Food Combining

Question: Food combining.......? Is it ok for me to have a french dressing (olive oil, vinegar, white wine are some of the main ingredients) on a green salad consisting of lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes, if following the food combining rules? Thanks in advance

Answer: It's my understanding (what little I know of food combining) that vegs can go with anything. As long as you don't add carbs (other than vegs) to your oil based dressing (hope it doesn't have any sugar in the dressing), it should be fine. Suggest you read Montignac's book for details. Protein & fat & vegs (with no carbs) OR carbs & vegs (with no protein & fat) I do food combining, just without the carbs part lol Carbs without fats (no less proteins) totally lose their appeal to me. I've always worried/wondered about how blood sugar deals with high carbs & no fat to slow the blood sugar rise. Recent research shows that vitamins & minerals can't be made bioavailable at all without fats, so none gets incorporated into the body. Good luck

Question: What do you think about the food combining regimen? I've been trying to learn a little more about nutrition, I've encountered with the "food combining" method and the "traditional" balanced meal (pyramid). I'm a little confused about which regimen to follow because with the pyramid regimen you CAN mix carbohydrates and protein which you can't in the other regimen. What do you think about this regimen of having certain foods combined for maximum results?

Answer: There is no better way to bring the body to the state of optimal health than with a low carb way of eating. Low carb doesn't cause high blood pressure, high blood sugar or high cholesterol, it cures it. It is actually dangerous to take meds that lower these levels and do low carb at the same time because the levels will become dangerously low. Carbohydrates trigger insulin. High insulin levels unbalance other hormones. Anything less that 9 grams of carbs per hour controls insulin and is considered low carb (up to 144 grams per day). U.S. government guidelines were changed 35 years ago to suggest we lower our fat intake & increase our carb intake. American society followed these recommendations & lowered their fat intake by 11% & increased their carb consumption. In this same time frame obesity, diabetes, heart disease are all at epidemic levels. Through their direct effects on insulin & blood sugar, refined carbohydrates are the dietary cause of coronary heart disease & diabetes. A low carbohydrate diet is a high fat diet. The protein should only be a little higher than adequate. Although it is completely possible to live on a fat/protein only diet for long term (as proven by research done in a hospital setting) it becomes boring fairly quickly. Luckily many vegetables & some fruits, nuts & seeds are low in carbs & greatly expand the diet. Most long term low carbers eat as many, if not more non starchy vegetables than vegetarians. Glucose is the bodies preferred fuel (if you want to get technical, it actually burns alcohol most efficiently, but that doesn't make it any healthier for the body than carbs), the body can convert 100% of carbs, 58% of protein & 10% of dietary fat into glucose. The body can also be fueled by fat (dietary fat & fat cells) but only in the absence of carbs. Your brain actually prefers* to be fueled by ketones (part of the fat burning process), it does require glucose also, but glucose can be easily converted from excess protein if needed or dietary fat. Plaque build up in the arteries is more attributable to carb consumption than dietary fats, which seems to be the conclusion of the following study. Carb consumption raises triglycerides & VLDL (bad cholesterol). Fats raise the HDL (good cholesterol). High triglyceride levels & low HDL levels are an indicator of plaque & glycation - the precursors to a heart attack & heart disease. http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2009/1… study from the Oxford group examining the postprandial (after-eating) effects of a low-fat vs. low-carbohydrate diet. (Roberts R et al, 2008) Postprandial lipoproteins, you'd think, would be plentiful after ingesting a large quantity of fat, since fat must be absorbed via chylomicrons into the bloodstream. But it's carbohydrates that figure most prominently in determining the pattern and magnitude of postprandial triglycerides and lipoproteins. Much of this effect develops by way of de novo lipogenesis, the generation of new lipoproteins like VLDL after carbohydrate ingestion. Gary Taubes who wrote "Good Calories, Bad Calories" spent 7 years going through all the studies over the last century & dividing up the real science from the faulty science & concluded that low carb was the best way to control insulin levels which balances out other hormones & allows the body to function properly. His main points are: 1. Dietary fat, whether saturated or not, is not a cause of obesity, heart disease or any other chronic disease. 2. The problem is refined carbs in diet, their effect on insulin secretion & the hormonal regulation of homeostasis. 3. Sugars - sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup specifically - are particularly harmful, the combination of fructose & glucose simultaneously elevates insulin levels & overload liver with carbs. 4. Through their direct effects on insulin & blood sugar, refined carbs, starches, sugars are the dietary cause of coronary heart disease & diabetes. They are likely dietary causes of cancer, Alzheimer's & other diseases. 5. Obesity is a disorder of excess fat accumulation, not overeating. 6. Consuming excess calories does not cause us to grow fatter. 7. Fattening & obesity are caused by an imbalance in the hormonal regulation of adipose tissue & fat metabolism. Fat synthesis & storage exceed the mobilization of fat from adipose tissue & its subsequent oxidation. 8. Insulin is the primary regulator of fat storage. When insulin levels fall, we release fat from fat tissue. 9. By stimulating insulin secretion, carbs make us fat. 10. By driving fat accumulation, carbs also increase hunger & decrease the amount of energy we expend in metabolism & physical activity.

