Combining these foods: bad for your health

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Extract from the article: Si une alimentation saine et équilibrée est essentielle pour le bien-être, certaines associations alimentaires peuvent nuire à la santé et provoquer des troubles digestifs. Alors, quels sont les aliments à ne pas mélanger et comment combiner les alim

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While a healthy, balanced diet is essential for your well-being, certain food combinations can damage your health and cause digestive problems. So which foods shouldn't be mixed together, and how can we best combine them?

Even if at first sight they seem appetizing, and even healthy, certain food combinations don't mix well and can lead to difficult digestion and abdominal pain. To avoid these inconveniences, here are the foods you should avoid combining during a meal.

Coffee or tea with milk

Regular consumption of tea with milk can reduce calcium absorption and affect long-term bone health.

On the digestive front, some people may experience problems such as bloating and abdominal pain, as milk can be difficult to digest, especially for those with lactose intolerance. The acidity of coffee or tea can aggravate symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux. Due to its acidity, coffee can increase gastric acidity and cause heartburn, an effect amplified when consumed with milk in sensitive individuals.

Bananas and milk

Some research suggests that combining fast sugars (such as those found in bananas) with proteins and fats (as in milk) may result in a slower rise in blood sugar levels. It can also make the absorption of sugars less efficient in some cases.

This can slow down the rapid energy effect that fruit carbohydrates are designed to provide. Studies on lactose intolerance have shown that consumption of dairy products can cause digestive disorders in people with a reduced ability to digest lactose. However, this combination can be beneficial for some people, particularly after physical activity, thanks to the nutritional synergy between the potassium in bananas and the calcium in milk.

Potatoes and meat

When simple carbohydrates (such as those found in potatoes) are eaten with proteins, this can lead to a delay in digestion, as the two foods are digested at different speeds.

This delay in digestion can lead to digestive disorders and sub-optimal absorption of nutrients.  What's more, this combination can lead to excessive consumption of calories and saturated fats, increasing the risk of weight gain and metabolic problems. Meals rich in simple carbohydrates and saturated fats increase the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes. In terms of acid-base balance, meat has an acidifying effect, while potatoes are more alkaline. Excessive meat consumption can upset this balance, affecting kidney health in the long term.

Milk and cashew nuts

Foods rich in fat and protein, such as cashew nuts and milk, can slow down digestion.

If digestion is slowed, this can lead to fermentation in the intestine, especially if the foods are eaten together and the digestive system doesn't break them down quickly. In addition, the calcium in milk can interfere with the absorption of minerals such as iron and zinc found in cashews.  The calcium in milk reduces the absorption of non-haem iron. For people with lactose intolerance, this combination can worsen digestive symptoms. Lactose intolerance is common, and combining dairy products with high-fat foods exacerbates digestive symptoms.

Cheese and bread

Cheese, especially the fermented varieties, is acidifying, as is white bread. Consumed together, they can upset the body's acid-base balance. An excessively acidic diet affects mineral balance and increases the risk of osteoporosis.

What's more, this combination is rich in saturated fats and calories, increasing the risk of weight gain and cardiovascular disease. Digestion can also be slowed, leading to bloating and gas.  White bread has a high glycemic index, and combined with cheese, it can cause blood sugar spikes and disrupt blood sugar management.

Bread and spaghetti

Spaghetti, especially if made with white flour, is rich in simple carbohydrates, as is white bread. This combination can cause blood sugar spikes, leading to fatigue and snacking.

Regular consumption of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index increases the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. What's more, this combination can lead to carbohydrate excess and weight gain.  The lack of fiber in bread and refined spaghetti can disrupt digestion, and a low-fiber diet leads to digestive disorders. This combination often lacks protein, essential for muscle and enzyme health.

Peanuts and beer

It is often advisable to avoid the combination of peanuts and beer. Peanuts are high in fat and protein, which can slow digestion. When consumed with beer, which is a carbonated beverage, it can lead to bloating, gas and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach.  Beer tends to be acidic, and peanuts, because of their fat content, can also increase gastric acidity. This can cause heartburn or gastric discomfort, especially if consumed in large quantities.

Peanuts are high in salt (if salted), and beer can have a vasodilatory effect. Together, these two elements can upset the balance of blood pressure in some people, especially those with a history of heart or blood pressure problems. It all depends on individual sensitivity. Some people can eat these two foods together without any problem, while others may experience discomfort. Listening to your own body is essential, and it's best to avoid excess.

William & Esther KOLANI