Food Combining Diet Information

Food combining is a dietary approach that encourages partakers to eat foods in particular combinations. Proponents of food combining believe that the tactic leads to various benefits, including improved digestion, weight loss and reduced risk for disease. Though food combining diets lack evidence of effectiveness, they may provide benefits for some people. For best results, discuss dietary changes with your doctor, prior to making them.

History

The food combining dietary approach was introduced to western culture in the 1940s by doctor William Howard Hay--a surgeon who believed that eating foods in inappropriate combinations was a primary cause for numerous heath problems. According to "The Food Combining/Blood Type Diet Solution," by Dina Khader and Irene Toovey, Hay believed that poor food combinations could lead to mood imbalances, weight gain and various diseases. Food combining is also used in Aryuvedic medicine.

Function

A food combining diet may serve various functions. According to natural health expert, Andrew Weil, MD, Aryuvedic health practitioners believe that eating foods in proper combinations improves your body's ability to resist disease. Food combining may also be used to promote weight loss, nutritional wellness or improved digestive health.

Effectiveness

Food combining lacks scientific evidence of effectiveness. According to Weil, there is no medical reason to avoid particular food combinations, since your body is designed to digest foods properly, regardless of what foods you eat simultaneously. Weil suggests that food combining may provide benefits if you find that certain food combinations taste badly or cause physical discomfort. Consuming fruit with starches, for example, may cause flatulence. This may be due to the fact that carbohydrates naturally contain various gas-causing agents.

Basic Guidelines

While following a food combining diet, you consume protein-rich foods, such as poultry, meat, fish, eggs and dairy products separately from carbohydrate-rich foods, such as breads, pasta and rice. Vegetables may be consumed with protein and with carbohydrates, according to Khader and Toodey. You can also consume fats, such as oils and nuts, with your protein and vegetable meals, but not with starches. Fruit is to be consumed on its own, generally first thing in the morning. Your day may consist of fruit first thing in the morning and two to three additional meals consisting of protein, fat and vegetables, or carbohydrates and vegetables.

Benefits/Challenges

A food combining diet may help heighten your awareness regarding food and eating and improve adverse symptoms, such as gas or discomfort. Many food combining diets encourage intake of healthy foods, such as whole grains, fish, legumes, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats. For this reason, you may consume greater amounts of nutrients. According to the American Dietetic Association, however, food combining is unnecessary and can be difficult to adhere to. If you enjoy turkey sandwiches, cheese-topped pizza, lasagna, cereal with milk or any number of foods that combine starches and protein, you may find the diet limiting.