Correct food pairing for better digestion, as per Ayurveda

Even after taking all kinds of nutritious and clean food, if you often feel bloated and uneasy, then it is time to tweak your eating habits. Poor combination of foods can lead to indigestion, fermentation and gas formation. In some cases, it can even lead to severe stomach problems.

Ayurveda has laid down some ground rules related to the combination of food. Here are some important things you need to be careful about to ensure better digestion.

Never eat raw fruits with any other fruit items as raw fruits break down more quickly. This can lead to fermentation, followed by indigestion. It is best to enjoy seasonal fruit alone. Also, be very careful while combining it with milk or yogurt. Combination of some fruits and dairy products can also make you feel bloated. Like you can have dates with milk, but avoid citrus fruits. There is no harm in combining fruits that have similar properties, like mixed berries, or apples with pears.

Dairy products are well balanced and nutritious. It is good for health and bones. But when it comes to food, combining dairy can be a bad idea. You can use ghee with vegetables as it is similar to oil and is usually eaten in small amounts.

But when it comes to milk, Ayurveda says that it should be enjoyed alone to make it more digestible. You can add some spices like cardamom or cinnamon to enhance the digestibility.

Fresh yogurt and cheese should not be combined with fruit, beans, meat, fish, eggs, milk, or hot drinks.

Beans and lentils are known for making a person feel gassy and bloated. But this entirely depends on how well they are cooked. Well-cooked beans and lentils with spices like turmeric, black pepper or ginger, are good for your tummy. But be careful of what you eat with them. Pairing them with fruit, milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt, meat or fish can be harmful. It is best to have them with grains, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Raw food often leads to stomach related problems as they are hard to digest. It is still alright in summer to have some raw food items as our stomach works well during the afternoon and can easily digest raw foods. But even if you are having them, do not combine them with cooked foods.