Deadly Food Combinations - #2811

Great questions here and it seems like you're diving deep into understanding your diet, fingers crossed good things are coming! It's great you're questioning these things, because food combinations actually do have a big role to play in how our body digests and absorbs nutrients. You mentioned yogurt with fruits like bananas or berries, and yeah, Ayurveda does have somethings to say on that. Mixing yogurt with certain fruits, particularly sour or citrusy ones like sour berries, can disturb the digestive process. It happens cause yogurt's naturally sour, and when it combines with another sour fruit, it may aggravate the kapha and pitta doshas in Ayurveda. It's like, instead of balancing out, things just mix in a way that can clog up digestion and create impossible-to-break-down toxins, known as "ama." About milk with salty or citrusy foods—spot on, it's another combination Ayurveda flags. Milk is sweet and heavy, totally opposite from salty or acidic foods. When you combine milk with something spicy or citrusy, like orange juice, it messes with your "agni" or digestive fire, which might lead to the symptoms you're experiencing like bloating or gassiness. Sticking to milk on its own or with compatible foods (like dates or almonds) could give your digestion a bit of a break. Your love of smoothies and salads is fantastic, they’re healthy, but make sure the ingredients harmonize well together. Fruits mix well with other fruits, but not usually with veggies or dairy. As counter-intuitive as it might seem, focusing more on the order and timing of eating these can actually make digestion smoother. Now, about how strict to be, it kinda depends on your body's current state. If you're healing or dealing with specific issues, it's wise to stick more closely to avoiding trublesome combos. Otherwise, a balanced approach works—and listen to your body, it'll usually tell ya when something’s off. For some easy guidelines, keeping things simple is helpful. Enjoy fruits alone, especially melons, which should always be eaten solo. Pair proteins with non-starchy veggies more often rather than starchy carbs. And including some ginger or cumin in your meals could help with digesting heavier foods. I know, it seems like a lot, but it's all about finding the balance that makes you feel your best. Hope this helps to de-mystify things a bit!