January 26, 2023 general

Last week, I wrote a blog article about cooked veggies versus raw. I probably should have mentioned that just because most vegetables are easier to digest cooked, that doesn’t mean you should worry about eating the raw carrot sticks on an appetizer platter (surely that’s better than heading for a brownie at the dessert end of the table). A reader rightfully commented that fruit should be eaten raw. (Bell peppers are technically fruit, but don’t worry that you will die a premature death if you eat a baked stuffed pepper.)

There are also “rules” many folks follow about which foods are best combined. The idea is that it takes specific enzymes, pH level and time to digest each type of food and they aren’t all compatible. I’ve certainly found that food which sits in the stomach too long can ferment, causing gas and contribute to acid reflux. For me that is most evident with acid reflux when I eat something very starchy or sweet along with an entree that is high in protein and fat.

The roots of the food combining guidelines were in India over 100 years ago and would have certainly been based not in science but on observation. Of course, observation is often a very valid approach and science often gets things wrong. We should remember that our body’s basic physiology and biochemistry have not changed in millennia. Our ancient ancestors certainly did not have buffets and the casserole had not yet been invented. There was not even much ability to store a variety of food. So, it is likely that they ate each type of food as soon as they acquired it. For example, if they killed a mastodon, they would eat it (or dry it) before it spoiled rather than wait for other members of their tribe to find some tubers to go with it. The following are the most common basic rules (quoted from an article to which I link below):

• “Eat fruit only on an empty stomach, especially melons.
• Avoid combining starches and proteins.
• Avoid combining starches with acidic foods.
• Avoid combining different types of protein.
• Consume dairy products only on an empty stomach, especially milk.”

I’m guessing many of you have experienced something like a melon not sitting well with bacon and eggs. But most of you got to the second item and probably said, “wait, what about sandwiches?” Well exactly! It would take a lot of discipline to follow most of the rules.

This Healthline article does a good job of comparing the theories and practices to the modern science of digestion. I must admit I feel my best when I eat just protein and cooked vegetables. However, I think the bottom line is what works for YOU. If you have some digestive issues, it will cost nothing or hurt you to try some of the basic ideas. (At least try skipping sweet dessert after a heavy meal and see if that helps.)

Most of the online recipe sites will be useless for food combining, but I did find this one with that factor in mind and another site. Maybe start out slowly with one meal. Amazon will be happy to sell you a detailed food combining chart. On the other hand, you can make yourself crazy being too exacting and exclusive with the rules—e.g. creating stress and making it hard to get along in society. For example, just try telling your relatives at Thanksgiving that they shouldn’t eat the stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce at the same meal as the turkey!