Food Combining

This post may be a bit of a stretch for many of you. Why would the combination of the food I eat make a difference to my health, weight, how I feel, etc?

Digestion--Break it Down
I first learned about food combining when I studied Ayurvedic Medicine in my yoga teacher studies. In ayurveda, it is taught that certain foods do not combine well, because it takes different kinds of enzymes to break down in our bodies. Therefore, it is best not to eat them in the same meal. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but meat and starch do not mix!!

Digestion--Quick Exit
Yes, I mean going potty! Look at it this way, if your body only has so much energy in a day, how much of it do you want spent on breaking down your food? If you follow food combining guides, you digestion is quick. You will go to the bathroom more often. Your body can be spending energy revitalizing and repairing your body, not spending too much time digesting your food.

Weight Loss---Maybe
Some weight loss programs promote food combining strategies for weight loss. I can say that when I follow food combining strategies, I definitely feel thinner and lose weight. That being said, I cannot say that it is the food combining only. When I am following food combining, I have a very clean diet and exercise, as well. I do think that the food combining plan does help eliminate water retention and promote digestion. When I follow the rules, I feel light and have good energy.

Good Food Choices
I will share the food combining rules with you. NOTE: There are no Cheetos, Oreos, Soda, etc. on the chart. You will make better food choices, if you follow these rules. We are talking whole foods only, folks. If you need to break yourself from processed foods, this is the plan for you!

Food Combining Guide:

1. Fruit--Eat is alone or leave it alone. Fruit does not combine with anything. It takes only 30 minutes to digest, so if you are hungry before bed or a workout, fruit is a good choice.

2. Nuts/Seeds/Dried Fruits--raw nuts, seeds, unsulfured fruits only.

3. Flesh Protein/Meat--Fish, Eggs, Chicken, Meat, Game, Shellfish, Raw Cheese

4. Starches--whole grain breads, brown rice, sweet potatoes, avocados, legumes, cooked corn, pasta

Do not mix foods between 1-4. Veggies combine with meat. Veggies combine with starch. Veggies combine with nuts, seeds and unsulfured dried fruits.

Veggies/Meat
Veggies/Starch
Veggies/Nuts, Seeds, Dried fruit
______________________________________________________
5. Starch and Meat do not mix.

6. Avoid dairy, but if you eat it, it combines with meat.

7. Chocolate--70% chocolate bars (Green & Blacks and Dogoba, for example) can be enjoyed.

8. Wait 3-4 hours between meals. Let one meal digest before you eat another.

This is an oversimplified list. I suggest that you read The Raw Food Detox Diet for a great food combining chart. There are other charts on the web. I prefer Natalia Rose's because it is the easiest to read.

Check it out. See how you feel. You can always go back to how you eat today.