Food Combining 101
“I am intuitive, and listen to my body. I know the answers and solutions. My body is a gift. I treat it with love and respect. I listen to myself and trust my inner judgment.
Food combining is an approach to eating that works on the premise that our bodies can only digest one concentrated food at a time. Concentrated foods are defined as starches and proteins. So, to simplify it, any foods other than fruits and vegetables. The concept of food combining is based on the premise that fruits, proteins, and starches digest at different times. Strategic food combining can help improve your digestion to achieve better health, weight loss, improved energy, reduced acne and skin blemishes, better absorption of nutrients, and improved detoxification.
Proper food combining allows the stomach to maintain proper pH balance and enzyme production, requires less energy by the body to digest food, and can also promote weight loss.
The basic food combining principles is to avoid combining starches and protein in the same meal, and to always eat fruit before a meal, not after. People who follow the food combining diet claim this is because proteins need an acidic environment to be broken down, whereas carbohydrates require an alkaline environment. They say that because there are different enzymes in the body that digest protein and carbohydrates if you eat them together it will cause digestive issues.
Carbohydrates, if on their own, get digested and absorbed into the bloodstream much faster. So adding protein or fat to a carbohydrate source can help reduce the spike in blood sugar that would come from eating that carbohydrate on its own.
We get it, just another thing to take into account when it comes to diet and eating healthy! We believe in bio-individuality and listening to your body, so one person’s medicine is another person’s poison. You know what works best for you! So we’re not saying completely go cold turkey and start only following the food combination diet… but, this could answer a lot of people’s questions as to why bloating may occur after certain meals.
So let’s break down the basics-
Rule #1
Eat fruit alone or before a meal
This is because fruit digests so quickly, typically within 30 minutes of eating. (However, fruit can be combined with leafy green vegetables in a green smoothie) Fruit is not recommended as a dessert after a meal, as it could potentially cause fermentation, gas and bloating, and promote bacterial overgrowth in the body. You can eat fruit as an afternoon snack or post-workout, as long as it’s been 3-4 hours since your last properly combined meal.
Rule #2
Eat protein with non-starchy vegetables
When we consume concentrated proteins (meat, poultry, fish, eggs), the stomach produces more hydrochloric acid and the protein-digesting enzyme pepsin. This is not a good environment for the digestion of starches. Proteins are best eaten with non-starchy vegetables, such as cruciferous vegetables, celery, asparagus, bok choy etc. We understand this goes against everything that is status quo and how meals are served the majority of the time, but it can be a good way to aid in digestion and lighter more nutrient-dense meals.
Rule #3
Combine grains with starchy vegetables and non-starchy vegetables
Starchy vegetables and grains use the same process of digestion, so eating this food with non-starchy vegetables can be a great combo. Dishes like curry and rice, classic pasta dishes and fresh tomatoes sauce, sweet potato and salad, and beets and quinoa salad.
Rule #4
Protein fats with non-starchy vegetables
The protein fats include nuts, seeds, olives, and cheeses. These combine well with non-starchy vegetables. A good example of using this rule is adding protein fats in smoothies, vegetables with olive oil, and adding nuts on top of salads.
Rule #6
Leafy greens
Leafy greens can be eaten anytime, anywhere. They are the easiest food to combine with others, while digestion does not get jeopardized, so, the more veggies the better. Leafy greens are great for detoxification of the body and liver, that is why it is important to include these with almost every meal. Poor digestion can put a strain on the liver, our all-important regenerative and detox organ, which we want working at its best for better health.
Food List REFERRAL :
Foods that pair with anything
avocado
cucumber
leafy greens (spinach, kale, arugula, lettuces, chard, beet greens)
lemons
limes
tomato
bell peppers
zucchini and summer squash
wheatgrass
Non-Starchy Vegetables
arugula
asparagus
bamboo shoots
beet greens
bok choy
broccoli
brussels sprouts
burdock root
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
celeriac
celery
Grains and Starchy Vegetables
buckwheat
millet
quinoa
artichokes
corn
jerusalem artichokes
lima beans
peas
potatoes and sweet potatoes
rice
water chestnuts
winter squash (acorn, butternut, kabocha, pumpkin)