Question: How do I combine my food properly? I need a food combining chart.? I am having some digestive problems and have been doing a little research online about food combining. I can't seem to find a detalied chart of food types and how to combine them properly. Is a tomato a fruit or veggie? Can I combine fats and oils with starches? Are all fruits the same and can they be eaten together?

Answer: Usually you wouldn't want to eat carbohydrates and protein at the same meal. Eat carbohydrates at lunch, and proteins, at dinner. Fruits and vegetable, and fats, can be combined with any other food. Ideally 60% of your diet should be fruits and vegetables. The sequence of your meals is also important. By that I mean, the order in which you eat your food. Foods easier to digest, or containing more water, should be eaten first. Fruits should be eaten before pasta. Vegetables before meat. And so on. Check out books by Mikhail Tombak for more information.

Question: Gr, I am a vegan, and I want to try food combining? Because I do believe. I mean whenever I eat a peanutbutter sandwhich I do get bloated and gassy. But anyways I want to try food combining, but that just eliminates even MORE food choices I can have to eat so now I just don't know what to eat. Any suggestions of a vegan meal plan that incorperates the food combining laws

Answer: Proper Food Combining *does* work, when *properly* applied. It does *not* eliminate foods, per se. Raw, Whole, Ripe, foods are ALKALIZING, & Much Preferred. Cooked foods are acidifying, & preferably avoided. Whole raw grains = alkalizing | processed grain = acidifying. Ripe fruits = alkalize | fruits picked green = acidify. ALSO, you don't want foods that are Still Digesting to get mixed with Newly Eaten foods, esp. not those that require different digestive enzymes. So timing is am Important Feature og 'PFC'. Animal protein takes 4 hours to digest, & can be eaten with *non-starchy* vegetables. Non-starchy Vegetables take 2 hours to digest, & can be eaten with: other veggies,or, animal protein, or, grains / legumes. Fruits take 30 minutes to digest, & --except melons-- can be eaten with other fruits. Melons digest in 15 minutes ~ eat only with other melons. Unique is the proper, healthy combination of : Avocado, Tomatoe, & Whole Grain. After the time it takes to digest the food/s, If they remain in the moist, warm digestive tract, they will... ROT! THAT is what leads to the INTENSE PAINs associated with acid / esophageal reflux. Another cause of foods not getting digested in good time is the LACK of ENOUGH digestive enzymes -- rather than too much. Raw foods contain important enzymes for digestion, but cooking destroys them. The body is stressed trying to replace them, plus it has to work to remove those dead enzymes, as well. RAW Apple Cider Vinegar replaces many of the enzymes, aiding digestion, & often alleviating acid reflux pain. Instead of removing certain foods from one's diet, one simply learns WHEN & HOW to eat them... It Sure BEATS being in pain! My Naturopath introduced me to Food Combining. Then I read the book, "Fit for Life", esp. chs 5-7. One online article that explains Food Combining is: "The Truth About Acid Reflux" (a personal experience, plus...) www.operastars.com/features.htm (*Proper* Food Combining HAS worked for me. 'PFC' is a threat to conventional medicine's finances. *Improperly* understood & applied Food Combining can not work. It is UNfair to claim that 'PFC' does not work, based on IMproperly applied Food Combining!) http://watchtower.org/e/20020508/article_01.htm

