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Viruddha Ahara(Incompatible Food)

The food which is wrong in combination, which has undergone wrong processing, which is consumed in incorrect dose, which is consumed in incorrect time of day and in wrong season can lead to Viruddha Ahara. It also enlists a variety of incompatible dietary articles consumed in day-to-day life and its hazardous effects on health. Viruddha Anna or incompatible diet is very important issue discussed by ancient Ayurveda Acharyas. It is said to be the cause of many systemic disorders as per Ayurveda literature. Persons who consume ViruddhaAhara are prone to many disorders. It is also essential to know how certain food combinations interact with each other and create a disease. The literal meaning of word Viruddha is opposite.

It identifies that the combination of certain type of food may have –

  • Opposite properties
  • Opposite activities on the tissues
  • May exert some unwanted effect on the body when processed in a particular form
  • May exert undesirable effects, when combined in certain proportion
  • May have unwanted effect if consumed at wrong time.

Examples of incompatibility/antagonistic (Viruddha-Aahara)

  1. Veerya Viruddha (potency incompatibility) — eg. fish + milk.
  2. Sanskara Viruddha (processing incompatibility) — eg. heated honey.
  3. Matra Viruddha (dose incompatibility) — eg. honey + cow’s ghee mixed in equal proportion.
  4. Krama Viruddha — eg. hot water after taking honey.
  5. Kala Viruddha — (time incompatibility) eg. pungent substance in summer and cold substances in winter.
  6. Krama Viruddha (order incompatibility) — eg. consuming curd at night. Taking Madhura Rasa Dravya (Sweet food substances)  at the end of meals and Tikta/ Katu Rasa Dravyas (Bitter/ Spicy food substances) at the starting of meals.
  7. Samyoga Viruddha (combination incompatibility) — eg. fruit salad or milk + banana.
  8. Parihar Viruddha (contraindication incompatibility) — eg. consuming cold water immediately after having hot tea or coffee.

It can be said that, the immune system, endocrine system, digestive system, nervous system, and circulatory systems are affected by continuous consumption of ViruddhaAhara.

Some Detailed Examples of Incompatible Food

Green tea or black tea and milk

Tea contains flavonoids called catechins, which have many beneficial effects on the heart. When milk is added to tea, then a group of proteins in milk, called caseins, interact with the tea to reduce the concentration of catechins. So avoid tea and milk together.

Milk and yogurt interaction

As you know consuming both together can precipitate milk inside the stomach that may irritate and induce vomiting.So avoid milk and yoghurt together.

 

Tea and Garlic

Tea contains anticoagulant compounds called coumarins. When combined with garlic (that also has anticlotting properties), they may increase the risk of bleeding. So, better to avoid tea and garlic together.

Few more examples of Sanskara Viruddha(processing incompatibility)

Deep frying of potatoes can develop toxic substances, such as acrylamide, which can prove to be carcinogenic.

Eating potato chips regularly is Sanskaraviruddha. It is also mentioned in Ayurved text that heating honey is SanskarViruddha. Honey that is available in the market is Agmark honey and this honey is strongly heated before packaging. It is very important to find the relevance about why we must not heat honey.

It has been clearly mentioned in Ayurveda text that oil and food must not be reheated. Reheating of oil creates more oxidation and if consumed may create more oxidative stress creating more free radicals.

Milk which contains lactogen and certain fruits, such as bananas, which also contain common allergen may aggravate an asthmatic attack.

Milk with eggs, reheated cow’s milk, consuming too much sugar along with saturated fats, can lead to number of immunologic disorders. It has been regularly observed in the clinics that rheumatoid arthritis patients who consume curds at night, sour food at night complain of more morning stiffness.

From the above discussion, it is clear that Viruddha Ahara is an important aspect of today’s improper dietary habits. This can lead to several hazardous diseases unknowingly to the patients. Therefore, it is important to enlist the causative incompatible dietary factors and train the patients to avoid such etiologic factors.

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Ayurveda & How it Cures

 

Ayurveda, the Life Science is the Holistic approach to health viewing life and nature as integral and related aspects of one system.
 
According to Ayurveda, health is correlated to the nature of a person and how the person interacts with the world around.  Interaction can be in different forms like the food we eat, our daily routine, the climate of the place we live in, physical activities, our mental status and so on and so forth.
More than what the word Ayurveda can be derived to, it is a way of life that takes into consideration the right combination of five basic elements of Universe.
 
Good health is the basic requirement to achieve materialistic, social and spiritual well-being of an individual. Therefore Ayurveda gives equal emphasis on preservation and promotion of health as well as in the treatment of Diseases. According to Ayurveda, a living body is a composition of Indriya(Sensory and Motor organs), Manas(Mind) and Atma( Soul). Ayurveda also advocates a holistic approach while understanding healthy and diseased conditions of the human body. In this respect, the human body is considered as the microcosms representing the Universe, a macrocosm, both are made up of Panchamahabhootha, the five basic elements. Pruthvi(Earth) Jala(Water),Agni(Fire), Vaayu(Wind)and Aakasa(Space). The balanced composition of these elements gives good health which is manifested through the normal functioning of the body. The functional unit of the body is Doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. We understand the imbalance of Panchabhoothas through the functional irregularities of the body (Dosha vaishamya)  and treat it through the scientific usage of medicine, food and regimens, the triad of the holistic approach in which medicine and food are also made up of panchabhoothas as per requirement of the individual. 
The primary aim of Ayurveda is to bring this balance in the physique to achieve harmony in health. The process of management of disequilibrium of Doshas is of two types increasing ( Brumhana) the depleted bhootha element or reducing(Langhana)  the increased bhootha element.  The reduction therapy is well developed and is widely used in the management of diseases. It is again classified into two groups   Pacificatory(Samana) therapies and Evacuative(Sodhana)therapies.  The sodhana therapy is also well known as Panchakarma therapy, Vasthi( Enema)  Vamana(Emesis), Virechana(Purgation), Nasya(Nasal purging) and Rakthamoksha(Bloodletting) The Samana therapy includes digestive drugs, appetizers, Fasting, avoiding fluid intake, exercise, exposure to sun and wind. All these time-tested modalities are very effective for the treatment of many serious ailments like degenerative diseases, gynaecological disorders to simple back pain, knee pain etc:
The unique feature of Ayurveda is the Swastha Vrutha(preventive and promotive health care). Ayurveda gives equal importance in this area along with curative therapies. The main objective of this programme is to maintain and promote the health of an individual. Through this programme, one can prevent lifestyle disorders as well as preserve youthfulness and beauty as desired. 
According to Ayurveda, every individual has a unique psychosomatic constitution, Prakruthi which is responsible for the structural and functional peculiarities of body and mind, health or disease patterns of an individual. This basic constitution is determined at the time of conception. The assessment of prakruthi is a key determinant for prescribing individualized diet, lifestyle and treatment regimen. 
 
The way of Ayurveda is to look at changing the imbalance, not to try and tackle symptoms in isolation. The primary step in achieving this is to carefully organize the daily activities like exercises, food etc, that best fits your constitution. Along with correcting the chores, embracing the right treatments in Ayurveda is the most proactive approach to prevent physical difficulties and rejoice. In today’s world, no matter which colour you wear in your profession managing the physique is very difficult provided the lack of time. Hence, it will be beneficial to keep in check your health by consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner and undergoing the right procedures and treatments. In conclusion, cherish your life with Ayurveda