What are incompatible food combinations and their effects

Viruddha Ahara (Incompatible food combinations), outlined in ancient Ayurvedic texts like Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas, can lead to inflammation at a molecular level. While many traditional food incompatibilities are no longer prevalent, identifying new ones is crucial in today's era. Such combinations can negatively affect immune function, cellular metabolism, growth hormone levels, and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). The emerging field of food topography advises against combining certain basic food categories.

For instance, proteins and starches should be consumed separately, as their digestion processes differ. Mixing sugars with acid fruits can hinder digestion, while fats may impede the secretion of digestive juices when consumed with protein-rich foods. These improper combinations can lead to gastrointestinal issues and affect various bodily systems. Regular consumption of Viruddha Ahara may induce inflammation at a molecular level, disrupting essential pathways and contributing to metabolic disorders.
Example 1

AVOID combining:

Beans AND fruit, cheese, eggs, fish, milk, meat, yogurt

WHY:

It can lead to digestive issues and hinder the body's ability to properly assimilate nutrients.
Example 2

AVOID combining:

Milk AND bananas, melons, cherries, sour fruits, yeasted breads, yogurt, meat, fish, starches!

WHY: 

It creates digestive disturbances, such as gas, bloating, or indigestion, and hindering the body's ability to effectively absorb nutrients.
Example 3

AVOID combining:

Green tea/black tea AND milk

WHY: 

Tea contains flavonoids known as catechins, which offer numerous heart-healthy benefits. However, when milk is added to tea, the proteins in milk, called caseins, interact with the tea, diminishing the concentration of catechins. Therefore, it's best to avoid combining tea and milk.
Example 4

AVOID combining:

Milk AND Yogurt

WHY: 

Combining milk and yogurt can lead to milk curdling in the stomach, potentially causing irritation and inducing vomiting. Hence, it's advisable to avoid consuming milk and yogurt together.
Example 5

AVOID combining:

Tea AND Garlic

WHY: 

Tea contains anticoagulant compounds known as coumarins, and when combined with garlic, which also possesses anticlotting properties, they may increase the risk of bleeding. Hence, it's advisable to avoid consuming tea and garlic together.
Example 6

AVOID combining:

Pomegranate juice AND grapefruit juice

WHY: 

Combining pomegranate juice and grapefruit juice can inhibit the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme systems in the intestines, potentially leading to increased blood levels of medications being taken. Taking these two juices together may synergize this effect.
Example 7

AVOID combining:

Unripe (green) tomatoes or potatoes AND alcohol

WHY: 

Unripe green tomatoes contain a significant amount of solanine, which may interact with alcohol, potentially resulting in increased sedation with higher intake.
Example 8

AVOID combining:

Yogurt AND fruits, beans, milk, cheese, eggs, meat, fish, nightshades, hot drinks

WHY: 

Causes potential digestive disturbances and conflicting qualities. Mixing yogurt with these foods may lead to improper digestion, fermentation in the gut, and the formation of toxins, causing discomfort or health issues.
Example 9

AVOID combining:

Eggs AND Milk, cheese, yogurt, fruit (especially melon), beans, potatoes, meat, fish 
Example 10

AVOID combining:

Lemons AND cucumbers, tomatoes, milk, yogurt

Note: lime can be substituted for use with cucumbers and tomatoes
Example 11

AVOID combining:

Melons AND Everything, especially dairy, eggs, fried foods, grains, starches

Note: Melons should be eaten alone or not at all
Example 12

AVOID combining:

Vegetables AND Fruit, milk

WHY: 

Beans and cheese share similarities in being heavy and challenging to digest, requiring significant digestive strength. However, their differences in taste, heating or cooling properties (depending on the bean type), and post-digestive effects set them apart. While beans are mostly astringent and sweet with a pungent post-digestive effect, cheese is predominantly sour, heating, and has a sour post-digestive effect.

