Are you suffering from digestive troubles, deficiencies or skin allergies? As per Ayurveda, what you eat can have a significant impact on your health. Your meal could have all what your body requires to keep you healthy, yet you may not be able to absorb these nutrients if you are eating them in wrong combination. ‘Viruddha Ahaar’, according to Ayurveda can lead to accumulation of ama meaning toxins or undigested metabolic waste which can wreak havoc on your health. (Also read: Cucumber raita or lauki raita; which is better for your health as per Ayurveda?)
There are certain foods that work well in combination and even enhance nutrition absorption of each other. A dash of lemon in dal or ghee on top of chapati are examples of good food combos. Wonder what Ayurveda has to say about the combination of palak paneer or date and milk. Here’s what an expert says.
Fruit and milk do not go well together as per Ayurveda and can cause bloating and indigestion. Palak Paneer may be one of your favourite dishes, but paneer being rich in calcium can hinder absorption of iron from palak and reduce overall nutrition appeal of your food. Lemon honey tea may not be a good idea too as honey in hot water can lead to production of ama. And if you love to have ice cream with gulab jamun, it may very well explain why you may be having acidity and bloating issues frequently.
WRONG FOOD COMBOS YOU MUST AVOID
Nutritionist and Yoga teacher Juhi Kapoor in her recent Instagram post shares 7 wrong food combinations as per Ayurveda that may be ruining your health.
1. Fruit and milk: Ayurveda suggests to avoid combining fruit and milk because it can lead to digestive issues. This combination may cause the fruit to ferment in the stomach, leading to bloating and discomfort for some individuals. Only mangoes are allowed with milk, that too, if they are sweet.
2. Palak and paneer: Although palak (spinach) and paneer (Indian cheese) are both nutritious foods on their own, combining them might not be ideal. The calcium in paneer can interfere with the absorption of iron from spinach, reducing the overall nutritional benefits of the meal.
3. Honey and hot water: Heating honey can destroy its beneficial enzymes and antioxidants, making it less nutritious. Additionally, mixing honey with very hot water may create harmful compounds as per Ayurveda. It’s generally recommended to consume honey in lukewarm or room temperature water to preserve its health benefits.
4. Date and milk: When you pair foods rich in calcium with those high in iron, like milk and dates, there’s a concern that the calcium might inhibit the absorption of iron. Calcium from milk can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb iron from dates. This could potentially reduce the overall iron uptake from the meal. Specially, if you are anaemic, this combination will hinder iron absorption. Occasionally it’s fine but don’t make it a habit.
5. Ice cream and Gulab Jamun: Hot and cold food do not well together. When you consume hot food, your body increases blood flow to the stomach to aid in digestion and to dissipate the heat. Conversely, cold foods can slow down digestion and cause constriction of blood vessels in the stomach. The combination can lead to bloating, gas, or discomfort.
6. Tea with meals: Tea contains antinutrients like tannin and caffeine. This hinders absorption of iron and calcium in the body. So, do not take tea with breakfast or snacks.
7. Milk and fish: As per Ayurveda, milk and fish are Viruddha Ahaar. When combined with incompatible, the combination becomes indigestible and causes the build-up of harmful toxins in the body.