Typically, you combine two or more foods to enhance the nutritional value and flavor of your meal. However some foods should be consumed separately as they require different time and physiological conditions to digest. Eating the wrong foods together can cause abdominal pain, bloating, lethargy, gas and discomfort. Long-term consumption of inappropriate food combinations can result in rashes, persistent digestive problems and bad breath. You can lose weight only with proper diet combinations and remain active throughout the day. All Ayurvedic practitioners believe in food combinations which are not correct and are called “Viridhu Anna”. These foods are considered incompatible because they have opposite qualities—one may be hot and the other cold—or because eating two foods with similar qualities can aggravate one dosha more than the other, causing an imbalance.
The following list of food combinations should be avoided as they can have adverse effects on your health:
1) Fish and Milk
We’ve heard about it before, and so do many of us. According to Ayurvedic principles, even though both these foods have a sweet taste, they have different potency. Milk is cold and fish is hot, due to which blood circulation is affected. That’s why they should not be consumed together.
2) Two high protein foods
Eggs and bacon are popular breakfast foods but it is advised to avoid this combination. These two foods are high in protein and tend to sit heavy in your stomach. Both will take longer to digest. You should eat a light protein first and then your meat.
3) Milk and Tulsi leaves
It is something that we all consume for cold and cough. But Ayurveda suggests that there should be a gap of at least 30 minutes between the two.
4) Cheese food and cold drink
Who doesn’t enjoy Pizza and Coke? As delicious as it may sound, this combo is bad for your health. Cold beverages should not be consumed with paneer as both these substances can interfere with absorption. It can give you stomach pain and discomfort.
5) Milk and Fruits
Milk should not be consumed with bananas or citrus fruits. Despite being a perennial favorite, banana shake is not recommended by Ayurveda.
6) Ghee and Honey
While it is fine to mix ghee and honey in a ratio of 2:1, it is not advisable to use equal amounts unless there are additional ingredients.
7) Fruits with your meals
Your body can easily digest fruits, but your meals may take longer. So the fruits are held back until the food is digested and fermentation begins. Ideally fruits should not be consumed with meals or immediately after meals.
8) Potatoes and Protein
Starches and proteins don’t mix well because they require different enzymes for digestion, overloading the system. Protein-rich potatoes can be delicious but take longer to digest.
9) Tomatoes with Cucumber
Tomato and cucumber do not go together and neither do they with curd. Hence, we must rethink our salads and raitas. Lemon also doesn’t go well with tomatoes or cucumbers. Lemon juice on salad and kachumber salad is therefore prohibited.
10) Jaggery and Curd
Jaggery and curd can increase your weight and you can get cough and cold. Those who enjoy this food combination should reconsider.