Ayurveda relies on taste to understand nutritive values of food and actually, all substances used for healing. Taste indicates whether it is nourishing or depleting to the body. The sense of taste readies the stomach and all bodily tissues to receive and digest properly what has entered. Our bodies naturally provide nutrient identification through the senses, smell, taste, texture...

There are six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent, each having a specific action when consumed. The mouth is the first stage of digestion; salivation and maceration are essential for optimal digestion and nutrient assimilation. While chewing each bite 32 times (Iran and Japan, 52 times), the saliva is serving four functions: lubrication and formation of bolus for downward motion, initial breakdown of nutrients to be homogeneous with stomach acids and increasing sensation of taste.

Sweet

With the taste of sweet, a greater quantity of saliva gathers in the mouth. Sweet taste has this action on the entire body, increasing weight, bulk, coolness and moisture. It is ideal for building all seven bodily tissues of plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and reproductive fluids. Foods dominate in sweet taste are not just those containing processed sugar, but are found in milk, ghee, butter, vegetables such as carrots, beets, sweet potato, squash, in ripened fruit, in most grains, but especially wheat and rice.  In Ayurveda, this is why dessert is taken before other foods, it increases the presence of first stage digestive juices, both in mouth and in stomach.  Try it, one may find they feel more fully satisfied at the end of a meal and through taking dessert first, one may also find less of a tendency to overeat.

Sour

Sour taste, also has the action of nourishing all tissues of the body, with the exception of reproductive tissues. Sour taste by nature is moist, hot and light.  We can experience that when putting a lemon to our mouth: increased salivation, hot as in stinging and swelling with too much lemonade, and light on the digestion. Often sour taste sparks our desire for more. Used in moderation, it stimulates metabolism, circulation, elimination and aids in iron absorption. We find sour taste in citrus fruits, wine, vinegar, pickles, soy sauce, and fermented milk products, to name a few. Try squeezing a bit of lemon on each meal to assist in aiding the body's digestive ability.

Salty

A pinch of salt on the tongue: increased salivation, but also a sense of dryness, thirst and heat. We want a sip of water after that, despite the experience of increased salivation. Salt maintains mineral balance, dilates the channels of circulation and absorption, along with perception of taste. Salt attracts water accumulation, thereby lubricating tissues, while also breaking up mucous; for instance, like gargling with warm salt water when suffering through a sore throat. While gargling, salt acts as an expectorant for mucous build up, while leaving the throat feeling soft and comfortable, instead of dried out. We can witness salt’s digestive effect while cooking. For example, sautéing garlic, onions and carrots, waiting for the right moment to add next ingredients, they are taking forever to cook, but then when salt has been added, suddenly everything is changed. What was dry and rather dull looking, is now bright with colour and juices and cooking time has greatly decreased. Next time you cook, pay attention to what is happening in your cooking pot, it's not that different from what is happening in your stomach.

Pungent

Pungent taste will raise the temperature, along with the temper.  Be careful already fiery folk, you may find yourself snappy after eating too much spice. In small amounts pungent taste increases metabolism, digestion, opens channels, increases circulation and alleviates muscle pain. We find pungent taste in foods and spices like garlic, onions, ginger, black pepper, cayenne, also present in things like wine and pickles. This can have a positive action on increasing blood circulation, but in excess we may begin to see things like high blood pressure and anemia.

Bitter

Bitter taste is light, cooling and dry. When eating all those leafy greens, kale, chard, dandelion, one would have to eat a vast quantity before feeling full, this is due to their light and drying qualities. Some other foods with bitter taste include, coffee, tea, olives, turmeric and fenugreek. A demonstration of bitter being cooling: dandelion broth is often effective in lowering a fever. The bitter taste is a detox agent, having powerful anti-parasitic, anti-septic and anti-biotic qualities. It alleviates fever, rashes, oozing, nausea, water retention and weight. In excess, it will increase dryness in the body, contributing to constipation, dry skin, wrinkles, muscle and joint pain, amongst other imbalances.

