can we eat curd after eating fish - #23463
I am really confused about something and hope someone can help me. So, I went to this fancy restaurant with my friends last week, and we had this amazing fish dish - I mean, it was so good! Then, later I was thinking, can we eat curd after eating fish? Someone told me that mixing fish and curd is a big no-no in Ayurveda, but I didn't really understand why. I’ve always had curd as a side dish, and I really love it, so hearing that made me worry. After eating that fish, I had such an upset stomach. Was it the fish, or could it be because of the curd I had later? My mom used to say don't mix these things, but she never really explained it well. I mean, there are so many people that eat sushi and stuff, so is this really a big deal? Can we eat curd after eating fish or is there really a natural reason behind not doing it? I need help because I don’t wanna feel sick again!
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Doctors’ responses
In Ayurveda, the concept of incompatible foods or “Viruddha Ahara” is significant. The combination of fish and curd is considered one of these incompatible combinations. Ayurveda suggests that this mix can lead to an imbalance in the body, disrupting the digestive fire or Agni and leading to potential disturbance in the doshas (body energies), particularly Kapha and Pitta.
Eating fish and curd together may create a reaction in the body, causing problems like indigestion, upset stomach, or even skin conditions over time. This can happen because fish is warm in potency and tends to increase Pitta dosha, while curd is heavy and cold, increasing Kapha dosha. Together, they can lead to unpredictable digestive issues. The classic texts suggest that combining such foods with differing properties might create a kind of metabolic stress that the body struggles to cope with efficiently.
Although many enjoy sushi, differences in preparation methods, accompaniments, or even your unique body’s constitution could make this mix more or less tolerable. Sometimes individual experiences vary due to prakriti or personal body constitution. If you had an upset stomach after that meal, it could have been due to the fish and curd combination, or maybe an unrelated digestive factor.
If you enjoy curd so much, you can consider having it separately from fish meals. Try maintaining a gap of at least 3-4 hours between these two foods to ensure your digestive system has time to process one before introducing the other. Additionally, if you continue experiencing digestive discomfort, it may be worthwhile to limit certain food combinations, at least temporarily, while observing how your body responds.
Listen to your body’s signals and consider keeping a food journal to track what might be affecting your digestion. This will help in identifying any patterns or specific triggers that you need to avoid. However, if the digestive issues persist or worsen, consulting with a healthcare professional is essential for personalized advice.

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