Fish and Milk: Toxic Combination or myth?
Superstitions, myths are passed on through generations by the word of mouth and some of the quite prevalent ones are about food combinations. When we say fish and milk, most of us are reminded of our grandmothers and mothers telling us to never combine the two or it will lead to some serious skin diseases. So, is the combination of fish and milk good or bad? Is it superstition or is it true?
Scientific facts
Scientifically, there is only one reason to avoid this food combination, i.e, if you are allergic to either of the products. There hasn’t been any study that can prove that this combination can have adverse effects on the body.
If you look at the ingredients separately, their nutrient values are quite high, which is why many cultures use the combination (dairy and fish) to help speed up recoveries. The scientifically backed reason is that if the fish hasn’t been cooked well or you are lactose intolerant or have a fish/seafood allergy, only then will this food combination lead to rashes and other problems.
Ayurveda
Now, when you look at Ayurveda, the strict avoidance of this combination is better explained. According to it, milk and fish are from two different diet styles, i.e., fish being a non-vegetarian food whereas milk, although it’s an animal product, being a vegetarian food. Keeping the Ayurvedic philosophy in mind, this combination is incompatible because of the different diet styles as well as because they both have completely opposite effects on our body. Since milk has a cooling effect and fish has a heating effect, their combination creates an imbalance that can lead to chemical changes in the body.
This Ayurvedic phenomenon, about the cooling and heating effect, is also supported by many nutritionists and therefore, they advise you against this combination. Although many cultures use this combination, it is recommended to avoid it, especially if you have a weak immune system. The immune system plays a huge role when it comes to the effects of this food combination. The two items are quite a rich source of protein, individually, but their composition is very different from each other, therefore, they need different digestive juices to digest. The imbalance can wreak havoc on the digestive system, which can alter the chemical reaction in the body and further weaken your immune system.
Conclusion
Fish and milk haven’t scientifically, been branded as a bad food combination, but there are many reasons to avoid having them together. Although many cultures use this combination to treat people and avoid many chronic illnesses, the facts are not consensus.
So, is this food combination toxic? Yes and No
In a nutshell, it can be concluded that this food combination is not toxic and won’t have fatal effects on you, but this food combination is bad for health, especially for people with weak immune systems. Therefore, if you can, you should avoid it. As it’s better to be aware of its effects than blindly trusting a superstition or myth.
