Abstract

VIRUDDHA AHARA (INCOMPATIBLE FOODS) IN TODAY’S WORLD: A SCIENTIFIC INSIGHT

Ojaswini Jain*, Urmila Shukla and Sunita Rajput

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Abstract

Ayurveda is one of the oldest medical systems in the world, derived from the Indian Vedas, especially the Atharvaveda. Its primary aim is to maintain and balance physical, mental, and spiritual health. Ayurveda is based on three pillars—diet (Aahar), sleep (Nidra), and celibacy (Brahmacharya)—which support the body's three fundamental elements (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). Lifestyle and diet play a crucial role in Ayurveda. Properly consumed food provides physical and mental nourishment, while imbalanced (incompatible) food can lead to various diseases. Ayurveda places special emphasis on nutritious and incompatible (Viruddha) diets. Viruddha Aahar includes food combinations that have opposing properties or are incompatible with the body's tissues. Examples include consuming dairy products with sour fruits, equal quantities of honey and ghee, and fish with milk. Such combinations are believed to disrupt digestion, leading to digestive disorders, skin diseases, and even severe systemic health issues. In recent times, the consumption of incompatible food has increased significantly. This highlights the need to study the variety of incompatible foods present in modern daily life and their impact on health.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Diet, Incompatible Diet, Viruddha Aahar, Aahar.