Correctly combining foods can make a difference in improving digestion, metabolism and maximizing the nutrients that your body absorbs. The right food combinations also eliminate the effects of bloating, acid reflux, gas, abdominal cramps, heartburn, food allergies, bowel problems, weight gain, indigestion, constipation,  fatigue after a meal and premature aging. Different foods breakdown at different rates depending on the content of water, proteins and fats in the food.

Drinks

You must drink 2 cups of water (500ml) about 15-30 minutes before you eat, to help your digestive system. This will increase the production of more gastric and bicarbonate secretions into the small intestine which aid to breakdown the food faster. Never drink during meals as this will dilute the digestive juices in your stomach, making it more difficult for your body to assimilate the foods.

Foods

Foods, from fastest to slowest to digest, are: fruits, green vegetables, vegetables, starchy foods, proteins and fats. Normally fruits take 20-40 minutes to digest. Followed by raw green vegetables which take 30-40 minutes. Steamed or cooked vegetables take longer 40-50 minutes. Vegetables which have starch like potatoes, corn, yam take about 60 minutes. Concentrated Carbohydrates (grains) like rice, oats, legumes, beans and peas will breakdown in 90-120 minutes. Next up come the nuts and seeds which take between 2-3 hours to digest.

Diary like low fat cheese and milk are faster to digest than whole diary. They take 90 minutes to breakdown because of the low fat content. Whole hard cheese and milk will breakdown in 4-5 hours. Animal proteins like egg yolk 30 minutes, whole eggs 45 minutes. Fish 30-60 minutes, followed by chicken 90-120 minutes, turkey 2 hours, beef/lamb 3 to 4 hours and pork 4.5 to 5 hours. Fats and Oils take longer to breakdown than animal proteins.

Think of your digestive tract as a one lane highway. If you first eat the foods that take longer to breakdown followed by faster ones, then you’re going to have a traffic jam in your stomach. Example: having a large meal with vegetables and protein followed by a fruit dessert. The dessert has to wait 4 hours in your stomach. Normally it should go in and out of your digestive system in 20-40 minutes. If it stays longer in your stomach, waiting to be absorbed, it will rot and decay. This renders the food useless, leading to digestive issues.

Food combining rules

Some food combining rules to follow are:

1. For best digestion – chew all food close to a liquid before swallowing.
2. Eat foods in order from fastest to slowest to digest whenever you have different foods in your meal.
3. Melons fruits should be eaten alone by itself.
4. Do not combine fruit with any other food. After eating fruit wait at least 30 minutes before eating other foods. If you want to eat fruit after a meal, then wait 3 hours until your previous meal is fully digested.
5. Vegetables combine well with all foods except fruits.
6. Animal, beans, peas and nuts proteins are best with vegetables that have low and non-starch content.
7. Starchy foods are best combined with green salads.
8. For snacks between your main meals it’s best to have fruits, vegetables or nuts alone.

If you follow these rules for combining foods, you will resolve the majority of problems with your digestion and weight issues.

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