Astringent

Astringent taste is the least common of all the six tastes. Biting into an unripe persimmon would be an example of astringent at its best: dry, puckering, chalky. We find astringent taste in pomegranates, asparagus, artichoke, buckwheat, quinoa, legumes and a variety of other foods, although astringent would not be their dominate flavour. Astringent taste has a tightening, cleansing, cooling and toning effect on the body, although not considered as cooling as the bitter taste. 

In the case of vitamins and supplements in pill form, often the taste of the supplement does not match the intended action. If you are taking a supplement for nourishment and vitality, but it is bitter in taste, your body will identify it as depleting and assimilate it as such. This explains the great emphasises by Ayurveda on accessing vitamins and minerals from fresh food by tongue contact, chewing, swallowing.

Ayurveda suggests all six tastes be present in each meal, thereby creating satisfaction and ensuring that each tissue has received its needed nourishment. With this practice, snacking and cravings through the day will greatly decrease and can help effectively manage healthy weight, without crash dieting or feeling deprived. Energy levels and emotional temperament generally became more balanced. Upon understanding food qualities and actions of taste, using food as medicine can be considerably effective.

Uterine prolapse is surprisingly common. Yale Medicine says, “One in four women over the age of 18 report suffering from a pelvic floor disorder, including pelvic organ prolapse.” Many women never speak to a doctor, believing its a normal part of aging or just too embarrassing. It is estimated that 12% of American women will have surgery for pelvic prolapse in their lifetime.

 What is it and how do I know I have it?

Pelvic organ prolapse is when part of the vaginal wall, the cervix or uterus, or the apex of the vagina, start to descend from their natural seat. There may be a sensation of something moving downward or a vaginal bulge, along with urinary, bowel and sexual discomfort, often with pelvic and back pain.

Why does it happen?

A combination of genetics, childbirth, aging and straining due to chronic constipation contributes to the weakening of the pelvic support structures and as a result pelvic prolapse occurs.

Will it happen again after surgery?

Pelvic prolapse is similar to a hernia in the abdominal wall, and may occur again after being surgically repaired.

Tips to help prevent pelvic organ prolapse from an Ayurvedic Perspective: 

-Avoid heavy lifting. The uterus is already fighting gravity and the weight of your organs to stay in place. If you must, use proper lifting posture and hold a Kegel on your way up.

-Prevent and treat constipation.

-Daily diet and exercise, according to the season and your personal physiology.

-Daily Kegel exercises, at least 30 repetitions in one set (try linking it to another established habit to help yourself remember to do it, like getting in bed, plus 30 Kegels).

-Proper postpartum care, rest, digestive foods, body oiling and vaginal oiling.

Given the rise of obesity, surgeries and medications for weight-loss (and subsequent side-effects), I feel an urgency in discussing the topic.

Body type counts. First, we must establish a shared understanding that there are 3 different body types (and endless combinations of those, making our individual physiology even more unique). Health should be defined by if you feel grounded, energetic, enthusiastic, motivated, able… to define correct body weight by a magazine cover or other media, is misleading and sometimes, even dangerous. Honouring our body type is at the core of maintaining health and beauty.

Our bodies are the result of our actions. One of the toughest realities is that our body is the result of our daily choices. If we want a different body, we must change our daily habits. Our habits are often built around maintaining our comfort level mentally and emotionally. Changing our habits can be the catalyst for a storm of irritation and autodefense mechanisms activating within. At first it can feel impossible, but it is like a muscle and it becomes easier through repetition and over time.

Not all reasons for weight gain are the same. Weight gain can be a result of air accumulation, water retention, over-nourishment or a combination of these. This may appear differently for different body types. In the pathology of true obesity, Ayurveda sees it as a blockage in the fat tissue, which prevents nutrients from being fully digested or reaching the bones, the marrow, or the reproductive tissue. Often, those truly struggling with obesity will show thinning hair, brittle bones and may have reproductive issues. Due to the blockage in one of the 7 tissues (a topic for another time), the individual will often have an insatiable sense of hunger, though they appear to be overnourished. This usually requires clinical intervention. In reality, many of us have developed self soothing habits of eating when not hungry and choosing foods that are easy, but not health promoting. No matter which camp you come from, if you would like to lose weight, the following information may help you.

