Ayurveda: 5 food pairings to avoid

 

Ayurveda is not only a branch of medicine but also a lifestyle which helps to keep you healthy. Ayurvedic treatment often comes with a lot of restrictions on foods that one can consume. The diet of a person is determined by one's body constitution, age, sex, digestive capacity and even climate. Similarly, Ayurveda also imposes restrictions on certain combination of foods.  Let us find out what they are.

 

 

 

1. No fruits after a meal 
 

It is common in India to have any type of fruit after a heavy meal. For instance, in Kerala, bananas are usually served along with sadya and is consumed as the last item, after dessert. However, Ayurveda says it is wrong to have fruits after a meal that is replete with a combination of vegetables, beans, grains or meat. This is because fruits are easily digestible, while other food items need more time to digest in the stomach. Thus when you look at a fruit, it is an individual food item by itself and must be eaten separately.

 

 

 

2. Starch and Meat   
 

Meat is often accompanied and paired with potatoes and roti, as it is considered to be eaten together as a complete meal. But according to Ayurveda, the combination of starch with animal protein is an absolute no-no. The reasoning behind this is because eating foods that are rich in carbohydrates and proteins together create a host of digestive issues. 

 

 

 

3. Mayonnaise and Fish
 

Mayonnaise is a common ingredient in most food items now, and it is often deliciously paired with bread, vegetables and / or meat and fish. This is a bad food pairing according to Ayurveda because this combination will slow down digestion, and invariably have the same effect of consuming fried food.

 

 

 

4. Water with food

 

It is a common practice to have water between and during meals. However, this has a negative effect because this habit tends to affect digestion by diluting the  digestive enzymes,. Therefore, Ayurveda recommends that it is better to have water at least 10-15 minutes before a meal. 

 

 

5. Combination of meat or fish

 

Mixed fried rice is a favourite of many, but combining two concentrated protein sources will breakdown digestive system. However, if you want to add two sources of concentrated protein, like yoghurt and nuts or different types of meat, it's best to include vegetables like onion, lettuce, cauliflower, and so on that are high in water content. 

 

 

 

6. Diary protein and beans

 

The combination of dairy protein and beans is very common in fast food, and it is the easiest way to bring on gas and bloating issues. It is better to skip the combinations like beans and cheese, tomato and cheese as you might face digestive problems.