Incompatible diet and food combinations is one of the common cause of diseases as per Ayurveda. For example milk and salt are enemy to each other. Putting salt in yogurt also kill the probiotics and also causing the skin related problems. Also adding salad/fruits/flavors in yogurt is common in many culture, which does not mean at all that it is healthy just because of long or ancient practice. In Ayurveda, Viruddha Ahara refers to incompatible foods or food combinations that can disturb the balance of the doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), impair digestion (Agni), and lead to the production of toxins (Ama) in the body. These food combinations are believed to have a negative impact on health and can cause various diseases if consumed regularly.
Here is a comprehensive table listing some examples of Viruddha Ahara (incompatible foods) as per Ayurveda:
| Type of Incompatibility | foods | rough explaination |
|---|---|---|
| Guna Viruddha | Milk and fish | Milk is cooling and fish is heating, leading to toxin formation and Pitta aggravation |
| potato + milk | Potato has an astringent rasa, while milk is sweet; their opposite qualities cause digestive issues | |
| meat protein + milk | Meat is heating while milk is cooling, disturbing Agni and producing toxins | |
| eggs + cheese | Eggs and cheese both have a pungent Vipaka, creating excess heat and potential inflammation in the gut | |
| Virya Viruddha | Hot milk with sour fruits | Milk is cooling, while sour fruits are hot in potency, causing curdling and indigestion |
| Lentils with milk | Lentils have warm Virya, while milk is cooling, impacting Agni and producing toxins | |
| Lemon with tomato | Lemon has a cooling Virya, while tomato is warm, disturbing digestion and creating Ama | |
| Lemon with cucumber | Lemon has a sour Vipaka, and cucumber has a sweet Vipaka, leading to digestive disruption | |
| Vipaka Viruddha | Milk and salt | Milk has a sweet post-digestive effect (Vipaka), while salt has a salty Vipaka, causing digestive imbalance |
| Ice cream with mango | Both have a sour Vipaka, leading to fermentation and gut irritation | |
| Samskara Viruddha | Heating honey above 40°C (104°F) | Heating honey changes its molecular structure, making it toxic, difficult to digest, adhering to mucous membranes and clogging channels |
| Honey and ghee in equal quantities | This combination creates a toxic effect in the body | |
| Prakriti Viruddha | Spicy food for Pitta person | Spicy foods increase Pitta, aggravating heat-related conditions in individuals with a high Pitta constitution |
| Desha Viruddha | Cold foods in a cold climate | Consuming cold foods in a cold environment can aggravate Vata and Kapha, leading to digestive issues and imbalances |
| Kala Viruddha | Heavy foods like red meat at night | Heavy foods require strong digestive fire, which is weaker at night, leading to indigestion and toxin formation |
| Matra Viruddha | Overeating ANY food | Eating in excess can overload the digestive system, leading to the production of toxins (Ama) |
| Krama Viruddha | Eating cold food right after hot food | This can confuse the digestive fire, leading to indigestion and improper metabolism |
| Drinking cold water directly after or during a meal | Cold water impacts digestive enzymes, leading to incomplete digestion and improper nutrient absorption | |
| Parihara Viruddha | Eating incompatible foods when on certain herbal medications | Certain foods can interfere with the efficacy of Ayurvedic medications, causing adverse effects or reduced potency |
| Upachara Viruddha | Cold water immediately after hot tea or coffee | Consuming cold water after hot beverages can shock the digestive system, disturbing Agni and leading to poor digestion |
| Drinking cold milk | Cold milk can cause indigestion; milk should be taken warm | |
| Paka Viruddha | Cooking with ghee and honey in equal quantities | Equal quantities of ghee and honey create a toxic effect in the body |
| Hriday Viruddha | Bitter foods combined with milk | This combination is unpleasant to taste and may be disagreeable to the heart, causing nausea or discomfort |
| Sanyoga Viruddha | Banana with milk | This combination can diminish digestive fire (Agni), change intestinal flora, produce toxins, and cause respiratory issues |
| Fruits with potatoes or other starchy foods | Fruits digest quickly, while starches take longer, causing improper digestion of sugars | |
| Fruit with yogurt | Combining fruits (especially sour) with dairy can create toxins (Ama) and lead to digestive issues | |
| Fruit with other foods | Fruit should be eaten separately or before other foods due to its quick digestion; eating it with heavier foods can cause fermentation | |
| Grains, cereals, and pulses with acidic items | Grains have a sweet Vipaka, while acidic fruits have a sour Vipaka, causing digestive disruption | |
| SMOOTHIE with water | Water can interfere with the digestion of vegetables/fruits and may lead to fermentation or gas production | |
| Melon with any fruits/foods | Melons digest quickly and should not be combined with other foods as they can upset digestion and cause fermentation |