The seat of human health begins in the gut.
The gut is our second skin. It is a single layer of cells supported by a network of related systems, which permit the passage of nutrients into our bodies and maintains a barrier against harmful substances and organisms.
Complex or elaborate food combining can lead to digestive problems such as decreased nutrient assimilation, intestinal gas, abdominal pain, swelling, constipation, contaminated blood, and mental fog.
There are many rules regarding food combining, but our cardinal rule at The Whole Journey is to never combine fruit with carbohydrates (starches).
Avoiding this combination minimizes fermentation, bloating, and gas.
This is your one anti-cancer rule of food combining for life! Fruit and grain (or carbohydrates) have a similar digestion rate, so they, in turn, compete with one another.
The grain/carb wins the competition, and the fruit putrefies and ferments while it waits its turn to be digested. Examples of carbohydrates include potatoes, grains, bread, and legumes.
For those with well-functioning digestion, you can enjoy fruit with nuts. Since nuts take so long to digest, the fruit will get to digest first and, therefore, not create gas.
Melon: Eat it alone, or leave it alone. Due to its quick fermentation process, melon will create bloating and gas if eaten with any other foods.
A good rule of thumb to follow is to eat fruit at least 30 minutes before a meal or 1 hour after.
This depends on your digestion, blood sugar, and metabolic type. Many people, like myself, digest carbohydrates with their protein quite well (i.e. – steak and potatoes) and actually need this combination to properly support their thyroid and adrenals, while others do not.
Your body will let you know. If, when you combine starch with protein, the food sits like a rock in your stomach or you get brain fog or tired immediately after eating, then alternate your meals.
For example, one meal is focused on protein and double non-starchy veggies while the next on complex carbs with double veggies. Keeping these macronutrients 2-3 hours apart from each other ought to make a nice difference in those symptoms.
Oh and please don't mix animal proteins (Surf and Turf is a no-no) because they require different enzyme profiles and often don't digest completely when combined.
When you overeat or eat improperly combined foods resulting in intestinal discomfort, instead of an over-the-counter remedy, try one of the following:
