Foods that Don’t Go Together

1. Black tea + milk. Black tea is rich in antioxidants that decrease inflammation, which is linked to heart disease and diabetes. However, splashing even a little milk (cow or soy) into your cup short-circuits those benefits because milk proteins bind to antioxidants in tea and prevent them from being absorbed.

2. Salad + non-fat dressing. While you may think non-fat dressing makes sense, it actually blocks absorption of nutrients. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that carotenoids—plant pigments linked to a reduced risk of cancer—are more readily absorbed when paired with full-fat dressing.

3. Alcohol + caffeine. The energy boost you get from caffeine can mask intoxication, so you underestimate how drunk you are. Research has found that people who combine caffeine and alcohol are at a greater risk of being in an accident than those who steer clear of the combo.

4. Burgers + beer. Both are processed by the liver, and your body naturally prioritizes breaking down the alcohol first, since it recognizes alcohol as a toxin. This leaves fat floating in your blood stream, where it can then be stored in fat tissue. Moreover, fat causes food to digest more slowly, which is why a high-fat meal can leave you feeling stuffed and bloated long after you eat it.