Why fruits should not be eaten with meals, as per Ayurveda

Eating fruits brings diversity to the diet. Just like it is said to have vegetables three times a day for better health, including fruits in your diet is equally vital. Two servings of raw fruit can provide your body with nutrients to function well. It even helps to keep you hydrated, prevents unhealthy munching, thereby helping your shed kilos. But to gain these benefits of eating fruits you need to eat them at the right time and pair correctly.

As per Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical practice, every food should be eaten in a particular way and at a particular time. Pairing food with dairy, vegetables or meat will be harmful to your body in more than one way.

Fruits break down quickly as compared to any other food. Pairing it with any other foods can lead to the formation of toxins in the body, known as ama. It is because the pairing of foods may decrease the digestion process. Fruits have to stay in the stomach for as long as the heaviest food takes to digest, making it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients. Digestive juices begin to ferment it, which is generally toxic and may increase the risk of illness and other health-related conditions. Moreover, having fruit with dairy items like milk and yoghurt can lead to skin conditions like acne, psoriasis and eczema.

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Fruits are generally bright in colours. The bright colour of the fruit represents fire-related energy. When eaten raw, fruits help to stimulate the digestive fire, increasing your digestive health and making the stomach stronger. Cooking leads to the loss of digestive fire and healthy nutrients. So, there would be no benefits of eating cooked fruits.

When you have your bowl of fruit is as vital as how you have it. As per Ayurveda the right time to have fruit is in the morning on an empty stomach. That is the time when your stomach can absorb maximum nutrients from fruits. Also, simple carbs are best to consume in the morning and pre and post-workout. Fat, protein and low complex carbs are best to be consumed post-sunset.

You can also have it as a snack in between your meal to curb your hunger. Having fruits between-meal can provide you with essential vitamins and minerals and also prevent you from unhealthy munching. 11 am or 4 pm is the best time to have fruits. If you had your breakfast and lunch late then wait for 30 to 40 minutes to have fruits.

Eating fruits in the evening can disturb the sleep schedule and the digestion process. So, Ayurveda recommends having fruits before 4 pm or before sunset. Fruits are simple carbs that mean they can be broken down quickly, spike the blood sugar level instantly and provide instant energy. Spike in the blood sugar close to bedtime may disrupt your sleep. Moreover, after sunset, our metabolism slows down and the digestive system finds it hard to digest carbs. So, it is better to limit carb intake in the evening.