I’ve grown up hearing from elders that mixing fruits with milk is bad for digestion and can cause stomach problems or skin issues. They always say fruits should be eaten separately and never combined with milk. But at the same time, I see so many people having fruit milkshakes, banana shakes, mango shakes, and smoothies every single day without any problem. Even gyms and diet plans recommend fruit smoothies as healthy breakfast options. This makes me really confused. For example, if I drink a banana milkshake in the morning, am I harming my digestion? Or if I blend mixed fruits with milk and nuts for a quick breakfast, is that actually unhealthy? Some people also say it can cause acidity or slow digestion, while others claim it’s a good source of protein and vitamins together. So what is the actual truth? Is mixing fruits with milk genuinely harmful for everyone, or does it depend on the type of fruit, body type, or digestion strength?

Overripe fruits may be still good to eat or can easily be converted into a smoothie, juice or used as an ingredient in dishes such as banana bread.

The main thing you lose when fruit ripens too much is its texture. You no longer have the plump juiciness or crunchiness.

However, more often than not, these fruits will actually be at their sweetest.

Hence, though not the best to eat as is, there's still a lot you can do with them.

Overripe fruit will smell really sweet. A rotten fruit will smell nasty, sour or similar to vinegar. This indicates that the fruit has started to ferment.

Unless you've intentionally fermented it in the right, sterile conditions, fermented fruit is not safe to eat.

High levels of the fruit sugar fructose in overripe fruits can cause digestive upsets in people with sensitive stomachs.

Raw dry fruits contain phytates and oxalates that hinder absorption of certain nutrients. Soaking them will neutralise these inhibitors and aid in digestion. Thus, the nutritional value and flavour of the dry fruits is increased.

It is advisable to soak them overnight and have them the following morning.