The distinct post-digestive effects of foods affect various bodily functions and tissues, highlighting their differences. When beans and cheese are consumed together, they can overwhelm and confuse the digestive system, exacerbating their combined heaviness and leading to poor digestion and the accumulation of ama (undigested metabolic toxins).
Example 13

AVOID combining:

Nightshades AND Cheese

WHY: 

Combining nightshade plants, such as potatoes, bell peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants, with cheese can overwhelm digestion. Nightshades contain complex compounds that may disrupt the body's balance and are generally considered difficult to digest in Ayurveda. Mixing them with heavy, oily cheese can further burden the digestive system, leading to discomfort.
Example 14

AVOID combining:

Bananas AND Milk

WHY: 

Combining bananas and milk, although common, can be challenging for digestion due to their contrasting qualities. Bananas are heating while milk is cooling, and bananas become sour as they break down, adding further complexity to digestion. Similar to how lemon can curdle milk, this combination can smother the digestive fire and disrupt intestinal flora, leading to toxin buildup. It often results in congestion, colds, coughs, allergies, hives, and rashes. The same issues can occur when combining sour fruits with milk alternatives like almond or oat milk due to poor compatibility between fruit and nuts/grains.
Example 15

AVOID combining:

Beans AND Cheese

WHY: 

Beans and cheese are similar in that they both tend to be heavy and are often difficult to digest. In order to break down properly, they both require a good deal of digestive strength. But, the similarities end there. Beans tend to taste mostly astringent and sweet, can be either heating or cooling (depending on the type of bean), and usually have a pungent post-digestive effect. Cheese, on the other hand, tastes predominantly sour, is almost always heating, and usually has a sour post-digestive effect.

The post-digestive effect of different foods occurs once that food has moved into the colon; it affects the urine, feces, sweat, and tissues—sometimes even at the cellular level. Two foods with distinct post-digestive effects are typically quite different from one another.

This is the case with beans and cheese; when they are eaten together, they tend to overwhelm and confuse the digestive fire. Meanwhile, their combined heaviness makes them even more difficult to process, often resulting in poor digestion and the accumulation of ama.
Example 16

AVOID combining:

Papaya AND Lemon

WHY: 

Papaya and lemon are a deadly combination that can stir problems with the hemoglobin in the blood. It may also increase the risk of anemia.
Example 17

AVOID combining:

Orange AND Carrot

WHY: 

This combination can significantly damage the renal system, leading to various associated diseases. It also triggers heartburn and excess bile reflux.
Example 18

AVOID combining:

Guava AND Banana

WHY: 

Consuming this combination can induce nausea in both children and adults due to the gas production in the stomach. Additionally, it may lead to headaches and various stomach-related ailments.
Example 19

AVOID combining:

Pomegranates AND Apricots

WHY: 

Combining protein-rich fruits with those high in sugar can lead to various gastric issues. Sugar negatively affects the enzymes responsible for protein digestion, consequently slowing down the digestive process.
Example 20

AVOID combining:

Banana AND Pudding

WHY: 

This combination can elevate toxin production in the body and may be dangerous for infants, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. It also induces stomach heaviness and is not recommended for toddlers.
Example 21

AVOID combining:

Orange AND Milk

WHY: 

The acid in orange juice can deactivate the enzymes responsible for digesting starch in cereal. Additionally, it may cause milk to curdle, leading to the formation of mucus in the body, which is undesirable.
Example 22

AVOID combining:

Cucumbers AND Tomatoes

WHY: 

Not compatible with each other and should never be consumed together. When they reach the stomach and the process of fermentation starts, the acid released in the abdominal cavity for digestion can cause numerous digestive problems
Example 23

AVOID combining:

Orange AND Bread or Noodle

WHY: 

Avoid combining bread or noodles with orange juice, as the acidic nature of the juice can destroy the enzyme responsible for starch digestion.
Example 24

AVOID combining:

Yogurt AND Fruit

WHY: 

Combining fruit with yogurt can slow down digestion and disrupt intestinal flora, particularly due to the fruit's enzymes which can enhance food poisoning risks. Moreover, having fruit with dairy items like milk and yoghurt can lead to skin conditions like acne, psoriasis and eczema.
Example 25

AVOID combining:

Raw AND Cooked Foods

WHY:

Ayurveda advises consuming raw and cooked foods separately because they differ significantly in their digestion rates. Cooked foods are easier to digest as the cooking process activates enzymes, whereas raw foods require more time and effort for digestion.