Food Combining Diet

The Food Combining Diet follows the theory that different food groups are digested best when combined, while other foods should be eaten separately.

Principle of the food combining diet

According to the Food Combining Diet, foods such as protein and carbohydrates, for instance, require different enzymes to be digested properly.

The Food Combining Diet holds that carbohydrates are best absorbed by the body when the digestive tract is alkaline. The digestive tract is alkaline when carbohydrates are either eaten alone or with vegetables.

Proteins, however, requires an acidic digestive tract – the opposite environment to carbohydrates. When they are combined, neither is digested properly as the digestive tract is neither alkaline nor acidic.

Food that is not absorbed properly can cause digestive problems and weight gain.

What are you allowed to eat?

Fruit – alone;
Vegetables;
Wholemeal grains – such as brown rice;
Lean meat – such as poultry, lean red meat and seafood.

What is forbidden?

Cooking with aluminium pans;
Very hot, or very cold foods;
Consuming milk with either carbohydrates or protein;
Beans;
Legumes.

Pros and Cons of Food Combining

The Food Combining Diet promotes eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. The increase of fruits and vegetables alone, as well as wholemeal grains, can have a positive effect on digestion.

However, the Food Combining Diet can be difficult to follow. Meals have to be thought-out properly, due to the restrictions.

The Food Combining Diet may cause an imbalanced diet. Since the Food Combining Diet prevents carbohydrates and proteins from being eaten together, you are forced to choose one or the other during meals. People generally eat more carbohydrates on the Food Combining Diet than protein, because carbohydrates are more filling.

There is also no scientific evidence that protein and carbohydrates should not be consumed together. Many people have eaten the two foods together with no health problems.

Daily and Weekly Plans for Food Combining

There are no daily or weekly plans for the Food Combining Diet. The Food Combining Diet is intended as a dietary lifestyle plan, than simply a diet to lose weight.

Expected Weight Loss when Food Combining

There are no reports on expected weight loss when on the Food Combining Diet.