In the world of culinary delights, the pairing of mango and fish is well-loved and incorporated in various cuisines. However, when it comes to overall wellness through practices like Ayurveda, such combinations are often scanned more minutely. In such spaces, it is not about taste but about internal harmony and proper digestion. A popular question that comes to mind in this aspect is Can we eat mango after eating fish? The answer is deeper than your gustatory delight.
What Ayurveda Says About Food Combinations
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian science that deals with life and wellness. It places great importance on how certain food items interact with each other when consumed. As per its base principles, each food item has some energy in it. This includes heating, cooling, heavy, and light. These affect your body’s internal balance and digestion.
Fish, in general, is considered to be rich in protein, heavy, and warm. As a result, it takes quite some time to digest. On the other hand, mangoes are sweet, succulent, and cooling in nature. Separately, these characteristics are harmless and even benefit the body. However, eating them right after another can overwhelm the digestive system. This issue is particularly seen in those with a sensitive gut or a weak Agni, also known as digestive fire.
Aftereffects of Eating Mango after Fish
While modern science shows no strong evidence that eating mango after fish is harmful, here’s what Ayurveda outlines as the potential issues:
- Bloating and Indigestion: The difference in digestion speeds can cause fermentation in the digestive tract.
- Skin Reactions: Traditional and anecdotal evidence suggests that the consumption of these overly synergistic foods too often can cause skin irritations or eruptions.
- Acid Reflux: Fat in the fatty fish may clash with mango’s natural sugars and mild acidity, which in turn can raise acidity levels.
However, these concerns are never universal and often apply to anyone with compromised digestion or anyone with existing imbalances within his or her doshas (body constitutions).
Guidelines to Minimise Digestive Discomfort
Ayurveda provides a structured guideline to avoid adverse reactions.
- Don’t consume mango before the fish has had time to digest completely.
- Only go for white fish and a bit of unripe mango if unavoidable.
Understanding Individual Responses
Keep in mind the Ayurvedic framework isn’t by any means the only thing you need to do. The concepts also recommend that you find out what works for your own body. For some, there may be no issue with digesting this combination. But even if you do not feel heavy or gassy after those meals, it is time to reconsider your food pairings if you experience that state of disposition often enough.
Final Thoughts
Mango after fish: There’s not really a lot of scientific evidence against it, but according to the Ayurvedic understanding, the advice is to be careful. In order to optimise your digestive health, it is always best to keep sweet fruits like mangoes and heavy proteins like fish as separate meals. Who doesn’t know that, after all, good digestion is the foundation of good health?
