The five tastes in traditional Chinese medicine nutrition

Spicy or pungent taste generates a warming effect. It stimulates the circulation of blood, energy, lymphatic fluid, sweat, saliva and tears. The pungent taste counteracts poor digestion, poor circulation and mucus production. Because pungency helps scatter energy, it should be limited for individuals experiencing fatigue. Because excessive amounts of spicy foods can exhaust energy reserves, they should be used sparingly. Examples of foods with a spicy taste include ginger, black pepper and jalapenos.

Salty Taste

The salty taste generally reduces temperature, stabilizes and regulates fluid balance, and has a softening effect. Salty taste is beneficial to hardened lymph nodes and can reduce masses and cysts. However, excessive salt consumption can harm the kidneys by causing water retention and high blood pressure. Those struggling with dehydration and anemia are advised to avoid salty foods. Seaweed, salt and soy sauce are examples of foods with a salty taste.

Sweet Taste

Sweet tastes warm, tone, and harmonize. When in proportion to the rest of the diet, sweet tastes have the ability to strengthen individuals lacking energy. This helps explain why people needing energy turn to treats such as sugary snacks. Ultimately, simple sweets deplete energy by causing blood sugar to rise and then drop sharply. Complex carbohydrates, protein, and sweet-tasting foods strengthen the body and give it energy. Excessive ingestion of sweet foods leads to poor digestion, congestion and lethargy. Foods such as honey, black licorice, raisins, red dates and cinnamon are considered sweet.

Sour Taste

Sour tastes cool, dry and act as an astringent. Sour foods help dry up mucus and tone tissues and muscles. As an astringent, sour tastes help stop excessive perspiration, diarrhea, frequent urination, copious mucus and bleeding. Sour also stimulates digestion and metabolism, helps break down fats, facilitates fat absorption and drains excessive build up in the liver. When ingested excessively, sour tastes can harm digestion and cause constipation. Sour foods include citrus, vinegar and pickles.