Can Food Combinations Really Harm Your Health? Debunking Common Nutrition Myths

Many common food combinations are safe and may even support better health.

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Health warnings about specific food pairings—such as grilled fish with pickled vegetables or tomatoes with cucumbers—are widely circulated online. However, how much truth is there to these claims?

In an episode of the “Health 1+1” program, Huang Yiling, a nutritionist from Taiwan’s Koii Nutrition, addressed several common food myths. She emphasized that there is no need to be overly concerned about specific food pairings. With a balanced diet and mindful cooking methods, meals can be both nutritious and enjoyable.

Grilled Fish and Pickled Vegetables

Some claim that eating grilled fish together with pickled vegetables can lead to the formation of nitrosamines—a group of potentially carcinogenic compounds. Amines in fish can react with nitrates present in pickled foods, Huang said. Under the influence of gut probiotics, this reaction may result in the production of nitrosamines.