Wrong combinations of food can disturb digestion

 Today I write about the "Wrong combinations of food can disturb digestion" and cause problems like:

1.  Gas,
2.  Bloating,
3.  Acidity,
4.  Constipation,
5.  Heaviness in the stomach.

How wrong food combinations affect digestion

Different foods digest at different speeds and need different enzymes. When incompatible foods are eaten together:

• Digestion slows down

• Food may ferment in the stomach

• Gas and acidity increase

• Nutrient absorption reduces.

• Enzymes

Enzymes are natural proteins that help break food into smaller parts so your body can digest and absorb nutrients properly. When enzymes don’t work well, problems like acidity, gas, bloating, and indigestion occur.

 Enzymes with their job

Enzyme	What It Digests	Where It Works
Amylase	Carbohydrates (roti, rice)	Mouth & small intestine
Pepsin	Proteins (meat, eggs)	Stomach
Trypsin	Proteins	Small intestine
Lipase	Fats (oil, butter)	Small intestine
Lactase	Milk sugar (lactose)	Small intestine
Sucrase	Sugar	Small intestine
Maltase	Malt sugar	Small intestine

Important of   Enzymes

• Too much acid → enzymes stop working properly

• Poor food combinations → enzymes clash

• Overeating → enzyme overload
  ➡ Result: acid reflux, gas, heaviness

Cause Acidity .

• Protein + starch (meat + rice in excess)

• Milk + fruit (blocks lactase)

• Fruit after meals (fermentation)

• Cold drinks with food (slows enzymes)

ENZYME-FRIENDLY EATING HABITS

✔ Eat simple meals
✔ Chew food well (activates amylase)
✔ Avoid overeating
✔ Eat fruits alone
✔ Drink warm water
✔ Avoid late-night heavy meals

 NATURAL FOODS THAT BOOST ENZYMES

Food	Enzyme Benefit
Papaya	Papain (protein digestion)
Pineapple	Bromelain
Ginger	Stimulates enzymes
Yogurt (plain)	Improves gut enzymes
Fennel (saunf)	Reduces gas
Lemon water (mild)	Activates digestion

BEST TIMES FOR ENZYME ACTIVITY

• Morning: Fruits (enzymes work best)

• Daytime: Protein foods

• Night: Light meals only

Common wrong food combinations .

1. Milk + Sour fruits (orange, lemon, strawberries)

   1. Causes curdling of milk → bloating & indigestion

2. Milk + Fish / Meat

1. Heavy to digest → stomach discomfort and toxins (according to traditional diets)

3. Fruit + Meals (rice, roti, curry)

1. Fruits digest fast; meals digest slowly → fermentation & gas

1. Yogurt + Fruit (especially citrus)

   1. Can cause mucus formation, cold, and indigestion

2. Banana + Milk

   1. Very heavy → sluggish digestion, bloating

3. Fried food + Sweets

   1. Overloads the digestive system → acidity and lethargy

4. Cold drinks + Hot meals

   1. Weakens digestive enzymes → slow digestion

5. Protein + Starch in large amounts
   (e.g., meat with potatoes, heavy daal with rice)

1. Needs different digestive conditions → gas & heaviness.

What is good for Health.

1. Eat fruits alone or on an empty stomach

2. Avoid drinking water immediately after meals

3. Keep meals simple (fewer items at one time)

4. Chew food properly

5. Maintain a gap of 30–45 minutes between fruit and meals

6. Prefer warm water for digestion.

BEST COMBINATIONS OF FOOD.

Eat Together.

Food Group	Combines Well With	Examples
Fruits (non-citrus)	Fruits only	Apple + pear
Citrus fruits	Citrus fruits only	Orange + grapefruit
Vegetables (non-starchy)	Proteins / Starches	Sabzi + dal
Starchy foods	Vegetables	Rice + vegetables
Proteins	Vegetables	Chicken + salad
Dairy (milk, yogurt)	Alone or mild foods	Milk alone
Healthy fats	Vegetables / Starches	Olive oil + sabzi

 POOR COMBINATIONS OF FOOD.

Avoid Together.

Combination	Why It’s Bad
Fruit + Meals	Causes fermentation
Milk + Fruit	Leads to bloating
Milk + Fish/Meat	Heavy digestion
Protein + Starch	Slow digestion
Yogurt + Citrus fruit	Mucus & indigestion
Fried food + Sugar	Acidity & fatigue
Cold drinks + Meals	Weakens digestion

• IDEAL TIMING BETWEEN FOODS

Food	Waiting Time
Fruits → Meal	30–45 minutes
Meal → Fruits	2 hours
Milk	Drink alone
Heavy meal → Sleep	3 hours

 DIGESTION-FRIENDLY 

DESI EXAMPLES

Good

• Daal + sabzi

• Rice + vegetables

• Chicken curry + salad

• Roti + bhindi

Bad

• Banana + milk

• Fruit chaat after meal

• Lassi with heavy biryani

• Cold drink with karahi.

Good for  Stomach.

Food Group	Best to Combine With	Examples
Fruits (low-acid)	Eat alone	Banana, papaya, apple
Vegetables (non-starchy)	Proteins / starch	Lauki + dal
Starches	Vegetables	Rice + sabzi
Proteins (light)	Vegetables	Boiled chicken + salad
Dairy (limited)	Alone / daytime	Plain yogurt
Healthy fats (small)	Vegetables	Olive oil + sabzi

 Combination that Trigger Acidity.

Avoid This Combo	Reason
Fruit + Full meal	Fermentation & reflux
Milk + Banana	Heavy → acid build-up
Yogurt + Fruit	Gas & mucus
Fried food + Tea	Acid spike
Meat + Rice (heavy quantity)	Slow digestion
Cold drinks + Meals	Weak digestion
Spicy + Sour together	Irritates stomach

 Food Timing good for Health.

Food	Best Time
Fruits	Morning / empty stomach
Yogurt	Daytime only
Milk	Daytime, warm
Dinner	3 hours before sleep
Water	30 min after meal

 Combination that Good for gut health.

Good Choices

• Plain rice + lauki/tori

• Roti + bhindi

• Moong dal + salad

• Khichdi

• Vegetable soup.

Food Timing bad for Health.

Avoid

• Biryani at night

• Nihari / karahi late

• Fruit chaat after meals

• Cold lassi with spicy food

• Pickles with heavy meals

Control Acidity and heart-burn.

✔ Oats
✔ Banana
✔ Papaya
✔ Boiled vegetables
✔ Coconut water
✔ Fennel (saunf) tea

For Good health keep in mind that:

• Eat small portions

• Avoid lying down after meals

• Reduce tea/coffee

• Avoid very spicy & fried foods

• Chew slowly.

Written by Wajeeha Dilawar.

from the desk of M.A f Saleem.