7 Food Combinations that Won't Wreck Havoc on Your Health
Bad food combinations are something that can wreck havoc on your health.
If you've ever felt bloated, burpy, gassy or even heartburn after a meal, chances are you're guilty of bad food combining.
The gist of food combining is that different types of foods digest at different rates. When you eat several foods that digest at different rates your digestion gets out of whack and things begin to rot and ferment in your body. This "sludge" turns into stored toxins. And, when your body can't digest food properly it misses out on being able to absorb the nutrients in food leaving you with low energy, breakouts and poor sleep. It's an all around bad deal.
When you get the combining right, your body gets to use the nutrients in the food, leaving you with more energy, which inevitably equals more beauty. Some people report weight loss, better skin and better sleep from just a few simple adjustments.
You don't have to be a vegan, vegetarian or raw foodie to do get results.
So that you can see the picture more clearly, here are some examples of starches, proteins and fats:
Starches:
All of these food combining guidelines take into account the speed at which food digests. Fruit digests the quickest, then greens, then non-starchy vegetables, then starches and then, digesting the slowest, is protein. Eating foods in the correct order (according their transit times) ensures a traffic jam-free (and toxin-free) digestive tract.
Food pairing is a layer of health that I, too, ignored for years (so don't get down on yourself if your not practicing it yet!). But, I have to tell you, now that I'm paying more attention my health and energy have improved tremendously.
I invite you to either try swapping out a couple of meals this week for ones on the "Excellent" list OR switch up the order you're eating your current meals so that fruits go first, followed by greens, non-starchy vegetables, starches and protein.
If you've ever felt bloated, burpy, gassy or even heartburn after a meal, chances are you're guilty of bad food combining.
The gist of food combining is that different types of foods digest at different rates. When you eat several foods that digest at different rates your digestion gets out of whack and things begin to rot and ferment in your body. This "sludge" turns into stored toxins. And, when your body can't digest food properly it misses out on being able to absorb the nutrients in food leaving you with low energy, breakouts and poor sleep. It's an all around bad deal.
When you get the combining right, your body gets to use the nutrients in the food, leaving you with more energy, which inevitably equals more beauty. Some people report weight loss, better skin and better sleep from just a few simple adjustments.
You don't have to be a vegan, vegetarian or raw foodie to do get results.
Food Combining Basics
- Starches + Veggies = OK
- Proteins + Veggies = OK
- Proteins + Starches = No No
- Plant Proteins + Plant Proteins = OK
- Animal Proteins + Animal Proteins = No No
- Starches + Starches = OK
- Fats + Proteins = No No (or pair moderately)
- Fats + Starches = OK
- Fruits are best eaten on an empty stomach
- Fruit + Raw greens = OK (except melons)
So that you can see the picture more clearly, here are some examples of starches, proteins and fats:
Starches:
- Crackers, pasta, cereal, bread, grains (rice, wheat, quinoa, millet, etc.), starchy vegetables (yams, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, etc.)
- Chicken, dairy, eggs, fish, seeds, nuts
- Avocados, olive oil, coconut oil
All of these food combining guidelines take into account the speed at which food digests. Fruit digests the quickest, then greens, then non-starchy vegetables, then starches and then, digesting the slowest, is protein. Eating foods in the correct order (according their transit times) ensures a traffic jam-free (and toxin-free) digestive tract.
Improper (but common) Food Pairings
Our culture has some really common food pairings that are just plain bad for digestion. Here are a few:- Bagel and cream cheese
- Tuna or salmon sushi rolls
- Eggs and toast
- Chicken and potatoes
- Fruit for dessert
- Beans and cheese
- Grilled cheese sandwich
- Yogurt with fruit
- Grilled or baked fish over wild rice
- Turkey sandwich
- Chicken pad thai
- Lasagna
Excellent Food Pairing Choices
Based on the food combining guidelines above, here a few everyday examples of meals that work:- Avocado sushi rolls
- Baked chicken with broccoli
- Pasta Primavera
- Salad with guacamole and corn chips
- Green salad and grilled fish
- Apple, followed by scrambled eggs twenty minutes later
- Steak with lightly sauteed spinach
Food pairing is a layer of health that I, too, ignored for years (so don't get down on yourself if your not practicing it yet!). But, I have to tell you, now that I'm paying more attention my health and energy have improved tremendously.
I invite you to either try swapping out a couple of meals this week for ones on the "Excellent" list OR switch up the order you're eating your current meals so that fruits go first, followed by greens, non-starchy vegetables, starches and protein.
For going deeper, more inspiration & more information........
