Food is the most essential element for living beings for survival. However, the type of food combination we choose to eat can either benefit or harm our body. Below are 50 common food combinations that can be harmful.

1. Fruit and Yogurt

Yogurt is a healthy food choice, but it should not be paired with fruits high in citric acid such as grapefruit, oranges, and pineapple.

When fruit and yogurt are combined, the acid from the fruits reacts with the proteins in yogurt, making it challenging to digest and causing stomach upset.

2. Milk and Citrus Fruits

Milk and citrus fruits are a disastrous food combination. Citric acid in the fruits curdles the milk, making it hard for digestion, causing bloating and gas in the stomach.

Additionally, it reduces the absorption of minerals such as calcium and iron in milk.

3. Beans and Cheese

Beans and cheese both are high in protein, making it difficult for the body to break down the food. The result is bloating, constipation, and abdominal pain. In some cases, a combination of these two can lead to food poisoning.

4. Meat and Potatoes

Meat and potatoes are a common food combination, but it is not the healthiest option. Both foods have high levels of purine, leading to uric acid built up, causing joint pain and inflammation.

5. Eggs and Bacon

Eggs and bacon are a popular breakfast combination, but it is high in fats and calories. Consuming frequently can increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

6. Milk and Banana

While consuming milk and banana together might seem like a healthy choice, it is not. Bananas are acidic, and when consumed with milk, it enhances mucus formation causing discomfort to people with respiratory conditions such as asthma.

7. Bread and Jam

Bread and jam seem like a simple food combination, but it is not ideal. Jam is high in sugar, and when consumed with bread, it causes an insulin spike leading to weight gain and diabetes.

8. Grilled Chicken and High-Fat Sauce

Grilled chicken is healthy, but when paired with high-fat sauce such as ranch or cheese, it makes it an unhealthy food combination. The high-fat content can increase the risk of heart disease and obesity.

9. Spinach and Cheese

Spinach and cheese may sound like a healthy combination, but it is heavy to digest. It can cause bloating and constipation.

10. Orange Juice and Cereal

Orange juice and cereal seem like a healthy breakfast option, but it is not. Cereal often contains high amounts of sugar and when paired with orange juice that is acidic, it causes stomach upset and acidity.

11. Fruits and Nuts

Fruits and nuts are healthy food choices, but the combination is not ideal. Fruits are rich in sugar, and nuts are high in fat, making it hard for digestion and leading to weight gain.

12. Vegetables and Dairy

Combining vegetables and dairy may interfere with digestion. Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, take longer to digest while dairy products such as cheese and milk go bad quickly, causing abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea.

13. Tomato and Pasta

Tomato and pasta combinations are loaded with carbohydrates, leading to high sugar spikes. Additionally, it may cause acidity, leading to heartburn and acid reflux.

14. Red Wine with Fish

Red wine with fish is a common mistake. The high tannin content present in the red wine destroys the delicate texture of the fish, making it dry and leading to a foul taste.

15. Rice and Beans

Rice and beans are a staple food in many cultures, but combining them makes it a high-carbohydrate meal. Frequently consuming the combination can lead to weight gain, and high blood sugar levels, leading to diabetes.

16. Salty Snacks and Sodas

Consuming salty snacks such as chips and soda is a double whammy for the body. The combination dehydrates the body and leads to bloating and water retention.

17. Cheeseburger and Fries

Combining cheeseburger and fries is an unhealthy meal combination. The high-fat content leads to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.

18. Low-fat Foods and Sugar

Low-fat foods combined with sugar is not the ideal choice. Low-fat foods often have high sugar content, leading to weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes.

19. Avocado and Cheese

Pairing avocado and cheese is a wrong choice. Cheese and avocado are rich in fats, making it hard for digestion, leading to bloating and gas.

20. Lentils and Dairy

Consuming lentils and dairy is not ideal. Lentils are rich in protein, and dairy products are loaded with fats, creating digestion problems and stomach pain.

21. Spicy Food and Chocolate

Spicy food and chocolate are a commonly consumed combination, but it can cause heartburn, leading to digestive issues.

22. Tea and Milk

Tea and milk are a common food combination, but it can lead to acidity. The lactic acid in the milk curdles with the tea, leading to indigestion.

23. Fruits and Milk

The combination of fruits and milk can cause bloating and gas. The fruit acids curdle the milk, making it difficult to digest and leading to an upset stomach.

24. Fruit and Chocolate

Fruit and chocolate sound appetizing but are not ideal food choices. The sugar in the fruit and chocolate leads to high blood sugar levels and weight gain.

