By Diane M. Hoffmann, ph.d./th, c.n.c.
One of the most important systems in our body is the digestive tract. That is where all our food intake is physiologically changed into nourishing and healing fuels and substances that make the zillions of cells work together for good in our fearfully and wonderfully made body. Health, nutrition and easy diet begin with avoiding wrong foods combination.
Wrong food combinations from too much varieties taken at the same time will cause too many different enzymes for effective processing in our digestive system. And if these are from bad foods -- as most of our food intake is -- i.e., junk foods, sugars and processed foods, it will actually NOT provide enough enzymes for proper digestion. Enzymes are the essential protein molecules that break down the foods into the necessary chemicals for the proper healthy operation of the body system.
Poison to the bloodstream
Wrong foods combination will inhibit digestion and create various degrees of digestive distress from fermentation and putrefaction, to food allergies, foul gas and stools, loose, impacted and pebbly stools and if persistent, even blood in the stools.
Experts tell us that undigested substances such as monosaccharides created in the digestive track become poison to the bloodstream. Alcohol, acetic acid, ptomaines (carbs), leucomaines, hydrogen sulphides become putrefied proteins and poison. Decomposed foods are created by rancid fats; carbon dioxide, acetic acid, alcohol and fermented carbohydrates (starches and sugars). If this isn’t enough to scare us into changing our bad food habits, nothing will.
Eventually, these dangerous elements cause complicated common place problems such as painful hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, colitis, etc.
To avoid these, there are simple foods combination rules that should be followed:
First, we should eat at separate meals the following items:
acids & starches;
proteins & carbohydrates;
proteins & acids (to avoid putrefaction);
fats & proteins (fats stop gastric juices from performing);
sugars and proteins (sugars digest only in intestines and ferment in the stomach);
starches & sugars (they invite fermentation).
I bet you’re eating these together in one meal all the time! Well, truly most of us do.
Some examples of acid and alkaline foods are:
Acid: meats, dairy products, fish, grains, wheat, nuts (except almonds and brazil nuts), cheeses, lentils, peanuts... these are high protein foods.
Alkaline: beans and bean sprouts, turnips, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, watercress, potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, millet; apricots, figs, prunes, raisins, dates, grapefruit, peaches, apples, grapes, bananas... in other words vegetables and fruits.
Experts recommend an alkaline-acid food ratio of about four to one, or eighty percent alkaline foods and twenty percent acid foods for a healthy body.
Eat one at a time: concentrated protein. In other words don’t mix beef and fish, or pork and chicken, (you know the popular "surf and turf"), etc. Have one or the other at a meal.
Eat alone, at least 1/2 hour after a meal: melons (digests only in the intestine); milk; desserts. Desserts have no food value except if they are specifically made of wholesome and nutrients ingredients - like the one on my "Foods to Delight" list of the "21-day Health and Weight Recovery Challenge".
Factors that create bacterial decomposition
Factors to watch for which will create bacterial decomposition of foods during the digestive processes are: overeating (beyond natural enzymic limitations); eating when tired; eating just before heavy or stressful work; eating when too cold or too hot; eating when there is fever or inflammation; eating when in pain, angry, worried, anxious, fearful, etc.
The use of alcohol, vinegar, condiments will retard digestion and cause bacterial activity and decomposition of foods. Excessive bacterial activities can produce long-term health problems, diarrhea and nutritive losses.
Circumstances that will reduce bacterial decomposition of foods are: choices of alkaline groups of foods as opposed to acid, and a simplicity of foods as opposed to mixture; the removal of factors such as stress and anger. Taking care that the foods are digested properly in order to avoid rotting in the digestive process and seeing that foods are properly combined will reduce or eliminate gas, bad breath (caused by gastro-intestinal fermentation and putrefaction), foul stools and gas. Proper food combination will produce a sweet breath, odorless stools and no gas.
Some best and worst combination
The following is a sample list of some of the best and worst food combination:
Good combination are: protein and vegetables; complex starches, legumes, vegetables; oil and leafy greens; oil and acid.
Fair combination are: proteins and acid-fruit; leafy greens and acid-fruit; leafy greens and sub-acid fruit; acid, sub-acid and sweet fruit.
Bad combination: protein and simple starch; oil and simple starch; fruits and complex starch; fruits and vegetables.
It is sad to say, but we will not enjoy perfect digestion and health until we respect our body’s natural enzymic limitations and stop over-eating. We will have good health when we follow the rules of good foods combination, when we avoid mixtures and varieties of foods, when we resort to simple meals of one type at a time and when we eat with ease and comfort instead of in fast-paced and stressed out situations.
Health, nutrition and easy diet begins with avoiding the wrong foods combination that interfere, obstruct, impede and hinder our digestive system. Before undertaking any major alternative health program and adding supplements to your diet, check any medical matters of concern that you may have within your body with your doctor or health professional who can help to create a beneficial program for your individual need./dmh
Articles copyright(c)2011 Diane M. Hoffmann. You may reprint this article without any changes, making sure to include the following bio.
Diane M. Hoffmann is a certified nutritional consultant offering a web site on health and nutrition as well as her special 21-day health and weight recovery challenge at http://easyhealthwellnessweightlossdiet.blogspot.com/ .
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