Ayurveda Expert Explains : Why Should You Eat Sweets Before a Meal, Not After
Side Effects of Sugar : Dr Smita Naram explains that eating sweets before meals is better because sweets are made up of earth and water elements which are heavy by nature and are therefore difficult to digest.
Humans have a common habit of eating something sweet after any meal. Even at parties, we can find that starters and soups are served first and desserts at last. This habit has been a behavioural pattern which is being followed over the year. But many people do not that our ancient Indian culture recommends us to eat sweets before we start our full-fledged meal. Our forefathers and ancestors have implemented certain rules for our bodies to work efficiently. Obviously, there must be a reason behind this rule as well.
It is believed that ayurvedic eating order is according to taste, i.e. sweet, sour, salt, pungent, bitter, and astringent. That means one must start the meal by eating something sweet followed by something salty in the middle and astringent or spicy at the end. Eating food that satisfies all six tastes helps us in staying stay healthy. Foods with a single taste or few tastes can lead to a range of health problems.
Dr Smita Naram, Co-Founder, Ayushakti explains why Ayurveda suggest consuming sweets before a meal:
Sweet taste acts up instantly on our taste buds rather than other tastes. Eating sweet things initially empowers the progression of stomach related emissions; it speeds up the digestion process and helps your taste buds. Not just that, few studies have shown that if you end your meal with sweets it will react with the acid and you will start facing digestive obstructions such as bloating, acidity and gastric obstruction.
It is also suggested to consume sweets first because they are made up of earth and water elements which are heavy by nature and are therefore difficult to digest so, at the beginning of a meal the digestive power is at its highest level, which allows people to digest sweet foods easily. Eating sweet after your meal tends to make your metabolism slow. A body having slow metabolism will lead to many problems such as diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorders, and PCOS. Eating sweets before meals helps the body to release digestive hormones in your body and improve digestion. Taking sweets after a meal can slow down digestion and cause digestive problems. One can replace sweets or desserts with fennel seeds or buttermilk at the end of the meal as this helps ease digestion and cleanses the mouth. Betel leaf with nuts and paan can also be had at end of a meal.
“The sweet taste acts quickly on the taste buds and saliva. Eating the sweet item first enables the flow of digestive secretions,“ says nutritionist Supriyaa Nair. “If you eat sweets at the end of meals, you are slowing down your digestion.
Here's why it is suggested to consume sweets before your meals, and not after them. *Sweet takes the longest to digest. *Eating the sweet item first enables the flow of digestive secretions, she explained. *Dr Kohli added that by consuming sweets after your meal, “you would slow down your digestion“.
Earlier in the day may be best for digestion, according to Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, a registered dietitian and founder of 360 Girls & Women. In fact, an after-dinner treat could contribute to acid reflux, heartburn, upset stomach or just poor sleep when enjoyed too close to bedtime.
Dr Smita Naram, Co-Founder, Ayushakti explains why Ayurveda suggest consuming sweets before a meal: Sweet taste acts up instantly on our taste buds rather than other tastes. Eating sweet things initially empowers the progression of stomach related emissions; it speeds up the digestion process and helps your taste buds.
Experts agree that a post-meal is the best time to enjoy dessert. When you eat dessert after a balanced meal then you can benefit from the nutrients in the meal to stabilize your blood sugar from the sweets. It is also better to eat it after a meal from a psychological standpoint.
A chapter in the Sushruta Samhita, one of the main texts of Ayurveda, deals with the order of tastes involved in a meal. According to it, you should have a sweet at the outset, something sour and salty in the middle, followed by pungent, bitter and astringent eats.
Guru, Madhura and Snigdha food should be taken initially during the course of a meal followed by Amla, Lavana Ahara. Food which is Ruksha, Katu, Tikta and Kashaya should be taken in the last part of the meal for proper activation of Agni, proper absorption and assimilation of food.
However, more studies with different foods in a situation more similar to a normal meal are needed before it can be concluded that sweet and savory foods at the start or end of a meal always have the same effects on appetite and food intake.
In South India, before a traditional full meal(generally only on festivals and the like), people eat a tiny mouthful of some dessert first before the actual savory meal and then end with the same dessert in a larger portion.
Bonci says perhaps the best type of food to eat sugar with is protein. The consumption of protein triggers the release of glucagon, another hormone, which stabilizes insulin levels. So when eaten together, protein and sugar can sort of regulate each other. “Our bodies are pretty darn smart in that way,” she says.
However, more studies with different foods in a situation more similar to a normal meal are needed before it can be concluded that sweet and savory foods at the start or end of a meal always have the same effects on appetite and food intake.
Clinical nutritionist and personal trainer Jennifer Cassetta says that eating dessert before dinner depends on the kind of dessert. “It's not a good idea if you are eating something mostly made of pure sugar (like candy).
According to Ayurveda, we should begin with something "Meetha," as sweet foods take the longest to digest. The following item should be sour, and the last item should be hot. The flow of digestive fluids is aided by eating the sweet item first. You can slow down your digestion by putting the sweets last.
Therefore such a practice cannot be deemed a regular or emphasised Sunnah of Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam). There are certain instances wherein Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) ate dates before a meal. Based on this, having something sweet before a meal could be established. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2038).
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