25. Grilled Meat and Pickles

Grilled meat and pickles are a wrong combination. Pickles are acidic and can lead to inflammation when consuming with grilled meat.

Related Article The Top 30 Unhealthy Food Pairings

26. Fried Chicken and Soda

Fried chicken and soda is not a healthy meal combination. The high-fat content of the chicken and sugar in soda can lead to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

27. Cheese and Meat

Pairing cheese and meat can cause digestion problems. The combination of dairy and protein can lead to bloating, stomach pain, and constipation.

28. Bread and Cheese

Bread and cheese can cause bloating, indigestion, and constipation. The combination of carbohydrates and protein requires different enzymes for digestion.

29. Sugar and Alcohol

Sugar and alcohol can lead to the formation of belly fat, leading to an increased risk of diabetes and obesity.

30. Avocado and Fried Foods

Avocado and fried foods are not the right combination. Fried foods are loaded with fats, while avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, leading to difficulties in digestion and bloating.

31. Margarine and Bread

Margarine and bread are not a healthy food combination. Margarine contains trans-fat, which can lead to heart disease and high cholesterol levels. Additionally, bread is loaded with carbohydrates, leading to weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes.

32. Pineapple and Milk

Pineapple and milk are acidic and can lead to decreased nutrient absorption and allergies.

33. Egg and Milk

Egg and milk combination affects digestion and nutrient absorption. Additionally, both milk and eggs are common allergens.

34. Potato and Cereal

Combining potato and cereal is not ideal for digestion. The combination of carbohydrates and starch can lead to gastrointestinal distress and an increased risk of obesity.

35. Tomato and Cheese

Consuming tomato and cheese together can cause bloating and digestive problems. The combination of acid in tomato and fats in cheese can increase the risk of acid reflux and heartburn.

36. Cheese and Butter

Using cheese and butter together can lead to high levels of saturated fats, leading to obesity and heart disease.

37. Meat and Bread

Meat and bread combination can lead to indigestion, bloating, and constipation. Bread slows down the digestion process, leading to stomach discomfort when consuming with meat.

38. Tomatoes and Pasta

Pasta and tomatoes are both acidic, leading to digestive upset and bloating.

39. Avocado and Tomatoes

Pairing avocado and tomatoes cause bloating and gastrointestinal distress. Both foods contain histamine, which can trigger a reaction in some individuals.

40. Yogurt and Cheese

Consume yogurt and cheese causes gastrointestinal problems. Both yogurt and cheese are dairy products high in fat, which can slow digestion and cause discomfort.

41. Chocolate and Red Wine

Combining chocolate and red wine is not ideal. The high tannin content in red wine reacts with the cocoa solids in chocolate. The reaction leads to the formation of a compound that causes adverse reactions.

42. Seafood and Dairy

Consuming seafood and dairy together leads to digestive problems. Seafood often contains histamine, which can trigger an allergic reaction. Meanwhile, dairy contains lactose, which can cause gastrointestinal distress.

43. Chocolate and Coffee

Chocolate and coffee are often consumed together, but it is not ideal. The combination of caffeine in both leads to a double dose, leading to anxiety and the inability to sleep.

44. Fruits and Ice Cream

Combining fruits and ice cream is not ideal. Fruits are loaded with sugar, and when combined with sugar in ice cream, it leads to high blood sugar levels, causing weight gain and damage to the liver.

45. Pizza and Soda

Pairing pizza and soda is a common mistake. The combination of carbohydrates in pizza and sugar in soda leads to weight gain, high blood sugar, and heart disease.

46. Bread and Pasta

Combining bread and pasta is not an ideal choice. Both foods are high in carbohydrates, leading to high sugar spikes, weight gain, and an increased risk of developing diabetes.

47. Milk and Ice Cream

Milk and ice cream is not an ideal combination. Both are high in fat and sugar, leading to indigestion, weight gain, and an increased risk of heart diseases.

48. Meat and Fish

Consuming meat and fish together slows down digestion, leading to bloating and stomach discomfort. Moreover, the combination leads to increased uric acid levels, leading to the development of gout.

49. Red Meat and Alcohol

Combining red meat and alcohol leads to high blood pressure, an increased risk of heart disease, and liver damage.

50. Brown Rice and Soy Sauce

Combining brown rice and soy sauce leads to an enormous amount of sodium. Additionally, consuming soy sauce and rice together is high in carbohydrates, leading to weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes.

Conclusion

Choosing the right food combination is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Combining certain foods can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, indigestion, and an increased risk of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

It is advisable to consult with a dietitian for the right food combinations that suit an individual’s needs.