Fruits are nature’s medicine. However, there is a right as well as a wrong way to eat fruits. The way you eat fruits can go a long way in its digestion, absorption and assimilation. Food combinations are given a high importance in holistic nutrition because it is believed that while some food combinations can have a synergistic effect, some combinations can have an antagonistic effect too. Some combinations could do more harm than good. Be careful of these combinations so that you get the best benefits from fruits.
Fruit and caffeine
Fruits are a storehouse of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are responsible for thousands of biochemical reactions in our body – right from immunity to the way a nutrient is metabolised. Tannins and caffeine in tea and coffee interfere with these micronutrients and anti-oxidants and block its absorption. So, one reason behind your immunity dropping low in spite of eating adequate amount of fruits and vegetables could be improper spacing between these beverages and fruit.
Raw and cooked food
Fruits are quick and easy to digest, while cooked foods take time. Therefore, if we combine the two, chances are that fruits will sit in your stomach for a longer time, causing the sugar to ferment and lead to issues like bloating, burping and flatulence. Also, the simple carbohydrates from the fruits require different digestive enzymes compared to those required for cooked meals which may create digestive confusion. Leave a gap of at least 45 minutes to an hour between fruits and cooked foods.
Dried and fresh fruit
While dried fruits like dates, dried apricots, prunes are great foods in itself, you do not want to combine them with fresh fruits. The simple reason being, together it can mean a fructose overload for your liver to process. Dried fruits have fruit sugar in concentrated form because they are dehydrated, so try eating them alone when you need that quick boost of energy.
With superfoods
Fruits are superfoods and so are foods like moringa, wheatgrass. Consuming them together may interfere with its absorption.
Prefer consuming then individually – that is one superfood at a time.
Milk with citrus fruits
The protein in milk and the acid in fruits can interact with each other and cause digestive discomfort.
This combination can also affect the absorption of nutrients in both fruit and milk. Ayurveda gives a high importance to fruit-food pairings.
This combination of fruit and yoghurt is not even encouraged in Ayurveda as it is thought to cause sinus, congestion, cold, cough and allergies.
If one has to have fruits with milk then it is advisable to use the ripest variety and add spices like cardamom, fennel and nutmeg to enhance the digestive process.
– Times of India