Recurring heartburn happens to lots of Americans; if we doubt that, just look at the success of the companies that sell antacid products such as Tums. Many of us switched to a raw foods diet just for that reason–we want to be able to live without this pain. Also, constipation and diarrhea are common maladies that we had hoped to be able to live without if we went on a raw foods diet. In some cases, the shift in dietary habits has achieved that goal. And in some cases, we haven't been satisfied with the results. The problem may be your raw-food choices. Many theorists are working on the matter of food combinations, and I'm trying to reflect some of their thoughts in this article. Frederic Patenaude, the author of the Raw Health Starter Kit is the source for most of these ideas. He feels that the best way to improve your digestion is to follow some very simple food-combining rules.
Sugar and Fat
This is the most important one to avoid. Sugar, of course, is in fruits, dates, refined sugar, or anything sweet, for that matter. Fat includes oils, avocados, nuts–any type of fatty food. What happens when you combine these is a war in your stomach. The sugar digests quickly, sailing right through your digestive system; but fat digests more slowly, taking its sweet time to move through. If you mix them, the sugar ferments and the mixture becomes a gas factory. And you know what that feels like. For example, don't combine dates and nuts or nuts and dried fruits. Don't add fat to fruit smoothies–for example, oil, nuts, etc. And don't eat fruit or sweets at the end of a meal if you don't want to set off a controversy in your intestinal system.
Concentrated Foods
You’ll do better if you eat only one concentrated food at a meal. This includes everything that's not a fresh fruit or vegetable. For example, nuts, seeds, avocados are concentrated. Concentrated foods take more time to digest. When you mix them together, they are likely to get in a fight and cause digestive problems. It's a good idea to eat lots of vegetables with your concentrated food at a meal. It's best to eat fruits alone.
Unnecessary Rules
He describes some of the “rules” for combining foods as unnecessary. He lists the following although there are more:
- Melons. There's no reason not to mix melons with other fruits. In fact, you can mix them with any fruit you want and you should not experience problems. Just don't mix them with concentrated foods.
- Fruits. These may be combined with each other without creating digestive problems. You don't need to divide them into categories. An exception is the banana. Don't mix it with very acid fruits like oranges. The starch in bananas tends to conflict with the acidity in some fruits.
- Tomatoes. It's a fruit, not a vegetable, and must be combined like one.
- Greens don't count. Lettuce, celery, spinach, and other green leaves can be combined at will. They combine well with anything–fruit as well as other foods.
Simplify
Just follow the rule of simplicity: simplify your meals. A meal with five ingredients will digest better than one with ten. A meal with two ingredients will be easier to digest than one with five. Vary your diet from meal to meal rather than trying to get it all in one meal. The more you learn about food combining and how truly simple a raw-foods diet is, you’ll find that it's not difficult to stay healthy and have a peaceful digestive system. Besides, it's an enjoyable way to live, says Mr. Patenaude, the author of the best-selling e-book "The Raw Secrets."
Concluding Thoughts
Frederic Patenaude is very thoughtful regarding ways to make your raw-foods diet work for you. I chose his theories because they make a lot of sense. However, keeping in mind the principles he has established, I'm including some ideas for vegetable juicing. Technically, you should be getting a pound of vegetables per 50 pounds of body weight every way. Juicing is one good way to achieve that. Besides, the juicer/blender will do a lot of the digestive work for you, making it easier for you body to absorb the nutrients it needs with less disruption to your digestive system. Celery, fennel, and cucumbers are a good combination that is easily tolerated, a good one to try at the outset of your juicing adventures. However, they don't have the nutrients that dark green vegetables have, so it's good to start adding these a little at a time. All green, leafy vegetables seem to work very well. Don't just stick with one lettuce. Use a variety. Each has its own flavor. Some are spicy, for example. Here are some varieties: red leaf, green leaf, romaine, escarole, and bibb. Spinach, kale, and cabbage can also be added. I would try one of these in small quantities and see how it goes. If you don't have intestinal complaints, then add more or another one. These crucifers do sometimes challenge the digestive system. Herbs can make a vegetable juice an unforgettable experience, so experiment with such things as basil and cilantro.
By TTS Health Consultant Gabrielle Gingras
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