Here are some popular dietary mistakes I see being made during weightloss efforts:

Non-fat foods for the purpose of weightloss, is not going to help.

Our bodies don’t read labels, they digest and assimilate primarily based on taste and texture. Cottage cheese, fat or non-fat, is for gaining and maintaining weight. (I love cottage cheese and I eat it to be sure that I don’t lose weight.) Yogurt is the same, so is milk..dairy products in general are meant to nourish the body, not cleanse and reduce. If your purpose is to lose weight, take a break from dairy products and stay away from overly processed foods (non-fat).

Sugar-free is next. If something tastes sweet, likely, your body is going to identify it as a nourishing ingredient and use it to keep packing on the pounds. There are a few sweet tasting ingredients that are supportive during weight reduction efforts. Honey has a scraping and reducing benefit on the body, but don’t overdo it, it can be heating to some body types and aggravate the skin if one eats too much. Papaya and mangosteen are two fruits that are generally recommended for those suffering diabetes and are considered okay during weight loss efforts.

Shakes or smoothies to help lose weight. Drinking cold, sweet drinks signals nourishment to the body and also slows digestive fire. Highly processed powders are usually disturbing to the system. Even if it's just full of fruit, generally, that does not support weight loss. An exception may be modified fasting, using Ayurvedic smoothie recipes, in the right season.

You’ll have to ditch the wheat products and rice for a time. Both of these are meant to nourish the body. If you’re looking to reduce weight, the baked goods and rice, in most of its forms, will need to be put on pause. There are modifications for consuming these in a less aggravating way, we’ll explore that later.

Eating large portions. Even if we are eating “healthy” foods, portion sizes will need to be reduced to allow our bodies to begin digesting stored fat. Our stomachs are only the size of our fist, we stretch our stomachs by overeating. For optimal support of digestion, eating one part food, one part liquid and leaving one part air, is best.

Eating heavy to digest foods. Pork, beef, sheep, potatoes, mayonnaise, processed packaged foods, cheese, cottage cheese and fruit together or yogurt and fruit together are anti-weightloss.

Eating foods that aggravate water retention in the system, such as,tomato, eggplant, cream sauces, creamy salad dressings, fish, fermented foods and cheese are anti weightloss.

Snacking. It’s important to let ourselves get hungry and it’s okay to be a little uncomfortably hungry sometimes, certainly if you’re suffering from over-nourishment. Often our snacking is psychological, either out of boredom or anxiety. Choosing another pastime with one’s hands can change your relationship with food for the better. Men used to whittle and women used to sew…(I used to whittle by the fire when I was a child..) Simply sitting with our sense of discomfort, without responding or trying to fix, is an incredibly effective self-growth exercise.

Chewing gum. I once thought gum chewing was innocent enough, but then I learned that the release of saliva when chewing gum, plus the sweet taste of the gum travelling to our stomach, demands our digestive system to activate and participate. Over time, this weakens our digestive powers. Rest between meals helps keep digestion strong for when it’s actually time to eat.

And finally, meaningful intervention begins with basics. Get yourself on a schedule, try to eat, exercise, sleep and awake at the same time everyday. Nature works through rhythm; the seasons, the ocean tides, the moon, day and night, we are not separate from nature. When nature loses its rhythm, we get irregular weather patterns, famine and pandemics as a result. Our bodies also begin to lose their ability to self-regulate when we don’t establish and follow a rhythm, both daily and seasonally. This can appear as poor health, low energy and weight gain.

Sleeping at the wrong time can make you fat. Going to bed late can be a cause for unnecessary weight gain. Sleeping regularly between 10pm and 2am supports your body’s ability to heal and regulate. The results on mental and physical health are profound. Sleeping while the sun is up is prescribed to those needing to gain weight. Sleeping after 6am will contribute to gaining weight. If you must nap, sit up slightly and allow only 15 to 30 minutes, maximum.

