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Diets
Meal Based
BACKGROUND
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PRO
CON
DIET and NUTRITION
EXERCISE
CONCLUSION
Common Misspellings
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Food Combining?
Diets
Meal Based
Food Combining
You'll have plenty of tasty foods, just not always on the same plate.
Top Rated Diet Shakes of 2024BACKGROUND
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Have you ever thought about the possibility that it's not so much what you're eating that could be the problem but how you're eating it? The idea of food combining proposes that you should eat some foods together for healthy digestion and avoid others as they actually have a negative effect on your digestion.
Some would argue it would take someone with extreme familiarity with the functions of the human body to completely grasp how exactly food combining works. But to put it in a brief, simple explanation, 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. When you eat a fat or carb with a protein, your body is battling against itself to accommodate the varying needs of these foods. You can typically attribute weight gain, indigestion and gas to this phenomenon.
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PRO
- Most foods aren't off limits
CON
Critics accuse food combining as being a hard regimen to follow and question if results can be had
Critics say that the suggested guidelines are difficult for digestion
DIET and NUTRITION
While the science of food combining might seem complicated, putting it into practice is easily accomplished when you adhere to the following guidelines:
Do not combine carbs with highly acidic foods. This could be bread with citrus, like toast and orange juice for breakfast.
Do not combine protein with fat. This could be eggs and cheese with butter. Simply accomplished by not cooking an omelet in butter.
Do not combine protein with acidic fruit. This means not putting tomatoes on a hamburger or oranges as a side with your eggs.
Do not combine sugar and starch. This removes jam on a muffin or buttered toast.
Do not combine protein with carbs. This will bring an end to those "meat and potato" dinners Americans are so fond of.
Limit yourself to one starch serving at any meal.
Limit yourself to one protein serving at any meal. This means skipping ham, sausage or cheese omelets.
Melon should not be combined with anything.
Milk should not be combined with anything.
Don't feel as though food combining limits your options. At first it will feel like a balancing act, but you will find the rhythm and make it work for you. Breakfast will fit with on-the-go types as you'll eat just a single piece of fruit. Heavy veggies at lunch - a salad sans tomatoes, cooked green beans, peas or asparagus with one serving of rice, bread or potato. You'll enjoy another salad for dinner with three vegetables - two should be no starch.
EXERCISE
There is no specific exercise plan.
CONCLUSION
With Somersize from Suzanne Somers and Total Health Makeover from Marilu Henner both finding success with the food combining theory, arguments can be found on both sides. You should of course consult your physician before introducing a new weight loss plan into your diet.
Common Misspellings
Foodcombining, Food combine, combine food, combine fats and carbs, Food combining diet
How Does Food Combining Compare?- Product Name
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(Editor’s Choice) - 97/100
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Food Combining?
User Feedback
(Page 1 of 2, 31 total comments)Romina
+I did this diet years ago, and with some exercise I was my thinest and lightest I've ever felt!
posted Nov 4th, 2013 4:18 pmGlen
Like Jennifer, I suffer from a "chronic ailment" (colitis), and (also like Lisa) I started seeing results very quickly hen I began applying food combining principles (including HOW LONG to wait after eating food types before eating incompatible food types). But things still could've been better... until I tripped upon the missing link: drinking water only _before_ meals, waiting up to 15 minutes to eat afterwards, and then staying off water until my meal was completely digested! Within 24 hours (sound familiar), all symptoms were _gone_... something even the latest prescribed corticosteroid had failed to accomplish)!
posted Jan 11th, 2013 12:58 amAfter a month of sticking to the food combining diet for at least 95% of the time (taking into account understandable and occasional errors/slip-ups), I did the mother of all tests, more than once: THREE TIMES during these past holidays. And a double threat at that: for 24 hours at a time (followed by a 72-hour break), 1) eat anything (even foods I usually was unable to eat prior to the diet), and 2) eat them in virtually any combination. Results? It took a hefty meal at an Italian restaurant on my third time around before my gut started complaining again (we're talking a mixed-fruit-type smoothie, followed by Italian Wedding soup with the usual pasta and hamburg in it, followed by chicken rolls with melted cheese and bolognaise sauces (that's right, beef, chicken and dairy), followed by ice cream, caramel and deep-fried dough for dessert). And upon returning on the food combining diet (including water)? Again, within 24 hours, pretty much symptom-free! Testing it again this weekend with perhaps the worst food imaginable: McDonalds'. ;) (In case you're wondering where I started, I experimented with the free chart at acidalkalinediet.com . Best of luck to you!)
Jonty
+I'm a man in his mid 40's and I've been food combining now for three weeks and I feel much much better. I have lost a few pounds and expect to lose a lot more because my face is thinner and I'm a lot less bloated. Sticking to Food Combining may seem daunting initially but its pleasurable and very good for your head and will power. It has helped me think about what I am eating and cut down on the amount of protein I consume, cut back on the bread (& starches) I eat and encourage me to eat a lot more fruit, vegetables and less fat. In this respect it ticks all of the boxes. OK I can't have spheghetti boulanese, a ham sandwich or fish n chips but I can eat veggie pasta and fish with veg/salad. One note of warning after decades of eating what you like you might find that you have stomach ache and a thorough 'clear out'/diarrohea in the first week but thereafter you'll feel fine - I no longer suffer from occasional heamoroids. I'm sticking to this diet and would recommend it to anyone because it's really enjoyable and I'm consciously aware of what I'm eating and how much better I feel. Try it and feel the buzz it gives you feeling so much better.
