The art of combining foods in a certain way has been shown to cure illnesses and eliminate obvious digestive symptoms such as bloating and flatulence. Your digestive tract will either be your highway to health, or to pain and suffering.

Incomplete digestion means that food in your stomach and intestines is not broken down and therefore cannot be absorbed properly (leading to a range of dietary deficiencies). Some of the undigested food will pass in the faeces but most becomes a food source for yeast and bacteria which ferment and decompose it. However the toxic byproducts (usually fermented alcohols) cause unfavourable outcomes such as bloating, internal gas, pain and WIND by inhibiting the nerve function of the digestive tract, suspending their vital action of absorption.

As well a secondary effect of poor digestion is the destruction of beneficial gut flora. Unbalanced gut flora or Dysbiosis contribute to a range of common illnesses that range from Chronic Fatigue, Irritable Bowel to many different allergies and pain syndromes. Poor digestion also contributes to obesity and psychiatric illness especially depression. All this from a digestive system not working well!!

Why do certain foods combine better than others?

Well it all has to do with the basic process of digestion which is strongly influenced by pH (the level of acidity) in the stomach and small intestine. Starches are digested by mechanical action in the stomach and by enzymes in the mouth and small intestine that work in an ALKALINE environment. In contrast, proteins are digested by enzymes that work under HIGHLY ACIDIC conditions. For the most part this digestion occurs in the stomach with the aid of enzymes that thrive in the acidity caused by the stomach's production of hydrochloric acid.

If protein and starch are mixed in the stomach, then two things happen. The time for the stomach to empty is increased and the food that emerges is a mixture that is highly acid. Since the enzymes that break down starch in an alkaline environment cannot function, the process of digestion and absorption is interrupted.

If you are going to eat more than one food at a meal, you can greatly improve digestion (and avoid indigestion) by eating foods that require the same gastric juices for digestion and are compatible.

Food Combining Principles

Here are the basic principles of food combining:

1. Vegetables combine well with all other food categories, with the exception of fruits which should be eaten alone.

VEGETABLES

Non-Starch

Asparagus Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Celery Chard Chicory Cucumber

Dandelion Eggplant Endive Green Beans Kale Kohlrabi Parsnip

Spinach Sprouts Summer Squash Green Peppers Tomatoes Turnips Water Cress Zucchini

Mild Starch

Artichokes Beets Carrots

Cauliflower Celery Root Corn

Mushrooms Peas

2. The two most concentrated foods - proteins and starches - should NOT be eaten at the same meal.

PROTEIN STARCH

Meat  Soybeans Biscuits Grains
Fowl   Legumes Breads Pasta
Fish Nuts Cereals Potatoes
Eggs Seeds Crackers Pumpkin
Dairy products Yoghurt Dried beans Winter squash

3. Fats and oils combine well with starches and vegetables, but not with protein. If you must have fats with protein, offset it with a green vegetable salad.

FATS OILS

Avocado Olives Avocado Safflower
Butter Margarine Canola Sesame
Cream Sour cream Corn Soy
Lard Olive Sunflower
4. Fruit should be eaten alone, preferably on an empty stomach or 3 hours after eating. After you've eaten fruit, wait 20-30 minutes before consuming any other food.

FRUIT

Acidic

Blackberries Plums Grapefruit Pomegranate Cumquat Raspberries Lemon Strawberries Lime Tangerines Orange Tangelos Pineapple

Sub-Acidic

Apple Loquats Apricot Nectarines Blueberries Papaya Cherries Peach Figs Pear Grapes Plums-sweet Kiwi Fruit

 

Sweet  Melon Bananas Cantaloupe  Dates Casaba Dried Fruit Honeydew Grapes Watermelon Persimmon

Other food combining tips

1. Melons are digested quickly and therefore eaten best alone.
2. Avoid following your main meal with a sugary, starchy dessert.
3. Follow the example of your ancestors and eat your fill of one food at a time for easier digestion.
4. Avoid drinking a lot of water (especially cold water) throughout your meals, as it may dilute and inhibit the enzyme activity required for digestion.
5. You may also like to consider taking a high-quality enzyme supplement with meals to improve your digestion.

CHEW ALL FOOD CLOSE TO LIQUID CONSISTENCY

Food combining attracts some controversy. Many people swear by it, while others find it ineffective and frustrating. Food combining is an area where everyone seems to have an opinion. One way to find out what is right for yourself is to experiment. Try it and see how you feel. Listen to YOUR body. What works for one person may not work for another person.




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