There are three important factors that help us choose which foods to eat in
combination, and when. These are acid-alkaline balance (I will dedicate a blog to this in the near future – stay tuned!), food combining, and food rotation. Here’s some information...
Ideally, the diet should contain about 70% alkaline foods. This can be achieved by eating fruits and vegetables, whole grains, sprouts, and smaller amounts of animal foods. With the right balance of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and amino acids, we can keep the system functioning optimally. Physical activity and mental well-being also play a large role in overall health, of course.
Food combining is the theory that for the best digestion and utilization of food, certain rules for combining foods in meals need to be observed. Over hundreds of years, it has been observed that physiological problems may occur from improper combination of foods. Principles suggested with regards to food combining include the following:
Fruits are more easily digested than other foods, and therefore thought to be best eaten alone. Eating fruit in the mornings is a great way to start the day, and it’s great to snack on between meals. Remember the rule about melon? It’s always best eaten on its own and not with other fruits, as it digests at a different rate, and doesn’t digest as well when eaten with other foods. Eating fruits with other foods can seem like great variety or an attractive accompaniment, but it can actually delay passage from the stomach, causing an unwanted fermentation process to take place, which can cause gas to go through the intestines.
Meat requires a medium that is more acidic for digestion, and this of course is different from the more alkaline environment that is needed for starches and vegetables. Eaten together, starches, vegetables, and meats may engage the digestive system in a suboptimal way, rendering digestion less efficient and causing it to take longer. Food combining principles suggest that it may not be best to mix proteins and starches. Most of us do this every day though, don’t we?
Feeling a little overwhelmed yet? I totally understand. The digestive issues that can result from suboptimal food combining can lead to pain, discomfort, and inflammatory responses in the body that can cause a number of other issues. It’s absolutely true that we are what we eat – and, as it turns out, how and when we eat it!
There is a lot to learn when it comes to food combining. It can be overwhelming until you get a handle on it, but I can help you with that! Click here to book your intake, or book a free 15 min introductory meeting.
*Source: Staying Healthy with Nutrition (Elson M. Haas, MD)
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