Which Food Pairings Should Be Avoided?

When two or more ingredients share similar flavor compounds—the chemical structures in food that create aroma—they taste good together; however, some food pairings can cause health problems.

According to James Briscione, director of culinary research at The Institute of Culinary Education in New York and author of "The Flavor Matrix," there are some food pairings that make your body work a lot harder than it needs and can cause health problems. Insider spoke with several health and food specialists to find out what food pairings you should try and avoid for the sake of your health. 

When it comes to whole grains and spinach, it's best to consume the greens at least two hours before any high fiber foods. The high fiber from the whole grain and oxalic acid from the leafy green can block calcium absorption.  

What about that breakfast treat of a muffin and orange juice? This high-carb combo will lead to a blood sugar peak and crash do to an excess of carbs. 

The national favorite of a burger, fries and a soda will only makes us crave more. The processed sugar basically shuts off the signals in the brain and gut that tell you you're full. 

The classic combo of a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup may be good in theory but will likely leave you with a stomach ache not long after. The acid from the soup combined with the cheese are difficult to digest.  In addition, most canned tomato soups are high in sugar and the grilled cheese is high in fat and carbohydrates with little protein and both are high in sodium. As an alternative, choose a low-sodium soup without added sugar and use whole-grain bread with a low-fat cheese, according to Woman's Day. 

And after that terrific meal, it's time for dessert—but skip the wine. Alcohol interferes with blood sugar by increasing levels of insulin. As a result, the extra sugar in your dessert turns into fat, leading to weight gain.