Food Combining
You'll have plenty of tasty foods, just not always on the same plate.
BACKGROUND
Have you ever thought about the possibility that it's not so much what you're eating that could be the problem but how you're eating it? The idea of food combining proposes that you should eat some foods together for healthy digestion and avoid others as they actually have a negative effect on your digestion.
Some would argue it would take someone with extreme familiarity with the functions of the human body to completely grasp how exactly food combining works. But to put it in a brief, simple explanation, your body is more likely to absorb all of the nutrients in your foods if it has the time and ability to digest those foods properly, as each food digests differently. pH is a major player in digestion.
For example, fats and carbs demand less acidic conditions during digestion than do proteins, which require high acidity. When you eat a fat or carb with a protein, your body is battling against itself to accommodate the varying needs of these foods. You can typically attribute weight gain, indigestion and gas to this phenomenon.
FOOD & RECIPES
While the science of food combining might seem complicated, putting it into practice is easily accomplished when you adhere to the following guidelines:
- Do not combine carbs with highly acidic foods. This could be bread with citrus, like toast and orange juice for breakfast.
- Do not combine protein with fat. This could be eggs and cheese with butter. Simply accomplished by not cooking an omelet in butter.
- Do not combine protein with acidic fruit. This means not putting tomatoes on a hamburger or oranges as a side with your eggs.
- Do not combine sugar and starch. This removes jam on a muffin or buttered toast.
- Do not combine protein with carbs. This will bring an end to those "meat and potato" dinners Americans are so fond of.
- Limit yourself to one starch serving at any meal.
- Limit yourself to one protein serving at any meal. This means skipping ham, sausage or cheese omelets.
- Melon should not be combined with anything.
- Milk should not be combined with anything.
Don't feel as though food combining limits your options. At first it will feel like a balancing act, but you will find the rhythm and make it work for you. Breakfast will fit with on-the-go types as you'll eat just a single piece of fruit. Heavy veggies at lunch - a salad sans tomatoes, cooked green beans, peas or asparagus with one serving of rice, bread or potato. You'll enjoy another salad for dinner with three vegetables - two should be no starch.
EXERCISE
N/A
EXPENSE
No cost other than the food.
PRO
- If you get past the extra work, most foods aren’t off limits, just not combined with each other.
CON
- Critics accuse food combining as being a hard regimen to follow and question if results can be had.
- Critics also say that the suggested guidelines are difficult for digestion as well.
CONCLUSION
With Somersize from Suzanne Somers and Total Health Makeover from Marilu Henner both finding success with the food combining theory, arguments can be found on both sides. You should of course consult your physician before introducing a new weight loss plan into your diet.
Common misspellings: Foodcombining, Food combine, combine food, combine fats and carbs, Food combining diet
Anonymous: I followed a food combining diet for about two weeks and I was amazed with the results. My hair became softer, my skin didn't need moisturiser, I thinned out noticeably and never once felt bloated, gassy or constipated. This is a great diet and it doesn't really limit your favorite foods. I recommend this to everyone! Signed, Happy and Free!
Anonymous: I followed a food combining diet for about two weeks and I was amazed with the results. My hair became softer, my skin didn't need moisturiser, I thinned out noticeably and never once felt bloated, gassy or constipated. This is a great diet and it doesn't really limit your favorite foods. I recommend this to everyone! Signed, Happy and Free!
Anonymous: I followed a food combining diet for about two weeks and I was amazed with the results. My hair became softer, my skin didn't need moisturiser, I thinned out noticeably and never once felt bloated, gassy or constipated. This is a great diet and it doesn't really limit your favorite foods. I recommend this to everyone! Signed, Happy and Free!
Judy: I have been doing food combining for about 8 weeks now and have lost 22 pounds. I feel great and find this is the easiest food plan ever if you want to loose weight and feel good.
Jill: I've been doing "Fit for Life" for a year and have lost 60lbs. Feel great, look younger. And it is very easy to follow fits PERFECTLY in my lifestyle and it is not like a "diet" as I stick to this no problems! It makes perfect sense to me about different enzymes breaking down different types of food. I even stretch a few things and still lost!
Claire: Food combining is great! I have only been doing it for one week, and I've already noticed a complete change in my skin not to mention not having that bloated feeling after eating. I highly recommend it!
Keao: I am new to food combining and find it interesting that I am now thinking more while I eat, about what eating is really for!
