What is food combing
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, anything foods other than fruits and vegetables.
The digestion of starches (grains, potatoes, and many other roots) requires alkaline conditions, whereas the enzymes that digest proteins thrive in an acidic environment. So, if we eat a starch and a protein together, we’re asking our digestive systems to be alkaline and acidic at the same time. It’s not possible. Unfortunately, many of the typical Western food combinations ask the body to do just that.
A few basic food combining principles:
Fruit on an empty stomach, do not combine proteins with starches (i.e., potatoes, bread or rice with meat for example) and vegetables combine with everything.
To make meals simple, eat vegetables + 1 other item (vegetables + a meat OR vegetables + a starch). Don't over-eat. Eat until satisfied. Do not until overly full or stuffed. Do not eat at night before bed. Try to eat dinner early, by 6pm or so, and don't eat anything after.
5 Principles of food combining
- Eat fruit on an empty stomach
- Pair proteins with non-starchy vegetables or sea vegetables
- Combine grains and starchy vegetables with non-starchy vegetables or sea vegetables
- Protein fats go with non-starchy vegetables and sea vegetables
- Protein starches are difficult to digest so consume sparingly
Good combinations
- Protein + Non- Starchy Vegetables
- Sea Vegetables Starchy Vegetables + Non- Starchy Vegetables
- Sea Vegetables Protein Fats (nuts and seeds) + Acid Fruits Protein Fats + Non-Starchy Vegetables
- Sea Vegetables Protein Fats + Sea Vegetables Proteins + Fats and Oils
- Leafy Greens- Anything
Food Categories
Fruit
apple, apricot, banana, berries, black berries, black currants, blue berries cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, dates, figs, grape, fruit, grapes, honeydew, kiwi, kumquat, lemon, lime, lychees, melons, mango, mulberries, nectarine, orange, papaya, peach, persimmon, pineapple, plum, pomegranate, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, tamarind, tangerine, watermelon
Non-Starchy Vegetables
arugula, asparagus, bamboo shoots, beet greens, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, burdock root, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chives, collard greens, cucumber, daikon, dandelion, greens, endive, escarole, fennel, garlic, green, beans, jicama, kale, kohlrabi, leeks lettuce mustard greens, okra, onion (white, yellow, purple, green) parsley, red radishes, shallots, spinach, sprouts, swiss chard, turnip, water cress, zucchini (a vegetable fruit)
Grains and Starchy Vegetables
amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, artichokes corn, Jerusalem artichokes, lima beans, peas, potatoes and sweet potatoes, rice water chestnuts, winter squash (acorn, butternut, kabocha, pumpkin)
Sea Vegetables
agar, arame, dulse, hijiki, kelp, kombu, nori, wakame, spirulina, chlorella,
Protein Fats
avocado (also a fruit), cheese, coconut (also a fruit), kefir, nuts, olives seeds, yogurt
Protein
animal (meat, chicken, fish, eggs, yogurt), beans (both starch and protein), nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts), seeds (hemp, chia, flax, pumpkin, sunflower, watermelon, sesame), tempeh, tofu,
Results Of Poor Food Combining
When you eat certain foods such as proteins and starches together it causes a disruption in the digestive system because each type of food needs it's to be broken down a specific way by the body. Every food digest in a different way.
When large amounts of foods are consumed in one sitting, your stomach acid has a hard time breaking down all the food you just ate. This can lead to bloating, gas, pain etc. due to the food sitting in the stomach start to cause fermentation gases.
Signs that you have poor a digestive system could be:
- gas
- bloating
- stomach pains
- indigestion or heartburn
- irregular bowel movements
- fatigue
- disrupted sleep
- bad breath
- skin issues
If that sounds familiar to you then maybe this is exactly what you need to fix those issues. Try out some of the recommended combinations of foods and let us know how they work out for you. It takes time for your body to heal but with constantly and practice just be eating certain foods together you can heal just with a few better food choices. Food sensitivities will always vary from person to person.
Poor digestive issues have become so common within society that we have come to believe that common means normal. It doesn't. You don't have to live with these issues. Now all you have to do is choose to do better. You got this give it a go!
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