Food Combining Raw Diet

As the raw food detox diet gains attention among health foodies and fad diet followers, there remains a group of people who choose to live the raw food diet as a lifestyle, not a short-term diet. These individuals, known commonly as raw foodists, choose to consume only raw plant foods. They say that by eliminating processed foods, cooked foods and animal products, they have higher energy levels, lose weight, and eliminate illness and disease from their bodies. Some raw foodists also choose to go a step further and practice proper food combining.

Food Combining

The theory behind food combining is that foods are digested at different rates. Therefore, a food that is digested slowly, if consumed with a food that normally digests rapidly, will slow down the digestion of the rapidly digestible food. By slowing down the digestion of a food that normally would pass through quickly, you may feel bloated or develop gas, heartburn or digestive problems. You will also feel better and lighter if food is able to pass quickly through your digestive organs. With proper food combining, you should also be able to absorb more nutrients from food.

How to Eat Fruit

Because fruit digests quickly, several guidelines should be followed when combining foods. According to Alissa Cohen, author of the book "Living on Live Food," acidic, sub-acidic and sweet fruits digest at different rates from each other. Therefore, it is best to separate them from each other when eating them. Due to fruit's fast digestion time, it does not combine well with any other food. If you are going to eat it with foods from another food group, always eat the fruit first so it does not get stuck in your stomach waiting for the other foods to digest. Raw foodists also say that while you may bend the rules with fruit if you would like, melons, specifically, should always be eaten alone.

How to Eat Vegetables

Vegetables take around two to three hours to digest. Nonstarchy vegetables, such as greens, may be combined with proteins or starchy foods. However, do not mix starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, with protein sources such as legumes. Greens combine well with most other foods. As a general rule, eat only one starch source at each meal.

Grains, Dairy Products and Meat

Individuals on a raw combining diet do not eat dairy or meat. They are essentially vegan, with the exception of raw honey. They do not consume grains in the traditional sense through bread or pasta products. Raw, sprouted grains, however, are consumed by individuals on this diet. Sprouts combine well with vegetables.

Eating Tips

Chewing is the first step in the digestion process. Therefore, chew food thoroughly so your digestive organs have less work to do so that more nutrients can be absorbed.

Drink water before or after meals, but avoid drinking liquids during a meal. Some health advocates say liquids dilute digestive juices.

Soaking nuts releases enzyme inhibitors, making them more digestible.

Finding Balance

While food combining is often recommended for individuals with digestive problems, for those in good health, raw foodists stress finding the diet and food combining structure that is right for your body. If you feel perfectly healthy eating just raw foods and not combining according to strict rules, you do not need to impose more restrictions unless you choose to do so. You may choose to experiment with food combining to see if it improves your health, or you may follow guidelines that work for you.