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Recently I read the following headline.” Top competitive eater gobbles down 44 lobsters in 12 minutes.” Apparently this was after she had downed 35 brats and grilled cheese sandwiches a week earlier to win U.S.$ 50,000 on the competitive eating circuit. Rivetting information. While we may not aspire to emulate the feats of this lady, we often pay scant attention to the way we combine the foods we eat. Many people visit their local fast food outlet to enjoy a “meal deal” consisting of a cheeseburger and fries, coke or thick shake. Today, it is accepted that if we sit down to a big meal we will feel uncomfortable later. With some knowledge of’ Trophology”(the science of food combining) we can be kinder to our digestive system.
Some foods when consumed together are complimentary. We can fully digest them to provide our bodies with energy. Others may oppose each other wreaking havoc in the stomach. To revisit our cheese- burger example. The burger combines protein and cheese encased in a bun of refined white flour (starch), more starch comes from the fries that have been mixed with fat from deep-frying oil. This is then washed down with milk and sugar. Here we have combined many food groups in one sitting-completely overloading our digestive capabilities. It is no wonder it sits badly in our stomach, robbing us of energy. At the same time we would not dream of putting a mixture of petrol, diesel, water and ethanol into our cars and expect them to perform!
Nature provides the answers to correct food combining. Birds eat bugs and worms at one time and seeds and fruits at another- but never both together. It is better to eat one variety of food at a single sitting. If you are going to eat a fish or steak (protein) meal combine it with a salad or vegetables rather than chips. For breakfast eat the toast or eggs and coffee / tea rather than toast (starch) and eggs (protein) together. It is easy to compose great meals even when dining out. Moderation is the answer. No food is 100% protein or carbohydrate so to mix in moderation is fine. The Chinese eat a lot of rice but this is usually accompanied with plenty of vegetables and a little meat. Add a raw salad and digestion is further aided with the addition of raw enzymes and fibre.
Other healthy eating guidelines are: Avoid extreme hot and cold liquids with foods. However, moderate amounts of wine or beer can aid digestion as they are pre-fermented. Instead of a fish burger or meat and salad sandwich enclose the same contents in a lettuce leaf or sheets of nori and drop the bread. If you have a sweet tooth enjoy your pie or cake alone, or after a salad, and skip the meat and potatoes for main course. Some people follow a meal with fresh fruit, skipping dessert in the erroneous belief it is healthy. Fruit after a protein meal will ferment in the stomach before it can be broken down. Select foods that are living, fresh and raw or lightly cooked. Steam or poach foods on occasions rather than always frying, if you want to fry then stir-fry quickly on a high heat. Leave vegetables crispy and meats rare to retain more goodness. When eating meats it is better to eat the meat of animals that have eaten their natural diet rather than “hormone enhanced’ beasts whose chemicals pass to our systems. Eat salads when they are prepared-otherwise they rapidly lose enzymes. When enjoying a fresh juice do not mix fruits with vegetables. Eat melons alone. Melon is such a complete food that it requires no digestion in the stomach-passing straight through to the small intestine for digestion. Eat in accordance with what is seasonal and local. Oranges grow on trees in winter, as we need more vitamin C to cope with winter chills. Local produce is best as it will contain the most energy and live enzymes. Chew food thoroughly before swallowing it and when possible eat food raw. Carpaccio of beef and sashimi of fish from clean seas are nutritionally excellent brimming with natural enzymes.
Eat sparingly to live a long and healthy life. Correctly combining foods is of paramount importance if you want complete digestion and a healthy metabolism. Maximum nutrient assimilation throughout the body feeds rather than fights the organs resulting in more energy and better health. Incomplete digestion is stored as fat and cholesterol.
Even the freshest most wholesome foods are useless when combined and consumed in ways that interfere with digestion. At least our lady lobster eater only consumed one type of protein - even if she saw fit to do it 44 times. |
