Wellness Joy

Bad Food Combinations as per Ayurveda causes food toxicity in the body and over time makes you sick. Regular consumption of improper food combinations can lead to inflammation at the molecular level and to degenerative illness subsequently. 

Ayurveda values food as medicine. But wrong food combinations cause poor digestion, disturbance of agni, accumulation of ama(toxins)

In Ayurveda, the process of digestion, absorption, assimilation and elimination revolves around Agni. It converts food into energy which nourishes the dhatus and supports the functions of the body. As per Acharya Charak, if the Agni is disturbed, it leads to ailments and imbalance of energies. Agni is responsible for maintenance of good health and can also lead to disease.

Balanced agni(digestive fire) keeps the person healthy. But when the agni is irregular (visamagni); too strong (tikshnagni) or weak (mandagni) then you are not nourished properly and this can make a person suffer from a range of ailments.

It is very essential to have a proper balanced and wholesome diet to nourish the person both physically and mentally to attain positive health. Eating right combinations keeps your agni in balance and that creates good health.

Positive Pranic Food for Health and Vitality | Ayurveda

Avoid Bad Food Combinations

• Avoid milk after consuming green leafy vegetables. 
• Meat of animals of marshy regions is incompatible with masa ( black gram), honey, milk, germinated grains, jaggery.
• Milk is incompatible with: bananas, cherries, melons, sour fruit, fish, kitchari, meat, yogurt, and bread containing yeast.
• Honey is incompatible when boiled or cooked or added to hot water or milk.
• One should not take fish along with milk because this combination is Abhishyandi (great obstructor for channels), it vitiates blood. 
• You should not consume curd at night. 
• You should abstain from cold water. Always drink lukewarm or room temperature water only. Also don’t consume cold water immediately after having hot tea or coffee. 
• Ghee kept for more than ten days in a bronze vessel should not be reheated again 
• Combination of fruit salad, milk, and banana should be avoided. 
• Fruit is incompatible with: as a rule, with any other food, there are exceptions such as certain cooked combinations, as well as dates and milk, which have the same rasa, virya and vipaka.
• You should avoid intake of cold and dry substances in winter, pungent and hot substances in summer.
• Avoid intake of heavy food when the power of digestion is low, intake of light food when the power of digestion is sharp and intake of food at variance with irregular and normal power of digestion.
• Starches are incompatible with – Eggs, milk, banana, and dates.
• Nightshades (potato, tomato, eggplants) are incompatible with –yogurt, milk, melons, and Cucumber.
• Yogurt is incompatible with – sour fruits, hot drinks, fish, meat, mangoes, and cheese.
• Lemon is incompatible with – Yogurt, milk, cucumber, and tomatoes.
• Grain is incompatible with: fruit and tapioca.
• Hot drinks are incompatible with: mangoes, cheese, fish, meat, starch, and yogurt.
• Radishes are incompatible with: bananas, raisins, and milk.
• Eggs are incompatible with: fruit, especially melons; cheese, kitchari, milk, and yogurt.
• Melons are incompatible with: everything, especially dairy, eggs, fried food, grains, starches. More than most fruit, melons should be eaten alone.
• Tapioca is incompatible with: fruit, especially banana and mango; raisins, and jaggery.
• Proteins are incompatible with fat as both require different digestive juices.

Viruddha Ahara: A critical view – NCBI

Wrong Food Combinations has an adverse effect on cellular metabolism, circulation, digestive, endocrine & nervous system immune system, and growth hormone. It can cause

• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Skin diseases
• Allergies
• Rhinitis
• Infertility
• Fetal abnormalities
• Abdominal distention
• Anemia
• Metabolic disorders (heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes)
• Psychosomatic disorders (People with this condition may have excessive thoughts, feelings or concerns about the symptoms — which affects their ability to function well.)

Awareness of incompatible food combinations can go a long way in maintaining proper digestion and a high health quotient. Diet is one of the three supporting pillars ( Upastambhas) of health in Ayurveda. Let’s eat right to live right. 

Proposing Ayurvedic Traya Upastambha as an Important Behavioral Health Care Strategy

Note: The three Upastanbha are Aahaara (Food), Nidraa (Sleep) and Bhramacharya (Celibacy) i.e. regulated sexual conduct.

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