Question: In the hay diet or food combining diet is raw meat/fish considered neutral? I am putting together a food database and I want to include raw meats and fish. One of the parameters in the database is what that food combines with. Most food combining charts show meat and fish as protein. But I found one chart from a german author that classifies it as a neutral food. (http://www.kaikracht.de/foodcomb/english/index.htm) Which one is it?

Answer: meat/fish is protien. trust me!

Question: Nutrition - Food combining in modern society good or bad? Our digestive systems evolved to eat a food type on its own ie fruit from a tree, berries from a bush meat whenever we could catch some etc Yet in modern society we eat meals all combined together so you usually have a plate of food with carbs mixed with meat and vegetables and sometimes with fruit for afters! Some people say this isn't natural and is bad for our digestion but these people are in the minority! Is it better to eat foods separately? or better to combine them? or doesn't it really matter? if so why is that the case? Thank you!

Answer: Some people feel that 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. The line of thought continues like this - when you eat a fat or carb with a protein, your body is battling against itself to accommodate the varying needs of these foods. Weight gain, indigestion and gas is attributed to this phenomenon. The 'solution?' You should eat some foods together for healthy digestion and avoid others as they actually have a negative effect on your digestion. However, several aspects of this diet have been disputed by dietitians and nutritionists. The benefits claimed by this diet are not supported by any scholarly research and are, in fact, refuted by some research. http://www.diet.com/store/facts/fit-for-life-diet The bottom line is that something may sound legitimate, but in the case of this particular diet, more research is needed.

Question: A question about proper food combining? I hear a lot about food combining and that you should not combine a protein with a carb. So by eating a peanut butter sandwhich or a tofu sandwhich, that is bad? I mean how are we supposed to eat then?

Answer: food combining is important if you have stomach troubles. most people can get away with improper combining, however, if you're prone to acid reflux, digestive discomfort, bloating after meals and so on, you may find food combining beneficial. basic rules are : no meats or other proteins with grains. veggies and grains go together, so do veggies and proteins. it's weird to adjust to at first, especially if you're used to the North American Diet, but it can be very helpful if you have tummy troubles. You may find this link helpful , it explains things in more detail as to why http://ezinearticles.com/?Proper-Food-Combining-For-Better-Digestion&id=1300850

Question: What is the thinking behind food combining? It all sounds very complicated? You hear things about not mixing carbohydrates with proteins, and no raw food with cooked food. It all gets terribly confusing.

Answer: William Howard Hay introduced it to United States in 1911. His approach was based upon the ideas current at the time regarding the alkalinity required to digest the food in the stomach and the pH of food itself. The idea is that when foods are combined inappropriately, they cannot be absorbed from the intestinal tract. Weight gain is a result of eating patterns not excess calorie intake. The upside is that you end up eating more fruits and vegetables, which are good for you, the down side is that it's deficient in necessary nutrients, like protein, calcium, zinc, and vitamins D and B12.

Question: Please share with me your impression of food combining? If it works for you, what is some of the simpliest tips to pass on? Thanks for the good answers. I myself have found benefit in it. I was just curious regarding awareness thereof in the greater out there.

Answer: Food combining is an excellent way to lose weight and maintain health while not depriving yourself of most of your favorite foods. I have been on a "food combination diet" for several years and have never been healthier. Rather than detail the plan, go buy the book FIT FOR LIFE. It outlines it perfectly, and this is a major best seller. The key to applying this diet is not to think of it as going ON a diet, but HAVING a diet. It's not something you go ON to lose weight, and then go OFF of when you reach your goal. Food combination is a lifestyle change. You adopt it, and it becomes a way of life for you. Not something you look forward to "getting off of." Want steak? You can have it, but not with a baked potato. Try a salad and steamed veggies instead. Want some bread? Cool, have a veggie sandwich. When you learn the recipes, you'll never go back to meat between slices of bread. Want a burger? Try a portobello mushroom burger. Get the recipe right, and they're better and jucier than a burger with dead cow meat. Want pasta? Fine. Don't put any meat in the sauce. And have a salad with it. Want pizza? Okay, if you must, but have that salad with it. And if you really get into the plan, you'll learn how to make your own pizza that's much healthier for you and tastes just as good.

