Wellcure
Ever felt bloated and uncomfortable after a meal? Wonder why you are gaining weight and feeling unwell though you may be eating right? Are you confused about when to fit in fruits and salads into your schedule? It is not only ‘the what’ of eating but also ‘how’. Read on to learn the do’s and don’ts of combining different varieties of food
What do ‘food combinations’ mean?
Food combination means which type of food you are eating with which type of food. For eg: dal- sabji-roti, rice-rajma, bread-butter, etc.
Why are food combinations important?
Food combinations are important for:
Different types of food need different type of digestive juices for digestion. When we eat something, body secretes juices based on the type of food we have eaten. Certain combinations of food may be digested with greater ease & efficiency than others.
If we eat foods in wrong combinations, body takes more time & has to work harder to create different types of digestive juices at the same time. As a result, food has to wait longer for digestion & in the process it may rot.
It is such rotten food that makes us feel uncomfortable through gas, flatulence, heartburn, indigestion.
Rotten food is of no use to the body, the body doesn’t get the nutrients available in food. If foods are properly combined, they are fully broken down, absorbed & utilized by the body.
Rotten foods create toxic waste. While the body was already working hard to digest food, now it has to continue working hard to eliminate toxic waste from the body. Hence, if you are feeling low on energy, it maybe because you are eating the wrong food combinations.
Accumulation of toxic waste in the body leads to weight gain & illnesses.
A Simple Guide To Food Combining
There is a lot of confusing information out there on what to eat with what & what to not eat with what. We have cut through the clutter & listed below a few rules that are commonly stated at many places. These are the rules we have ourselves been following & feel quite convinced about them. There can be a few aberrations here & there at times, but we mostly try to follow these food combinations.
1. Every meal you eat should contain either of fruits or vegetables.
It is important for the human body to be constantly cleansed of the toxic waste that builds in it. The following lead to toxicity/acidity in our body:
A toxic/acidic body shows symptoms such as bloating, excess weight, balding, dark circles & illnesses.
The most effective way of cleansing toxic waste is through consumption of fruits & vegetables. As fruits & vegetables (raw or lightly steamed) are easy to digest, it gives rest to the digestive tract & thereby frees up energy to be utilized in cleansing, repair & weight loss.
Also, fruits & vegetables eaten in whole natural form are full of nutrition. They provide all the desired nutrients to the body for its efficient functioning.
Hence, every meal you eat should contain either of fruits or vegetables.
2. Eat fruits alone. Do not mix them with veggies or any other food item.
Fruit requires less energy to be digested than any other food. Fruits stay in the stomach for a very short time, post which they break down & release nutrients in the intestines. Hence,
Eating fruit in wrong combinations can lead to discomfort. For eg: You eat paratha and then you eat an apple. The apple can go through the stomach into the intestines fairly quickly, but is unable to because the paratha is blocking the way. The apple may sit there & rot & the rot may spread to the paratha meal that is touching the rotten apple in the stomach. The correct way would be to eat the apple first, give a gap of half an hour to an hour & then eat the paratha. By the time the paratha reaches the stomach, apple would have been digested & no problems will occur.
3. Fruits should be eaten as the first meal of the day.
Fruit is easily digested, it provides more energy than it uses in the digestive process. You need energy surplus in your body to kick start the day instead of energy deficiency caused by efforts to digest a heavy breakfast.
4. Every time you eat a cooked meal, it must comprise a generous serving of vegetables. Vegetables are rich in enzymes & facilitate the digestion of other food eaten with it.
5. Eat your dinner 2-3 hours before sleeping. The idea is that by the time you retire to bed, food is out of the stomach & hence body’s digestive work is finished. You can then enjoy a restful sleep & body can focus on the task of repair & maintenance!!
6. A non veg food meal takes more time & effort to digest as compared to fruits, vegetables & other cooked veg food. Combine it with a generous serving of vegetables, salad & lightly steamed, to help facilitate digestion.
Conclusion:
Recommended read:
Disclaimer: The health journeys, blogs, videos and all other content on Wellcure is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered a ‘medical advice’ ‘prescription’ or a ‘cure’ for diseases. Any specific changes by users, in medication, food & lifestyle, must be done under the guidance of licensed health practitioners. The views expressed by the users are their personal views and Wellcure claims no responsibility for them.
03:33 PM | 05-01-2021
Hi Ayesha. Fruit smoothies can be made minus the nut milk & veggies. Pls watch this video to learn how to make fruit smoothies in the most healthful way - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfF8voaPaHk&t=96s.
Reply01:24 PM | 05-01-2021
U said no nut and fruit together what about nut milks when mixed with fruits for smoothies...
Also we make so many smoothies using veggies and a fruit
10:09 AM | 13-08-2020
Hi Deepa. Yes, we don't suggest adding chia seeds to a fruit smoothie. Instead, you can add chia seeds to lemon water, coconut water, vegetable juices & soups.
Reply09:51 PM | 12-08-2020
Fruits + nuts and seed are not ideal. So what about banana mango smoothie with chia seeds?
Reply08:18 PM | 18-05-2020
what about combining grains with legumes and beans ? It’s a common mix ! That’s not there in the chart ?
Reply01:19 AM | 19-05-2020
So all the classic dal chawal, chole chawal isn’t ideal
08:18 PM | 18-05-2020
Both are complex foods. Avoid if possible. If you are having, have in small amount only