili peppers, ginger, garlic, onions, black pepper.
5. Bitter (Tikta): Examples include leafy greens, turmeric, fenugreek, dandelion.
6. Astringent (Kashaya): Examples include legumes, lentils, unripe fruits, tea, pomegranate.

Balanced Intake:
Ayurveda suggests that each of these tastes has specific energetic properties and plays a vital role in nourishing the body and balancing the three fundamental energies or doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha).
Nutritional Completeness from micronutrients: While modern nutrition focuses on macronutrients (carbs, proteins, fats) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), Ayurveda takes a more holistic view. The six tastes are seen as essential for providing a complete spectrum of energetic and physiological effects. Each taste influences digestion, metabolism, and tissue formation in unique ways.
Satiety and Reduced Cravings: Your point about the body “subconsciously feeling it needs to eat more” when certain tastes are missing is a key Ayurvedic concept. When a meal or a day’s diet lacks one or more of these tastes, the body doesn’t feel fully satisfied on an energetic level. This can lead to:
Increased Cravings: The body may crave foods that provide the missing tastes, potentially leading to overeating or unhealthy food choices.

The mind and body has a sense of incompleteness, even if you’ve consumed enough calories, the lack of specific tastes can leave you feeling unsatisfied and wanting more.
Each taste has a specific effect on the three doshas, in summary:
Sweet, Sour, and Salty generally increase Kapha.
Sweet generally decreases Vata and Pitta.
Sour and Salty generally increase Pitta and can aggravate Vata.
Pungent, Bitter, and Astringent generally decrease Kapha.
Pungent generally increases Pitta and Vata.
Bitter and Astringent generally increase Vata and decrease Pitta.

Including all six tastes helps to maintain a balance of the doshas, which is crucial for overall health.
Physiological Benefits: Each taste has specific actions on the body:
Sweet: Nourishing, building tissues, calming.
Sour: Digestive, stimulating, refreshing.
Salty: Hydrating, improving taste, stimulating digestion.
Pungent: Stimulating metabolism, improving circulation, clearing congestion.
Bitter: Detoxifying, light, reducing inflammation.
Astringent (eg apples): Binding, drying, promoting healing.

In Summary:
The Ayurvedic principle of including all six tastes in your daily diet emphasises a holistic approach to nutrition. It goes beyond basic nutrient intake, suggesting that experiencing the full spectrum of tastes is crucial for energetic balance, physiological well-being, and a sense of satiety. When the body doesn’t receive these tastes, it may subconsciously drive you to eat more in an attempt to fulfill this energetic need, potentially leading to imbalances and overconsumption. Exploring reputable Ayurvedic resources and considering a consultation with a practitioner can provide a deeper understanding of this important concept.