Viruddha aahara

Milk+Banana doubts
Posted by: "Shirish Bhate" shirishbhate@yahoo.com shirishbhate
Date: Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:28 am ((PDT))

Dear Shirish Bhate,
I doubt your authenticity as an Ayurvedic consultant. "Banana+ milk is a good bedtime bite", you have advised to one of our friends. It contradicts your reference,
http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ayurvedaonline/message/5940 where it is said that "Combining foods improperly can produce indigestion, fermentation,
putrefaction and gas formation. This condition, if prolonged, can lead to toxemia and disease complex. For example, eating bananas with milk can diminish agni, change the intestinal flora producing toxins and may cause sinus congestion, cold, cough and allergies."

In Ayurvedic Texts, we study this example for explaining Viruddha Aahara. In our friends' circle, we ridicule those people who take banana  milkshake. Please clarify in short. ganeshkk

Clarification:

The posted material at perinatal Ayurveda is in specific context of  chronic constipation. This is a Vata sign. In Ayurveda, several  substances, are specific remedies for specific patients and they are  also Viruddha aahara. This is confusing to Ayurveda students. To  cite examples, milk and salt+tumeric at bedtime as cough remedy,  milk+jaggery as remedy for Mutra Krichha condition, milk+lemon juice  as rapid remedy for piles.  Now Vaidya will give such viruddha ahara remedies to people  satisfying some pulse, Prakruti+vikruti combinations.

Milk, a predominant Kaphagenic food, changes properties when boiled  with turmeric or ginger. While turmeric is "hot", with milk, it  becomes a remedy for Alzheimer disease! Several vata diseases are  tamed by milk, ghee etc

Banana+milk is Viruddha ahara in general. Specifically, the Viruddha  nature becomes insignificant when Banana is ripened. Similarly for  Milk + mango. If mango is ripe, the mixture is compatible. People who  have Vata+pitta vikruti can take milk+banana (ripe) combination for  few days and they will start getting better sleep, and relief from  constipation. Many of guggulu tablets are to be taken and milk is to  be taken over them to keep heat down, in general. But depending on  patients condition or constitution, vaidya can waive this requirement.

While there are certain general statements about incompatibilities,  the same incompatible combination, under certain condition, can  become remedy for some. While milk is incompatible with citrus foods  containing acids, milk is better accepted with certain ripened sweet  fruits. And one thing, it is quantity which is important.

Milk and banana are fertility booster foods. In India, a bride walks  to nuptials with a glass of milk and ripe banana, so that the groom  can boost his semen density.

Being a kaphagenic food, it would be less desirable for persons  having kapha vitiation.

There are many remedies in Ayurveda, which are viruddha ahara in  general, but they are to be given for specific patients suffering  from specific ailments.