Harmful food combinations you need to avoid at all costs

Sometimes we pair up foods such that even the healthy ones turn against us. We are told to have a lot of fruits, drink a lot of water and drink milk everyday. But what we are not told is that pairing them up with certain foods can undo all their good. For foods that are already in the list of our adversaries become worse when we hook them up with their buddies. So, where are we going wrong?

“One should have a balanced diet and it is important to have a combination of all the essential nutrients required by our body,” says Dr Manish Tiwari (DM, Gastroenterology). But pairing them right is equally important. Here we bring the most common food combinations that may be doing more harm than good to your body.

Cold drink with cheesy food

Sounds tempting but definitely not healthy! Foods loaded with cheese are not good for your health. But still, if you are a cheese lover then avoid soft drinks along with it. These carbonated beverages store surplus sugar, fats and calories in the body, which doesn’t get easily digested and results in increased problem of obesity.

Banana and milk

This combination is considered as one of the heaviest for the stomach. “If your digestive system is in good health, only then can you have bananas with milk," says Dr Tiwari. Banana turns sour in the stomach and causes milk to curdle, resulting in heaviness. This is the reason people with bad digestive systems should avoid this combination. Another reason is that dairy products are heavy and adding fruits like banana to them will make you feel bloated.

Fruits after a meal

The ideal way to consume fruits is one hour before the meal as they work as an appetiser. If fruits are consumed immediately after a meal, all the nutrients don`t get absorbed properly. Try to give at least a gap of thirty minutes between meal and a fruit snack. According to Dr Manish Tiwari, “A person should definitely have one seasonal fruit each day and if you feel hungry at night then instead of junk or unhealthy food, eat fruits.”

Water with meals

Dr Manish Tiwari recommends avoiding water in between or immediately after a meal as it causes discomfort and may interfere with your digestion. Keep a gap of at least 30 minutes between your meal and water intake. This will help in proper absorption of required nutrients by the body.

Tea after a meal

Tea contains tannins, which hampers absorption of nutrients from the meal. Immediately after a meal, tannic acid that caffeinated beverages contain can bind food iron and protein and prevent absorption of these important nutrients.

Source: The Times of India