Viruddha Ahara – Wrong Food Combinations

In Ayurveda, food is about nourishment, balance, and harmony. The ancient system of medicine teaches that our bodies are influenced not only by what we eat but also by how and when we eat it. 

One of the fundamental principles for maintaining digestive health and overall well-being is Viruddha Ahara—the concept of “wrong food combinations.” According to Ayurvedic wisdom, consuming certain foods together can create im

What is Viruddha Ahara?

The term Viruddha Ahara is derived from two Sanskrit words:

• Viruddha (meaning “opposite” or “contrary”)
• Ahara (meaning “food” or “diet”)

Viruddha Ahara refers to eating incompatible or counterproductive foods when consumed together. In Ayurveda, it’s believed that some food combinations can create “Ama” (toxins) in the body, disturb the digestive fire (Agni), and lead to various health problems. 

This idea stems from the Ayurvedic belief that each food has specific qualities and effects on the body. When certain foods are paired incorrectly, they can negatively affect the digestive system and overall health.

Central to Ayurvedic dietary principles is Agni, or digestive fire. Agni governs the body’s ability to digest, assimilate, and eliminate food properly. 

When Agni is strong, digestion is efficient, and nutrients are absorbed properly. However, when Agni is weak or disturbed (due to improper food combinations, poor eating habits, or other factors), it can lead to indigestion, bloating, sluggish metabolism, and the accumulation of toxins (Ama).

Viruddha Ahara disrupts Agni, making digestion difficult and leading to the formation of toxins that can accumulate in the body.

Types of Viruddha Ahara

In the famous ayurvedic treatise, CHARAKA SAMHITA, 18 types of viruddha are said.

DOSA VIRUDDHA

The utilisation of drugs, diets and regimens having similar qualities with dosas but at variance with the habit of the individual.

SAMSKARA VIRUDDHA/ MODE OF PREPARATION

Drugs and diets that, when prepared in a particular way, produce poisonous effects, e.g., heating honey and heating curd.

DESA [PLACE ] VIRUDDHA

A diet which is contradictory to a given region. Intake of dry and sharp substances in deserts; unctuous and cold substances in marshy land.

KALA /TIME VIRUDDHA

Diet is contradictory to time and season. Intake of curd at night.Intake of cold and dry substances in winter; pungent and hot substances in summer.

AGNI VIRUDDHA [POWER OF DIGESTION]

Diet is not by one’s digestive fire. Intake of heavy food when the power of digestion is mild [ mandagni]; intake of light food when the digestive power is sharp [tiksnagni]. Similarly, food intake is at variance with irregular and average digestion power.

MATRA VIRUDDHA / DOSAGE

Diet incompatible in quantity.Intake of honey and ghee in equal quantity.

SATMYA VIRUDDHA / HABIT

Diet is not based on one’s eating habits—the intake of sweet and cold substances by persons accustomed to spicy and hot substances.

VIRYA VIRUDDHA / POTENCY

Substances having cold potency in combination with those of hot potency.

KOSTA VIRUDDHA / BOWEL

A mild laxative should be administered in a small dose to a person with a costive bowel and solid purgatives in substantial doses to a person with a relaxed bowel.

AVASTA VIRUDDHA / STATE OF HEALTH

Intake of Vata aggravating food by a person after exhaustion, sexual acts and physical exercise or intake of kapha aggravating food by a person after sleep or drowsiness.

KRAMA VIRUDDHA [ORDER]

If a person takes food before his bowel and urinary bladder are clear[empty], when he does not have an appetite, or after his hunger has been aggravated.

PARIHARA and UPACHARA VIRUDDHA

We consume food against prescription, e.g., eating hot things after pork and cold stuff after eating ghee.

PAAK VIRUDDHA [COOKING]

Preparation of food with bad fuel or oil, undercooking, overcooking, or burning during preparation.

Reheating of oil creates more oxidation and, if consumed, may cause more oxidative stress, creating more free radicals. Oxidative rancidity occurs when fatty acids are exposed to oxygen in the presence of heat or light, forming hydroperoxide compounds. These hydroperoxides, in turn, form aldehyde molecules. 

Oxygenated aldehydes are toxic compounds that cause oxidative stress in the body’s cells and may increase the risk of degenerative illness and atherosclerotic disease.

SAMYOGA VIRUDDHA [COMBINATION]

Food which becomes viruddha in combination. Eg Intake of sour substance with milk.

HRID VIRUDDHA [PALATABILITY]

It is consuming food that is not suited for one’s palate, i.e., eating food that is very much disliked by one.

SAMPAD [RICHNESS OF QUALITY]

Taking food which does not have any valuable qualities. E.g., bakery items or junk food.

VIDHI VIRUDDHA [RULES FOR EATING]

Not taking food by the rules of eating.

Common Wrong Food Combinations That You Should Avoid

MILK AND FRUITS

Most people don’t know that fruits and milk are incompatible. One shouldn’t even eat fruits before or after drinking milk.

Fruits are mostly acidic, and once they break down, they turn sour. This can cause acidity, belching, and hampering the digestive fire, leading to the creation of endogenous toxins called ama.

MILK AND SALT

Milk is cooling [sheeta virya/ cold potency], and salt is heating [ usna virya/ hot potency]. Due to their opposing potencies, they become harmful to health when combined.

MILK & FISH

Fish is hot in potency, which turns harmful when combined with milk.

FISH

Fish should not be taken along with any of the following :

• Honey
• Jaggery
• Sesame seed
• Milk
• Black gram

CURD & CHICKEN

It’s common to marinate chicken using curd and then cook it. However, curd should not be used with chicken, cooked, or used with any hot food items. It is even said that one should not drink hot water after consuming curd.

HOT WATER

Do not drink hot water after having curd, honey and alcohol.

HONEY & HOT WATER

Drinking honey in hot water is believed to reduce weight. However, honey should not be heated, consumed in hot water, or consumed after consuming honey.

Honey-glazed chicken and other meat preparations in which honey is used in the cooking process are also not healthy choices, as honey shouldn’t be heated.

HONEY, GHEE, OIL, WATER

Any two or three or all shouldn’t be taken in equal qty.

Even if not together, don’t take honey and ghee and drink water as Anupanam.

BANANA

Bananas should not be mixed with buttermilk, curd, and milk,

Do not eat or drink anything hot after you have consumed any of the following

• Alcohol
• Curd
• Honey

Usage of these viruddha ahara produces toxins in the body known as annavisha, which causes inflammation at the molecular level and can dangerously hamper your health.

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