| When it comes to a healthy diet we’re constantly | | | | proportionately large piece of protein (chicken/fish |
| told to watch what we eat, but what about the | | | | beef) on your plate requires an acidic environment to |
| how? By now we know that the choices we make | | | | properly digest, and that generous portion of starch |
| when we’re at the grocery store doing our weekly | | | | (grains/potatoes) next to it requires an alkaline |
| food shopping are important; so much so that it can be | | | | environment, neither will have the chance to digest fully |
| the difference between a strong immune system and | | | | or properly if eaten together. Thankfully those |
| constantly using those sick days at work…when | | | | vegetables, that I hope are taking up much of that |
| you’re actually sick! It could be the difference | | | | plate, can digest well in either environment. Add to |
| between being able to spend your hard earned money | | | | that a piece of cake or pie typically eaten immediately |
| on what you want to spend it on while enjoying life, | | | | following the meal, and you haven’t even given |
| and generously giving it to any one of the large | | | | your stomach a fighting chance. Now in today’s |
| pharmaceutical companies in return for that blood | | | | world with all the meal options and menu varieties we |
| pressure, cholesterol, or antacid medication that you | | | | have come to enjoy, the strict approach is probably |
| may be on. There’s no denying it, the “what | | | | not for you. With that said though you can choose to |
| we eat” is very important, but what about the | | | | take the key points on how to properly approach a |
| “how”? | | | | meal, and put it to use within your own diet as you see |
| You can eat healthy foods and still experience some | | | | the need; as I did with mine. |
| unhealthy side affects; bloating, gas, constipation, or | | | | For instance despite my healthy diet I noticed that |
| loose stool. All of these point to one common culprit, | | | | when I would eat oatmeal, I would experience some |
| digestion. I was once told by my kinesiologist, a man | | | | bloating and a bit of a lethargic feeling that would last |
| whose knowledge and experience has played a key | | | | until this meal was digested, and I use the word |
| role in my overall wellness that optimal health starts in | | | | “digested” loosely. What I didn’t realize at |
| the gut. Whether you’re trying to overcome | | | | the time is that what I was adding to the plain oatmeal |
| some illness or condition, or simply just trying to | | | | was the culprit. I always liked to jazz it up with some |
| maintain a healthy state, your digestive system must | | | | sort of fruit, a peach, a banana, or some berries, and a |
| be doing its job and doing it right. This of course | | | | handful of nuts topped off with some honey. |
| takes some cooperation from you. You make the | | | | Although it sounds like a healthy meal, the food |
| decisions of what to eat, but if you’re experiencing | | | | combinations I had chosen simply were just not |
| any of the common irregularities mentioned above, | | | | working for me. This is of no surprise of course, |
| then it’s time to pay attention to the “how” | | | | knowing what I know now. |
| you eat. | | | | When examined individually, the generous portion of |
| Based on some reading I’ve been doing, how or | | | | starch (the oatmeal and sugar from the honey), the |
| when you eat certain foods plays a big role in whether | | | | sizable helping of fruit, and some protein (the nuts) all |
| or not it’s digested properly. The two books that | | | | appear to be smart meal choices, but when combined |
| come to mind are “Healing with Whole Foods” | | | | and eaten together were nothing short of digestive |
| by Paul Pitchford and “Never Be Sick Again” by | | | | trouble. Now the small amount of protein, especially |
| Raymond Francis, where both authors dedicate a | | | | considering the food source, was probably not the |
| section on the importance of “food | | | | problem, which leaves only the fruit. It is |
| combinations”. They both start by classifying | | | | recommended that fruit be eaten by itself since it is |
| foods by which the environment they require within the | | | | meant to travel through the stomach rather quickly, but |
| stomach for proper digestion, acidic or alkaline, as well | | | | when a substantial portion is eaten with other foods |
| what foods can (or should) be combined in order to | | | | the digestion of this fruit is slowed down considerably |
| achieve this. They go on to explain how the stomach | | | | allowing the fruit time to ferment. This fermentation |
| can accommodate either environment, be it acidic for | | | | causes gasses to be released which can lead to |
| the proteins or alkaline for the starches, but not at the | | | | bloating, not to mention create an undesirable |
| same time; fruits being the exception since they are | | | | environment for proper digestion. If the meal is of a |
| meant to travel quickly through the digestive system. | | | | sizable portion and digestion is already compromised, a |
| Both authors lay down the same foundation | | | | feeling of tiredness or laziness afterwards would be |
| “vegetables with proteins ok, vegetables with | | | | expected. |
| starches ok, eat fruits alone”, with a few special | | | | I have since used what I know about “food |
| cases noted, but differ slightly in their approach; | | | | combinations” to adjust this meal, to ensure proper |
| Raymond Francis taking a more strict approach. | | | | digestion and ultimately optimal health. I now eat a |
| Thankfully Paul Pitchford’s approach lays out some | | | | handful of nuts and some berries (an “acid fruit” |
| looser guidelines that appear to be more relevant to | | | | that can be eaten with nuts and seeds) first thing in the |
| today’s many menu choices; “one for better | | | | morning, go about my morning routine, and then eat the |
| digestion and one for ideal digestion”. The rules for | | | | starch portion of my breakfast (usually whole grains of |
| “better digestion” states that if proteins are | | | | some sort) a good half hour to forty-five minutes later; |
| eaten with starches as are the case with most meals | | | | I’ve yet to experience the bloating or lethargy since |
| “eat the proteins first and keep the ratio of protein | | | | making the switch. My body is now getting the |
| to starch to at least 1:2”. This means don’t | | | | benefit of my healthy food choices do to “how” |
| make the protein portion of your meal the biggest | | | | I eat them. I try to remember Paul Pitchford’s |
| portion, about half that of the starch (ideally whole | | | | rules for “better digestion” with every meal, and |
| grains of some sort), and vegetables go well with both | | | | apply those for “ideal digestion” when my body |
| so a generous portion should be eaten with every | | | | is showing signs of poor digestion. So if you don’t |
| meal. I think it’s safe to say that most nutritionists | | | | want to have to reach for the antacids after the next |
| would probably agree. | | | | time you dive into that giant burger with fries, think |
| So in order to drive the point home let’s take a look | | | | about these rules. It may be the smartest move you |
| at a typical restaurant meal. Based on the | | | | make all day. |
| information above this means that if that | | | | |