According to Ayurveda, certain combinations of food will promote optimum digestion (agni) and nutrient absorption, while other combinations of food are indigestible, leading to gas and bloating and ultimately becoming toxins in the system. 

To practice Ayurveda food combining, it's important to think of food in four main categories: fruit, non-starchy vegetables, starches, and protein. Each type of food requires a different digestive environment in the gut.

Fruit

Fruit breaks down quickly and should be consumed alone on an empty stomach. When we combine fruits with other foods, the fructose is not burned as energy but stored as fat. Try to eat fruit on its own, either one hour before other foods or two hours after a meal.

Here are additional tips for eating specific fruits: 

• Melons should not be mixed with any other fruit or food
• Bananas are best alone and should never be mixed with milk or yogurt
• Keep acid fruits together and sweet with sweet
• Low-sugar fruits (like berries) are easiest to combine and can be added to yogurt
• Apples, pears, or raisins can be cooked with oats

Non-Starchy Vegetables

For non-starchy vegetables, think leafy greens, asparagus, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts. These vegetables combine well with starches, other vegetables, and proteins.

Starches

The foods in the starches category include grains (such as rice, wheat, and quinoa) and starchy vegetables (like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots). These foods mix well with non-starchy vegetables or other starches but not with protein. That's because starches require an alkaline environment, while proteins require an acidic one. The enzymes required for each will neutralize or cancel each other out, leading to poor digestion.

Proteins

Protein foods include dairy, meat, eggs, and tofu. Avoid mixing proteins with other proteins and starches. Instead, eat them with green, non-starchy veggies.

You Don't Have to Be Perfect

Following Ayurveda food combining principles should be practiced when possible, but the occasional poorly combined meal shouldn't cause too many problems. After all, it's always better to eat with a relaxed attitude than to stress about getting it perfect. Plus, you can also support your digestion in other ways, including following an Ayurvedic diet, practicing yoga asana and meditation, and sticking to a morning routine.

Once you've finished eating, observe your digestion. If you experience any gas, bloating, acidity, or coating on the tongue, you may have just consumed a challenging combination. Drinking CCF (cumin, coriander, and fennel) tea can help. 

If you need a bit of extra digestive support, consider adding a dietary supplement to your routine. PIOR Living Digestion is ideal for improving gut health, helping with digestion, encouraging better food assimilation, promoting regularity, and relieving bloating.

For more tips on improving your digestion with Ayurvedic medicine, read PIOR Living's Ayurveda Digestion (Agni) Guide. 

Rachel Spillane, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Yoga Teacher, @saraswati.ayurveda