Question: In food combining, are beans classed as a protein or starch ? I know they contain both protein and starch. I have looked on various websites and none seem to agree which they are.

Answer: My nutritionist considers beans and legumes to be carbohydrates but not starchy carbohydrates; they are supposed to replace starchy carbohydrates (rice, potatoes, pasta etc.) in meals. Beans and legumes do have protein, but you have to eat a lot of them to get the same amount of protein you would get in a piece of meat or fish. This means increased calories, so vegetarians have to be careful with everything else they are eating when using beans and legumes as a source of protein.

Question: Does anyone know of a site with meal recipes for proper food combining? I know what it's about but need ideas for making proper meals. They say proteins and starch shouldn't be eaten at the same meal, fruit and starch neither. I find it difficult to put a "real" meal together!

Answer: There is an old book (maybe 1980) called Fit for Life, it was a really good book and I never felt better after trying it.

Question: I'm doing the food combining diet. Can I still have gravy with my meal? None of the food combine websites mention this, thanks.

Answer: Yes, just not with your carbohydrate meal, as it is mostly fat.

Question: Question about Peanut butter in "food combining" or "Fit for Life"? Hi, Just want to know about peanut butter: Is it a carb or a protein. What can peanut butter be eaten with? In term of Fit for Life or Food combining? Thanks.

Answer: Peanut butter is high protein. It does have a bit of fat too, because peanut has high percentage of oil. You can eat peanut butter with bread, with crackers, or just a spoonful of it as a post-workout snack. About the fit for life or food combining, im not too sure.

Question: what do you no about food combining? all i found out is that u cant mix meats and potatoes, eggs n bread, and hamburgers and chips. can anyone tell me any more about it then that?like what other foods ur not ment to mix and what food combining actly means as i dont have a clue just that it can be bad for u.

Answer: The most important rule of food combining is not to mix at the same meal carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread, cereals, carrots, beetroot and protein-rich foods such as meat, milk, eggs, beans, nuts and seeds. Another important rule is to always eat fruit alone and wait 20-30 minutes before eating another meal so that the fruit has time to pass through the stomach, since fruit does not require to be digested in the stomach with the help of gastric juices. A third rule is that carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta) and citrus fruits (lemon, lime, orange) should not be consumed at the same meal, claiming that the enzyme that digests carbohydrates (amylase) can only function in an alkaline environment. Some people believe that this can lead to chronic conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, acne, and many other ailments believed to originate with an unclean colon. The most obvious negative effect, however, is the lack of energy after eating a large meal

Question: Have any of you tried the food combining diet? Did it make a difference to your health? My weight is okay but I feel tired too much so I want to try it, but I'm skeptical about all the diet fads.

Answer: Eat nourishing food with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables being part of it. Chew each morsel at least 32 times. This will activate signal to the brain as soon as u have had enough. Besides this change in eating style, take regular light exercises and brisk walks every day. U will be able to gain/shed all extra weight gracefully and in a reasonable time span. No food or drink in between the food and not more than three meals a day, unless u r diabetic.

Question: Has anyone tried the food combining diet? In this diet you don't mix protiens with starches. I was wondering if it would help with my IBS.

Answer: my wife has been eating sensibly for two years now, without a 'diet'. She has lost 30 lbs ans is now a trim 120lbs. She has cut out all confectionery, uses sugar substitute, and just watches what she eats. She has the odd cream cake and small amounts of cheese and butter.She also uses fully skimmed milk, hate the stuff. I wouldn't call it a diet, sensible eating best wishes