At weddings and other big and small occasions, a feast is arranged and many kinds of dishes are served. I have noticed that from small children to elders, many people eat a sweet in the very first bite.
Why is this tradition followed? Is starting a meal with sweets good for health? What does Ayurveda say about the order of dishes in a meal? What should people with diabetes or weight problems keep in mind?
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Direct answer: Ayurveda describes taking the Madhura (sweet) taste at the start of a meal, because it is heavy and digests well when hunger is strong. But that is for a “small amount”. People with diabetes, excess weight or Kapha problems should take very little sweet.
The Ayurvedic view
According to Ayurveda a meal has six Rasas (tastes): Madhura (sweet), Amla (sour), Lavana (salty), Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent). Some texts also suggest an order: sweet and heavy at the start, sour and salty in the middle, and pungent, bitter, astringent and light at the end. The reason is that at the start of a meal Agni (digestive power) is strongest and can digest heavy food. The sweet taste calms Vata and gives satisfaction to the mind.
The old custom of taking a morsel of ghee and rice at the start of a meal is also based on this principle.
Caution
- Today’s sweets are made with sugar and refined flour and are often fried, so they are very heavy; “a little” truly means a little.
- Taking many sweets, savouries and heavy dishes together at a feast causes indigestion, acidity and lethargy.
- With diabetes it is better to start with salad, dal or vegetables; avoid sweets or take a very small amount.
Tips for a healthy feast
- Eat only about three quarters of your hunger; not to the full.
- Sit calmly and chew well.
- Walk a little after eating; no sleep right away.
- Buttermilk (in the daytime) after the meal is good for digestion.
Medicine
If indigestion occurs after a heavy feast, digestive remedies such as Hingvashtak churna or ginger-lemon are considered useful in Ayurveda. The right medicine, dose and duration will be decided by the Vaidya after examining your condition.
When to see a doctor?
- Repeated burning or pain in the chest after meals
- In diabetes, sugar rising very high after a feast
- Vomiting, severe abdominal pain
Related Questions
Why are six tastes needed in a meal?
According to Ayurveda the six tastes nourish body and mind in a balanced way.
Is it right to eat sweets after a meal?
According to Ayurveda, heavy sweets at the end make digestion heavier; a little at the start is more suitable.
What should a person with diabetes eat at a feast?
Salad, dal, vegetables and roti; very little sweets, rice and fried food.
In short: According to Ayurveda, taking a little sweet taste at the start of a meal is right, because digestive power is strongest then. But today’s heavy sweets should be taken very little; with diabetes or excess weight it is better to start with salad and dal.
You can seek advice for more guidance on diet.
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