Bananas And Milk: We all love milkshakes and smoothies, don't we? The blend of seasonal fruits and milk is the perfect combination to cool down on a hot summer day. Who doesn't love to have a banana milkshake as a refreshing mid-meal beverage? While it tastes amazing, banana and milk might not go well when mixed together. Yes, you read that right. While the combination of banana and milk has long been seen in chilled milkshakes, it may pose various health risks. We spoke to many experts and here's what you should know about consuming this combination together.
Combination of Banana and Milk - Good or Bad?
Whether the famous combination of milk and banana is good or bad for health has always been in debate. While many suggest that both make an excellent combination, some recommend against mixing banana with milk. When we asked expert Dietitian and Psychologist from Care For Life, Harish Kumar, this is what he had to say, "We do not recommend this combination as it may prove to be very harmful for the body. Even if you want to consume them, you can first take milk and after 20 minutes, eat a banana. You must also avoid banana milkshake as it hinders the digestion process and disturbs your sleeping pattern.
The combination of banana and milk has always been under a debate.On the contrary, expert Nutritionist and Macrobiotic Health Coach, Shilpa Arora says, "Banana with milk is a great option for body builders and people who wish to gain weight and need energy for high intensity work. However, it is not recommended for people with allergies like asthma as it creates mucus which leads to breathing disorders."
(Also read: Should we or Shouldn't we Eat Bananas on an Empty Stomach)
What Does Ayurveda Say?
As far as Ayurveda is concerned, every food has its own taste (rasa), post digestive effect (vipaka) and a heating or cooling energy (virya). Therefore, an individual's agni or gastric fire determines how well or poorly the food is digested, and right food combinations are of great importance. Ayurveda strictly puts milk and banana in the list of the most incompatible foods.
According to the book The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, A Comprehensive Guide to the Ancient Healing of India by Vasant Lad, combinations of fruits and milk are to be avoided strictly.
(Also read: Ayurvedic Tips to Drink Water)
According to a report Food Combining by Vasant Lad, eating bananas with milk can diminish agni, produce toxins and may cause sinus congestion, cold, cough and allergies. Although both of these foods have a sweet taste and a cooling energy, their post digestive effect is very different. Bananas are sour while milk is sweet. This further causes confusion to our digestive system and may result in toxins, allergies and other imbalances.
Ayurveda Specialist at Dr. Vaidya's, Dr. Surya Bhagwati says, "It is a bad combination and is known as Viruddh Aahar (incompatible combinations). It generates Ama, a toxic substance that is the root cause of imbalance and diseases in the body. It douses the digestive fire hence disrupting the intestinal flora. It also causes congestion, cold, cough, rashes and allergies. It creates a negative reaction in the body, generates additional water, blocks body channel, contributes to heart diseases, vomiting and loose motion."
So, Should You or Shouldn't You?
According to our experts, banana and milk do not go well together and may cause serious harm to our health. Therefore, it is better to avoid blending banana with milk and rather have them separately. They have their own properties that benefit our health; however, mixing both may kill those properties causing ailments in the body.
Disclaimer:
This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.