Food Combinations

AYURVEDIC FOOD COMBINING

Ayurveda, or “science of life,” is an ancient healing system that supports health through balancing energies. Foods, activities, seasons, and even times throughout the day all have different energies. When energy is balanced, it supports health, but an imbalance of energy can lead to illness. Ayurvedic food combining is rooted in supporting this balance.

According to Ayurveda, “when diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” In this case, a “correct” diet refers to one that helps balance an individual’s condition through the types of foods eaten, the ways they’re prepared, and how they’re combined.

Specific combinations of food are thought to have a negative effect on agni, or “digestive fire,” leading to poor digestion and leaving the body prone to disease and disorders. Other food combinations have a more positive effect on agni, boosting health.

 

Strengthening Agni

To strengthen agni, Ayurveda recommends eating all the colors of the rainbow, including all six tastes, or rasas – sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter, and astringent – and combining food mindfully.

Each food in a meal brings its own qualities. For example, food is considered heating or cooling and either difficult or easy to digest. Certain combinations go well together based on their qualities as well as season, time of day, quantity consumed, nutrients, and similar rates of absorption. Ultimately, Ayurvedic food combining attempts to balance each quality in a meal so one doesn’t overpower another.

 

Here are some examples of combinations thought to strengthen agni:

 

• Beans + Grains, Vegetables, Nuts, or Seeds

Tip: Make a grain bowl with beans, fresh greens, and walnuts or a bean-carrot soup topped with pumpkin seeds.

• Animal-Based Proteins + Vegetables

Tip: For a quick, nutritious dish, make a sheet pan meal with your choice of animal protein and cabbage wedges.

• Starchy Carbs + Vegetables

Tip: Serve roasted sweet potato with broccoli florets, peppers.

• Vegetables + Anything (Except Milk or Fruit)

Tip: If you like to pair vegetables with a cream sauce, experiment with making one from cashews or almonds.

 

Weakening Agni

Ayurveda suggests there are also multiple incompatible combinations based on a variety of factors, including how foods are processed, their potency, quantity, and the time and season they’re ingested.

According to the Ayurvedic perspective, not everyone will have a reaction to incompatible food combinations; in this way, it acknowledges bio-individuality when it comes to diet. However, certain food combinations are thought to weaken agni and contribute to disease and disorder over time.

 

Here are a few examples of foods thought to weaken agni:

 

1.     Eggs + Dairy or Meat

Tip: If you like to add cheese to your eggs for extra flavor, play around with

different spices instead. Consider cayenne, garlic powder, turmeric, pepper, or smoked paprika.

 

2.     Animal Protein + Starch

Tip: Instead of rice, place your animal protein on a bed of sautéed vegetables or cut it up and add to a vegetable soup.

 

3.     Starches + Fat

Tip: Top your baked potato with salsa instead of butter or sour cream.

 

4.     Animal-Based Protein + Animal-Based Protein

Tip: For dishes where more than one type of meat is used, like meatballs, choose one and consider adding peppers to boost flavor.

 

 5.     Bananas + Milk

 Tip: If you tend to include bananas and milk in your smoothies, consider swapping the milk for coconut water or a non-dairy milk.

 

6.    Beans + Cheese

Tip: When serving burritos or tacos, make cauliflower “cheese” or opt for vegetables instead of beans.

 

7.Fruit (Especially Melon) or Milk + Anything

Tip: Enjoy fruit on its own as a snack or have a glass of milk before bed.

Counteracting Incompatible Combinations

 

While improper food combinations may decrease agni, there are plenty of ways to help offset potential effects. Here are some Ayurvedic ideas for supporting digestion and boosting agni:

1.     Cook consciously. Consider the energy and intention you bring to foods you cook. Enjoy the process of creating beautiful food!

2.     Experiment with spices. For example, add cooling cilantro to spicy foods. Spices can provide digestive balance. Salt also supports digestion.

3.     Add spices and herbs that support your dosha – Vata, Pitta, or Kapha ( more on this in the upcoming blogs).

4.     Eat mindfully. Take your time and avoid eating with distractions. Tune in to how you feel before,       during, and after eating.

5.     Chew food thoroughly. Proper chewing helps facilitate digestion.

6.     Drink room temperature or warm water. Stay hydrated between meals, and take small sips of    water  during meals.

7.     Have lunch be your largest meal of the day. This is the time when agni is strongest.

8.     Stop eating before you’re over-full. A helpful rule is to eat until you’re about 80% full.

9.     Avoid eating too close to bedtime. Sleep is the time for the parasympathetic nervous system (“rest          and digest”). If you spend all night digesting, your body won’t spend enough time resting.

10.   Enjoy eating. Remember that pleasure is a valuable aspect of holistic nourishment!

11.   Create space for movement. Physical activity stimulates digestive processes.

 

Even though many of the recommendations to counteract incompatible food combinations are thousands of years old, they are still useful tips to help support gut health, maintain a healthy weight, reduce inflammation, and encourage mindfulness in the diet.

Were you able to resonate with any of the food combinations? Your body gives out many signs if you are not taking the right food combinations. You just need to be a little more aware of those signs. Next time when you are drinking that green smoothie first thing in the morning, think how it will diminish your digestive fire / agni. You will feel sluggish, and of course there is coffee to charge your body. It’s a cycle and we need to understand that. Modern day food industry and many ‘nutrition experts’ have made us  into believe that green smoothie is one of the best ways to start our day and coffee is mandatory to stay active through out the day. Next time when you put frozen  fruit in the blender to make your breakfast smoothie, think twice or may be you can change the time when you have that smoothie. Or how about starting your day with a warm glass of water instead ?

There are a lot more blogs coming up on Ayurveda and holistic wellness in the coming months. If you have a specific request, please email me or write in the comments below.

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