posted Oct 19th, 2010 3:36 amBee
Hi, I have just started with the food combining diet and wonder if it can really help me to become healthier and reduce my weight. I decided to keep a blog about it so you can see for yourself if it has some effects: http://foodcombiningchallenge.blogspot.com/
posted Sep 29th, 2010 6:18 pmLUCYB
I HAVE THE FIRST BOOK, DID ANYTHING CHANGE?DO I NEED TO BY ANOTHER BOOK.
posted Apr 1st, 2010 10:30 amChristine D
+I have been doing something like this for a while but i really wonder, is breakfast really based on "the morning" or when you wake up? i work two night jobs and one mid day job and can barely keep up with myself but have been losing weight and gaining it back and back and forth again. Is breakfast when i wake up and is lunch after that and when would supper be, im at a loss to see if the day actually has any part of my sleeping and eating patterns or if its just the norm for me.. someone help please im at a loss
posted Mar 11th, 2010 5:36 pmChristine
+Its hard to have interesting meals. My reflux problem have eased with this diet but I ate so many nuts and raw vegetables that on the 3rd day of the diet I had an horrendous pain and attack of diarrhea. I have food allergies and suspect this was the cause, any one else comment on this angle?
posted Feb 16th, 2010 11:14 pmMelissa
+Some months ago I started to cook according to this Food Combining Diet site, and I have to say: I lost weight and became much more active since then. However it took some time, so please do not expect to see any impact only days after you started with food combining.
posted Jan 19th, 2010 10:36 amLou
+80 yrs old - took up food combining a few months ago. Lost over 20 lbs. Improvement with diverticulitis. Still have some bloating and gas. Any suggestions?
posted Sep 1st, 2009 6:01 pmJayne
The best book I've found on food combining is by Lee DuBelle...."Proper Food Combining Works"....she has a whole package with a cookbook and cleansing book and three food charts....it's great...oh and you also get a dvd and a cd (for your car) to show you how it all works and why. My cousin lost a ton of weight and was on her website for a while...she may still be there, her name is Branda Crawford...she's kept the weight off and looks amazing. I'm starting the diet after going off for a while and I feel better already after only three days...more energy, no tummy pain, better skin...no cravings for sugary foods, etc.
posted Aug 10th, 2009 7:29 amGood luck to everyone:)
Wendy
I have been food combining for a week now and really feel loads better.
posted Aug 5th, 2009 5:45 amI don't need to loose a lot of weight but a few pounds would be good.
I am following this diet more to help with my digestion and bloating problems, and now feeling a lot better.
MissyQ
+I have lost 18lbs in three weeks without 'dieting'. Food combining is awesome! For those with deep questions about foods that contain fat and protein and whatnot, don't worry. Keep it simple. If it is MOSTLY protein, its a protein. If it is MOSTLY fat, its a fat. Don't over think it, just do it. You will never regret it.
posted Aug 1st, 2009 8:55 pmGrita
+I like food combining very much, but to be honest, I stumbled on to it by accident. I lost 7 lbs in 3 days and was in shock. I was reading Somersize and realized what I was doing was food combining, but only by accident. But I only have one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner. Can someone give me a few easy breakfasts, lunchs and dinners....I would be so appreciative since im clueless as to how im losing this weight.
posted Jun 28th, 2009 1:57 amKate
+If I don't have a lot of pounds to loss (less than 4kg). Can I hava a cheat day once in a while?
posted Jun 8th, 2009 10:10 amWould that stop the weight loss?
Kate
+If I don't have a lot of weight wants to be lost (less than 10lb). Can I have a cheat day from time to time and still loss weight?
posted Jun 8th, 2009 10:07 amAnyone has can share their experience?
Thanks.
Lisa
I've only been doing it for 24 hours but already am having no indigestion after months of unbearable gas/bloating/heartburn/ect. I'm 8 months pregnant and needed to find a cure without cutting out any particular food group. It works well as you need to eat frequently while pregnant anyway so I just have little snacks all day. I just eat fruit, or salad with cheese, or bread and butter, or chicken and vegetables and make sure enough time has passed in between. The only downside is you digest so fast you have to eat very very often.
posted May 27th, 2009 3:16 pm39 male
+I'm 39 male and was slightly overweight. My wife and I have been food combining for about 3 months and I have gone from 184 pds to 159 pds = 2"-3" or so on waist. In addition, I've cut out snacking almost completely. No negative side effects. I feel great. I eat more fruit than ever (b/c of breakfast) and have cut out a lot of bread from my diet. This clearly is not a "diet". Diets dont dont work and I've never been able to stay on a diet. I currently do not forsee a reason to ever stop food combining.
posted May 12th, 2009 12:05 pmSamW
Food combining has recently been recommended to me by a nutritionist, due to years of digestion problems. I am clueless...Please help me and suggest meals that i can eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Is there a particularly good book/recipe book that may help me??
posted Apr 3rd, 2009 8:58 amedna poole
+I am beginning this diet. I still haven't got the right combinations. I would love to have a group of breakfasts, lunches and dinners that I can use. Also I would like general information on what works.
posted Mar 26th, 2009 7:35 amAngela
I'mt trying food combining for digestion problems and haven't decided yet whether it works.The version of the diet I have learned has almost nothing to do with fat. So Alexa's question is well-taken--many proteins contain high levels of fat. I am using a chart that looks a lot like this:
posted Jan 11th, 2009 5:45 pm