can we eat curd after eating fish - #44700
I am really confused about something that has been bothering me for a while. Last week, I had this huge fish dinner with my family. It was delicious! But then my mom told me that I shouldn’t eat curd after eating fish. I was like, "What?" I’ve always thought mixing foods was fine, but she insists that it’s bad for health. The thing is, I love curd! And I really wanted to have some with my fish curry. I tried looking it up, but there are so many conflicting opinions! Some say that combining fish and curd can cause skin issues or digestive problems. Like, is that even true? I haven’t experienced anything weird after eating both, but now I'm kind of paranoid about it. Honestly, I have had issues with digestion, but don’t know if it’s related to food pairings. So, can we eat curd after eating fish? Is there any scientific basis for this? I mean, if curd is good for digestion and fish is nutritious, why shouldn't they be eaten together? Really hoping to get some clarity on this before I dive into my next meal! Thanks!
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Doctors' responses
When it comes to mixing food like curd and fish, Ayurvedic principles do caution against certain food combinations, known as ‘Viruddha Ahara’ or incompatible foods. According to Ayurveda, fish and curd are considered a wrong combination, particularly for individuals with certain dosha imbalances. This stems from the difference in the inherent qualities, or gunas, of these foods.
Fish is considered heating (ushna) and has a quality that is typically heavier on digestion. Meanwhile, curd is also heavy (guru) and has a cooling (shita) quality. What happens when you combine them is that it might create an internal conflict that can disturb your digestive fire (agni), potentially leading to imbalance in doshas, particularly pitta and kapha. Though not everyone may experience immediate physical effects from such a combination, over time it could contribute to skin issues, digestive troubles, or other health concerns, especially if your prakriti (constitution) is sensitive to imbalances.
If you love curd and fish and are not noticing any discomfort when eating them together, it may not be an immediate concern for you personally. However, if you’ve experienced digestion issues it’s worth analyzing all aspects of your diet along with consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner who can provide insights based on your specific constitution and needs. Maintaining balance in meal combinations according to the principles of Ayurveda can help in fostering better gut health and overall well-being. It may be beneficial to consume these items separately, allowing some time gap between them for better digestion.
For optimal digestion and avoiding potential negative effects on your agni, it’s advisable to keep a balanced approach to meals. If you plan to enjoy fish, have another cooling and light side dish instead of curd, to complement it. This is just an example of maintaining balance.
Ultimately, while Ayurveda provides a traditional lens, it’s also wise to listen to your body and lifestyle, adapting what works best for you, sometimes seeking modern perspectives to harmonize the teachings with today’s diets. But if specific problems persist, professional advice from a qualified practitioner should be sought.

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