Incompatible Food Combinations Chart: What Not to Mix

NAME OF FOOD INCOMPATIBLE WITH MILK BANANAS Fish, Melons, Yogurt, Sour Fruits, Kitchari (mung dal and basmati rice), Bread made with yeast YOGURT MILK Sour fruits, Melons, Hot drinks—including coffee and tea—Fish, Mango (thus mango lassi is not a good idea), Starches, Cheese, Banana MELONS EVERYTHING , especially: “Eat them alone or leave them alone” Grains, Starches, Fried foods, Cheese EGGS MILK Yogurt, Melons, Cheese, Fruits, Potatoes STARCHES BANANAS Eggs, Milk, Dates HONEY GHEE in equal proportions (by weight) (never cook honey) Grains CORN Dates, Raisins, Bananas LEMONS Yogurt, Milk, Cucumber, Tomato (Potato, tomato, NIGHTSHADES Yogurt, Milk, Melon, Cucumber eggplant) Particularly to be avoided are such concoctions as banana milkshakes and “fruit smoothies” made with milk. Mixed fruit salads are also incompatible. Some blended fruit drinks made with all fruit may be all right, but check this chart first. Recommendations Regarding Milk and Milk Products In Ayurveda, milk and dairy products such as ghee and freshly made yogurt are considered highly important to the diet.

However, the process of pasteurization, which kills bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms, may also destroy the enzymes necessary for proper digestion. If the milk is heated for a fairly long period of time, such as fifteen or twenty minutes, the enzymes will definitely be destroyed, and calcium and other nutrients may not be absorbed. When milk is heated just until it reaches the boiling point, its enzymes are not destroyed, and it becomes less kaphagenic. So if you can obtain organic, unpasteurized milk from certified dairies and heat it just to the boiling point, that would be best.

Nevertheless, pasteurized milk from the supermarket, and dairy products made from that milk, are still better than no dairy products at all. Note that for each food in capital letters on the left, the food in capitals on the right is the most incompatible; foods in small letters are less incompatible. Food and the Three Gunas The Ayurvedic tradition teaches that food is not only for nutrition, to nourish the body, but also affects the mind and consciousness. As we have a physical constitution (vata–pitta– kapha), we also have a mental constitution characterized by the three gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas.

According to the Sankhya philosophy of creation, sattva, rajas, and tamas are universal qualities necessary for the creation of the universe (see this page). They are equally necessary for maintaining our psychobiological functions. Because of sattva, we remain conscious and reawaken every morning. Because of rajas, our thoughts, feelings, and emotions move in a creative way.

Because of tamas, we become tired, exhausted, and heavy; without tamas there is no sleep. Another way to look at it is that sattva brings clarity, rajas brings perception, and tamas gives solid, concrete experience. These three qualities are also necessary for the functioning of every cell. Satva is potential energy, rajas is kinetic energy, and tamas is inertia.