combining fish with milk or dairy products is considered a viruddha ahara (incompatible food combination), which can lead to digestive disturbances, toxin buildup (ama), and dosha imbalances. This combination is thought to cause imbalance primarily in kapha and pitta, as fish is heavy, oily, and warm, while milk is cooling and can be mucous-forming, leading to digestive upset, bloating, and potentially skin issues. Ayurveda views these foods as having opposing qualities that can hinder proper digestion and cause an imbalance in the body’s metabolism, leading to the creation of toxins. This may explain your discomfort after eating fish with a creamy milk-based dessert, as the combination can slow down digestion and impair the body’s ability to process these foods efficiently. Regarding fish in creamy sauces or curries with yogurt, the issue arises with milk (including yogurt and cream) and fish together, as dairy products are considered incompatible with fish in Ayurveda. However, lighter dairy options like buttermilk may be less problematic. If you’ve eaten this combination several times, there are some things you can do to help detoxify and support your digestion. Drinking warm water with digestive herbs like ginger, turmeric, or fennel can help stimulate digestion and reduce any lingering ama. A light, easily digestible diet and fasting for a day or two may also help reset the digestive system. Incorporating Ayurvedic herbs like Triphala, which promotes detoxification and supports digestion, could be beneficial
Eating fish with milk isn’t just some ancient myth—it actually falls under what Ayurveda calls “viruddha ahara,” or incompatible food combination. The reasons are more about how these foods affect your body, for instance, the heaviness of the milk and the lightness of fish don’t quite get along.
You know, Ayurveda believes that when certain foods are consumed together, they can disturb your digestive fire, known as agni. Milk and fish, inherently having different metabolic effects, can create imbalance that might lead to trouble with your digestion. This could very well explain the uneasy stomach and bloating you’ve noticed—your agni may not be reacting too kindly to the mix.
There’s fairly a good reason why these combinations may create toxins or “ama” in the body. This can lead to digestion issues, and long term issues with your skin, and yes, imbalance your doshas. Particularly, it could flare up kapha or pitta. And those sauces and yogurts you mentioned? Eye elt like they’d fall under the same category of causing trouble, considering the creamy nature.
For what might be worrying you—the effects of having consumed this mix already—don’t stress too much, though it’s good you’re considering making changes. Incorporating herbs like ginger or cumin into your diet can help balance things out. Triphala is a classic recommendation for detoxifying and aiding digestion issues. More so, start aligning your meals to be dosha-friendly; avoid heavy, confusing food combos.
Nonetheless, an easy remedy involving a warm glass of water with lemon juice, taken in th morning, can do wonders in maintaining a healthy agni. Easy to do! Hydration is key, as is light exercise like yoga to help keep everything moving smoothly.
Try not to overthink, but be mindful of how your body responds to different foods, and keep those meal combos simple. Ayurveda focuses on balance, and it’s all about what works best for your unique system. Maybe stick to simpler combos; you’ll feel better, I’m sure.