Vegetables count and not all vegetable consumption is created equal. Consuming raw vegetables can contribute to unwanted air formation in the body, leading to bloating and what can look like weight gain. I suggest roasted or lightly sauteed vegetables, with a small amount of oil and spices, like cumin, black pepper, ginger or coriander. Vegetables should be a significant part of every meal. They are considered to have mild medicinal properties that cannot be gotten through other foods or supplements.

Ditch the packaged, processed foods. These foods tend to hold low nutritional value and leave us still feeling hungry, while contributing to unnecessary bulk in the body when consumed with regularity. Many of the ingredients included in prepared packaged foods would not be recognizable as an edible ingredient when sitting on the table. Switching to fresh, raw ingredients and cooking from scratch will change your life for the better, forever -likely.

Eating late. After sunset, our digestive power significantly reduces and often we go to sleep before digestion has finished. Either have a light meal at sunset or opt for a cup of tea or broth instead. When we sleep with undigested food in our stomach, the digestive process stops and the body shifts its energy to other activities related to sleep. The digestive process doesn’t recommence until we once again awake. This habit, repeated, often leads to unhealthy weight gain.

Cold drinks and foods contribute to weight gain. Think about washing dishes, cold water equals fat sticking to pans and plates, warm/hot water equals fat coming off of plates and dishes with ease. Our bodies are no different. Choosing a warm herbal tea (unsweetened) or at least room temperature water is a more supportive choice in helping our bodies lose weight. Eating frozen desserts does the same thing, if not worse, it slows our digestive capacity and contributes to weight gain with regular consumption.

Save deep fried foods for occasional consumption during winter, when our digestive capacity is stronger.

At least 20 minutes of exercise will need to be a part of everyday. Walking up two flights of stairs or an equivalent hillside each day should be part of your daily exercise. Push yourself to go faster than is comfortable. Breath through your nose. The moment your exertion demands that you breath through your mouth, slow or pause to regain control of your breath and continue breathing through your nose. This is how we build strength, while also helping our bodies maintain healthy weight.

These things may sound difficult in the face of our modernised living, but this is back to basics. Eat real food, keep a schedule, walk as often as possible. Until we have these basics in place, our ability to maintain healthy weight is going to be an uphill battle.

When we talk about hair health we are actually talking about the health of the whole body, mental and emotional system included. Hair is the direct reflection of our bone and reproductive health, which are deeper tissues of the body and are the last to receive nutrients from the food we eat.

It takes 30 days for nutrients to reach our reproductive tissue. We have 7 tissues in the body, each tissue is fed consecutively, one after the other. That means that our reproductive tissue is getting the leftovers of what everyone else has eaten… imagine what that means if you aren’t eating very fresh or nutritious food regularly…

While some supplements and topical hair treatments do support hair health, to get our best hair, we need to examine our diet, digestive fire, exercise routine and check in with our mental/emotional balance.

In Ayurveda, our ability to absorb nutrients from the food we eat depends on the health of our digestive fire. With each season our digestive capacity changes, just as it changes as we age. Our hair health also changes with the seasons and is dependent on our level of nutrient absorption. For example, summer is when Shukra Dhatu (reproductive tissue) is at its lowest strength, due to the qualities of heat and dryness in the season. Following the daily and seasonal suggestions of Ayurveda helps us balance what could be an overwhelming scenario of uncomfortable health symptoms. Basically, Ayurveda will help you keep more hair in the summer and all year round.

Some foods and habits oppose the replenishment of our reproductive tissue, consequentially, contributing to hair fall, greying, poor quality hair or no hair at all. To put it simply, neither the hair on our heads, nor our reproductive tissue, likes too much heat or too much dryness. What’s fun is that not only can the weather be hot and dry, but our thoughts, daily habits, and of course the foods we eat, can also be heating and drying. Ayurveda has a specific therapy designed to replenish and strengthen reproductive tissue, thereby enhancing all the tissues of the body, especially hair. However, many are unable to undergo the therapy, due to weak digestive fire. Previous to receiving said therapy, one must undergo cleansing methods to prepare the digestive fire for optimal absorption. If we don’t respect the need of cleansing before this therapy, we will overload the digestive system and create Aam (toxicity) in the body, which will aggravate everything it can.

