Mohamad-Ali Salloum is a Pharmacist and science writer. He loves simplifying science to the general public and healthcare students through words and illustrations. When he's not working, you can usually find him in the gym, reading a book, or learning a new skill.
Fish and Milk: is this combination harmful?
Mohamad Ali Salloum, PharmD • May 1, 2022
Share
At least once in your lifetime you’ve heard someone say that combining fish with milk is harmful and you should avoid it.
I’m pretty sure most of us heard it from our grandmothers.
To give the older generations some credit, I do admit that some of the sayings or the traditions we hear about happens to be eventually correct and real after some research and studies are done.
So is this one a myth or a real thing?
Let’s dive into science now.
Scientifically the only reason to avoid this kind of combination if you’re allergic to either of the products. No study has proven that this combination do side effects in the humans.
When searching for this correlation, you will find a lot of websites talking about the topic, but you will find no valid studies discussing this issue.
Most of the websites talk about the alternative medicine called Ayurveda, a comprehensive, natural health care system that originated in the ancient Vedic times of India (1).
Another theory I have in mind is that this saying was created across generations since our ancestors did not know how to cook fish and and de-contaminate milk. They ended up having undercooked or contaminated fish and milk.
It’s enough for a person to eat just one contaminated product and get hospitalized, so what do you think if a person ate spoiled fish and milk. I can imagine that this was a crisis back then when someone got sick and there were no medications except for some herbal products.
In conclusion, as there is no proof about the opposite, we can say that this combination is not toxic and for sure it will not kill you. It depends on your preference and if you like the products together. It’s preferable to avoid it if you have any known allergy to any of the products.
List of Services
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mohamad-Ali Salloum, PharmD
Share
Recent articles:
The deadly combo of Alcohol and Paracetamol!!
References: Han A, Kim TH. Effects of self-compassion interventions on reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress: a meta-analysis. Mindfulness (N Y). 2023;[Epub ahead of print]. [pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Li X, Malli MA, Cosco TD, Zhou G. The relationship between self-compassion and resilience in the general population: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024;13:e60154. [researchpr...tocols.org] Buenrostro-Jáuregui MH, Muñoz-Sánchez S, Rojas-Hernández J, Alonso-Orozco AI, Vega-Flores G, Tapia-de-Jesús A, et al. A comprehensive overview of stress, resilience, and neuroplasticity mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(7):3028. [mdpi.com] Pickersgill JW, Turco CV, Ramdeo K, Rehsi RS, Foglia SD, Nelson AJ. The combined influences of exercise, diet and sleep on neuroplasticity. Front Psychol. 2022;13:831819. [frontiersin.org] Ren B, Yuan Q, Cha S, Liu S, Zhang J, Guo G. Maladaptive neuroplasticity under stress: insights into neuronal and synaptic changes in the prefrontal cortex. Mol Neurobiol. 2025;[Epub ahead of print]. [link.springer.com] Blum K. The impact of chronic stress on brain function and structure. Neurosci Psychiatry Open Access. 2024;7(5). [openaccess...urnals.com] Wang X, Feng Z. A narrative review of empirical literature of behavioral activation treatment for depression. Front Psychiatry 2022;13:845138. [frontiersin.org]
References: Maloney D. The Balance Between Self-Discipline and Self-Compassion. 2026. 3 Hominick G. Self-Compassion vs. Self-Criticism: Why Beating Yourself Up Doesn’t Work. Aletheia Counseling. 2026 Jan 16. Eyal N. Studies Show Self-Compassion Is the Motivator You’re Missing. Psychology Today. 2024 Apr 23. Hollinshead J. Self-Discipline vs. Self-Compassion. Peak Resilience. 2026.
References: Quattash MS. The Depleted Mind: The Science of Decision Fatigue and Ego Depletion. Global Council for Behavioral Science. 2025. Available from: https://gc-bs.org/articles/the-depleted-mind-the-science-of-decision-fatigue-and-ego-depletion/ 5 Choudhury NA, Saravanan P. An integrative review on the causes and effects of decision fatigue. Front Cognit. 2026;4:1719312. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cognition/articles/10.3389/fcogn.2025.1719312/full 4 Schweitzer DR, Baumeister RF, Laakso EL, Ting J. Self-control, limited willpower and decision fatigue in healthcare settings. Intern Med J. 2023. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/imj.16121 3 Ordali E, Pietrini P. Mental fatigue leads to loss of self-control and poor decision-making. Coverage in The Brighter Side of News. 2024. Available from: https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/mental-fatigue-leads-to-loss-of-self-control-and-poor-decision-making/ 2 Woodley BioReg. Decision Fatigue and Cognitive Load: A Scientific Perspective. Woodley BioReg. 2026. Available from: https://www.woodleybioreg.com/decision-fatigue-and-cognitive-load-a-scientific-perspective/ 1 Keller AJ. Decision Fatigue: What It Is and How It Affects Your Brain. Neurosity Guide. 2026. Available from: https://neurosity.co/guides/decision-fatigue-brain
Understand the key difference between cravings and temptations, and learn how your body and mind influence your choices with simple, practical insights to improve self-control.
Learn how to control your actions during intense emotions using science-backed techniques. Discover practical strategies like pausing, reframing, and grounding to stay calm, think clearly, and respond wisely in stressful situations.
Lose weight while working!
How are we using old software in a modern hardware?
Understand why avoiding what makes you anxious brings short-term relief but worsens anxiety over time. Learn the science behind avoidance and effective ways to break the cycle.
Learn how sleep affects productivity, cognitive function, memory, focus, and emotional well-being. A science-based guide to optimizing your performance through better sleep.