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This is a concept
that I really buy into. Combining foods properly not only makes great
sense but you will feel better the first day you follow the principles.
Simply put, food must be broken down for digestion by alkalines or acids.
From high school we know that alkalines and acids mixed together create a
neutral solution. This neutral solution will not be able to digest either
of the types of foods. They will rot or begin to ferment. Many
nutrition folk will argue that the human body does not follow the same
concept when digesting food. Regardless of the ongoing debate, this a
great way to feel great, lose fat and feel more energetic. A great book
for learning about food combining is Fit For Life.
Combine foods properly and eat them in appropriate quantities and you will
lose fat this week! That is how well this works. A nice additional
benefit to food combining is that you will feel ten years younger the
first week you try it!!! Now I have to add that many dieticians try to
beat the hell out the food combining concepts. The fact is that this
method of eating is safe and effective and you will have fewer instances
of gas, heartburn, and upset stomach. You can still eat a well balanced
diet and truly enjoy your food more. This concept works wonders if you
are overweight, underweight or just about right but need more energy. Try
it you'll love it!
NOTE: Many dieticians and
scientists love to spend their nights around the campfire ready to argue
the fine points of alkaline and acid digestion issues. Who cares! It is
not my intention here to discuss the science of digestion or the function
of acids or alkalines. Although I love to talk about this for just about
ever, it is a long and often boring topic for most people. The bottom
line here is that food combining works and is a great, safe way to lose
weight and keep it off and best of all, this type of eating is very whole
food oriented and healthy for you. It is easy to do and you will quickly
see the health and fat loss benefits of food combining.
FOOD
COMBINING
There are three important factors which will help us choose what foods
to eat in what combinations and when to eat them. These are acid-alkaline
balance, food combining, and food rotation. I will discuss them briefly
here, as they are useful in developing ways to improve our general health
or digestion or to reduce food allergies.
Acid-Alkaline Balance
Since our body tissues and blood are slightly alkaline, we need to eat
more foods that break down into alkaline elements. The ash or residue that
remains when a food is metabolized influences our body’s pH, or acidity.
The foods that generate an alkaline ash are the fruits and vegetables
(even the acid fruits, such as lemons), except for cranberries and most
dried fruits. The whole grains, nuts, and seeds are slightly acid in our
body, though millet, buckwheat, corn, almonds, and all sprouted seeds tend
more toward the alkaline side. The cereal grains tend to be more
acid-alkaline balanced than the more acidic nuts, milk products, meats,
and refined flour and sugar products.
For a system that does not get too acidic, congested, or mucusy, the
diet should contain about 70 percent alkaline foods. This means the type
of diet that focuses on fruits and vegetables, with some whole grains,
more sprouts, and smaller amounts of animal foods and refined treats. This
will keep our system functioning optimally, provided we get the balance of
vitamins and minerals we need, as well as the essential fatty acids and
amino acids to perform the required fat and protein functions.
Food Combining
Food combining is a somewhat complex issue—and a revolutionary idea in
terms of the standard diet. The basic theory is that for best digestion
and utilization of our food, we need to observe certain rules for the way
we combine foods within a meal.
Fruits are eaten
alone, as they are more easily
digested than other foods. We eat lots of vegetables and combine them with
either starch or protein foods—protein
foods, such as
meats and milk products, are not eaten with starches,
such as potatoes and breads. So
meat and potatoes are out, as are cheese sandwiches. The reason for this
is that, for best digestion, proteins require an acid digestive medium and
starches an alkaline one. When eaten together, they interfere with each
other’s utilization, so that digestion takes longer and is inefficient.
Fruits and
simple sugars are not eaten along with or after other foods,
because doing so would cause them to be delayed in the stomach juices and
begin a fermentation process, allowing gas to go through the intestines.
Milk is not
consumed as a beverage but used as a food.
The fruits of the melon family are
eaten alone, not even with other fruits.
Fruit is usually
eaten in the morning or several hours after other foods.
Meals are simpler than is usual in the American culture, consisting of
lots of vegetables with either a protein food, such as dairy products,
eggs, or meats, or a starch food, such as grains, pasta, or potatoes. This
type of diet, I believe, generates less stress on the intestinal tract and
creates overall better health, both immediately and on a long-range basis.
In Fit for Life, the authors stress the principles of food combining and
the need for a more alkaline diet in their program. I feel that it can be
a healthy one provided we balance our diet properly and obtain all of our
necessary nutrients.
Liquids and Eating
Many of us drink liquids with our meals. This is not really a good
practice, since extra fluids can dilute the digestive juices, making it
more difficult to break down food. Drinking water before meals or sometime
after them is much better. A small amount (less than a cup) of water with
meals may help dissolve the food and stimulate digestive juices.
Water is generally our best beverage, and consuming about eight to ten
glasses a day (most of us will need less when we consume a higher amount
of fruits and vegetables), is very helpful for weight loss and keeping the
body functioning. It is best to drink two or three glasses first thing in
the morning, several glasses between meals, and then a couple of glasses
about 30–60 minutes before dinner to reduce the appetite a bit. Sweetened
soda pops should be avoided. Milk is a food (to be used sparingly by
adults), not a beverage to be drunk with meals. Many people feel that a
bit of alcohol before a meal stimulates the appetite and the digestion of
food. Coffee or tea following a meal is enjoyed by many people, and is
probably not too detrimental when done occasionally. Overall, it is wise
to be aware of needs and drink when thirsty, and it is best to drink only
between meals, giving our digestive tract the best shot at getting those
nutrients ready for our cells.
Alkali-forming
Foods;
Fresh fruit (except plums and cranberries), vegetables, potatoes cooked
and eaten with the skins on, almonds and milk.
Acid forming foods;
Cereals and sugars, meat, poultry, eggs, fish, shellfish, cheese, most
nuts, grains, breads. |
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