While receiving an Ayurveda consultation is ideal during a hair health journey, a place to start is by strengthening your blood quality through adding blood enhancing foods to your diet and cooking in an iron pan. (Remember Iron is reactive and oxidises when acidic foods, like lemon, tomato, or bell pepper are added.) Our blood nourishes and revitalises all of our tissues, when we enhance our blood quality, all our tissues benefit.

Ultimately, if a person is struggling with hair loss, it can suggest a serious underlying health condition and one should speak with their medical physician immediately. What I’ve said here is strictly from an Ayurveda perspective, is for educational purposes only and not meant to treat or diagnose any condition.

I did what I thought was impossible and that’s why I believe you can do it too.

Even though I had been practicing and following Ayurveda for many years, I was losing my hair. I took appointments and tests with doctors and found some important information, but it didn’t change that my hair was still thin, frizzy and falling out. Based on the history of hair regrowth, I thought it doubtful that I would ever have a full head of hair again, but I was wrong.

I wore extensions on and off, and then consistently, as my balding became more apparent. When we relocated to Sicily, my daughter refused to put my extensions back in. She found bald patches where the weight of the extensions had also started pulling out my hair. I was embarrassed and sad, I honestly wondered if my marriage could withstand me wearing a wig after just turning 40. I considered shaving my head and moving forward with the wig purchase, but I knew I hadn’t done everything I could, yet. After all the special attention to my diet, adding carefully chosen herbs, vitamins and minerals, seeing western doctors, and travelling to India for therapy, there were still two things I knew I could do better. One was increasing my daily exercise and the other…well, I had been trying to do it for 20 years.

I’ve always been sensitive to synthetic scents and other ingredients, and to be honest, a little obsessed with the disappointing natural thinness of my hair strand. I had difficulty believing that previous to WWII we had all been walking around with a smelly grease pot for hair. This began my 20 year (on and off) journey to find a truly natural way to care for my hair, while still enjoying the lightness and bounce expected with modern shampoo. Over time, I tried combinations of hair teas, baking soda washes, apple cider vinegar washes, the rinse-only-water washes and more. All with the shared result of needing to use a bottle shampoo to make myself presentable in social situations. I had finally accepted that co-washing (washing only with conditioner) was my best option. Even so, though I used a natural conditioner, made with essential oils and organic ingredients, I still had scalp sores, itchiness and hair fall.

So, back to my arrival in Sicily and my hair changing decision. I set my teeth and told myself that I had a few months at least before my husband decided I was too ugly to keep as a wife. I committed to following traditional Ayurveda hair care methods. I oiled my hair and washed with only Ayurveda’s hair washing herbs. Of course, after a couple weeks of flat greasy hair, I again started asking what secret the queens of the ancient world must have known to keep their hair from the horror that had become mine. I began meditating on all the knowledge I had collected over the years studying traditional medicine and reading western shampoo labels. And I got it!

I finally asked the right question and thanks to Indian and Iranian traditional medicine and beauty secrets, I was able to make a shampoo that was purely of plants, removed oily build up, soothed my scalp, and amazingly, six months after starting the use of my new herbal shampoo, I saw that my hair was growing back. Just as always, Ayurveda did everything it promised.

Now, this was my hair journey. Not everyone will be losing hair for the same reasons and that’s why getting personalised support can make all the difference. Maybe you just need to add an herbal shampoo, like I did. Or maybe you have a “healthy lifestyle”, but it needs to be tailored to you. Even though we may have a daily exercise routine and eat healthy organic food, sometimes its not correct to our personal physiology. Even with healthy foods, vitamins and minerals, nutrient absorption can be blocked. Finding those little gaps and using a multi pronged approach is what, for me, proved the fallacy of, “Hair today, gone tomorrow”. I’d be more than honoured to support you in identifying what’s contributing to the poor health of your hair and getting into the groove with changes to enhance the beauty and fullness of your hair. Let’s get growing with your best hair and as a bonus result, better full body health.