Do you practice food-combining?

[lily]

Food combining is often mentioned in passing in the postings -- and I wondered how many of us actually practice it -- and if so, in what way?

I have been pretty much sticking to Alissa's recommendation not to worry too much about this in the early stages, though having eaten the 'Fit for Life' way before I do tend not to mix fruit with anything else.

Do you keep proteins and carbs separate? Some people say that seeds mix with anything. Do you agree?

I'm really just interested to know what other people do, and how it works out in practice. And whether it helps weight loss.

Thank you --

lily

[Linda1970]

Hi Lily,

I do, about 75% of the time. I do feel the difference.

[DavidZaneMason]

My experience:

-After eating raw for a long time, I was most comfortable mono-eating....that is eating one thing at a sitting....waiting some time...then eating something else. This took all the thought and guess-work out of it for me. But I'm sure the wonderful folks on this board (or plenty of sites on the net) can provide you with the specific food combining rules.

-David Mason

[sport]

Some people say that seeds mix with anything. Do you agree?


lily
My understanding is that seeds do not mix with nuts because you should not get your protein from 2 sources in the same meal.

[Conscious Midwife]

:D Yeh I combine everything all the time

In my blender, in my food processor and in salads

I follow the taste buds

Never burp and am occassionally amused by the aromatherapy like flatus that is expelled when i consume a lot of fruits. :D

On a serious note I figure that when i'm consistent with raw 100% everyday than i'll go back a reread the food combining reccomendations. I gotta keep it simple for now. :)

[lissomllama]

I don't really follow too many concrete food combining rules but there are some things I don't combine because they make my tummy a little upset and can cause mild bloating. Here's my pesonal list of things I don't generally combine:

-Sweets with fats (except tomato with avocado)

-Citrus with bananas

-I eat all melons alone

If I want to have these foods together I just eat one right after the other, begining with the lightest thing first. If I'm going to eat fats with sweets, I eat the sweets first because they will digest my quickest and then I follow with the fat that will take longer to digest.
That's about it.

[sunflowery]

I couldn't mix fruits, if I do I have digestive problems, so I prefer mono eat. When I want to eat more I don't mix more than 3 fruits. I never combine: sweet with citrus, sweet with fats, and never combine oranges with another fruit.
I don't have problems mixing vegetables, but I prefer don't eat more than 4 in one meal, I love fats in my salads :)

[sungoddess]

I get mad gas if I mix fruit with anything else. So, I try to separate. I have been trying to be simpler these past few days too... but its hard to make the transition!!!!

[aussiebeachgirl]

I never used to follow food combining but when I went 98/99% raw I found I got a lot of gas and then I read somewhere about FC. I've been doing it for about 3 weeks now and have noticed a huge reduction in bloating and gas, so I'll be sticking with it for now. Maybe in afew years my system will be able to handle the more adventurous combos but for now, I'm happy with the easing of uncomfortable symptoms!
ABG

[rawfigure]

I have a somewhat touchy/angry digestive system so I have to be nice to it. I eat very mono. Even my veggies. If I have tender greens or juice then I blend.

[sungoddess]

Am I correct to be under the impression that generally, our system doesn't become better SO it can digest the complicated food, but the other way around? Did I hear that our systems become better and more SENSITIVE to complicated food so as to let us know that it is not ideal??? So if you are food combining now, you will most likely have to be conmbining forever. It is the only thing in raw that I wish was the other way around!!! :o

[sport]

Yes I think that you are correct. In the same way that we find that we do not have the same tollerance for alcohol and other bad habits.

[girlnamedjane]

I learned about food combining earlier this year when I read Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover. Of course, she eats a diet with cooked foods, but the section on food combining and how your body digests food is great. I would highly recommend reading it, she breaks down all the biological facts very well and tells you how to combine foods.

[lily]

Thank you everyone for your interesting and thoughtful replies. I will look out for the book you mention, girlnamedjane, as I'd like to know more about this subject.

lily