Rules of Food Combining

The principle of proper food combining was developed by Ivan Pavlov over a century ago and backed by studies undertaken by Dr. Philip Norman and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, according to Harvey Diamond, author of "Fit for Life." Diamond argues that nothing affects digestion more than food combinations, and you should take great caution in preparing meals to assure you gain maximum energy with minimal digestive effort. However, before adopting such a diet, be sure to consult your doctor.

Concentrated Foods

The human body is not designed to digest more than one concentrated food in the stomach at the same time, according to Diamond. Any food that is not a fruit and is not a vegetable is concentrated, he says. This principle excludes the consumption of meals such as eggs and toast, cereal and milk, and pepperoni pizza, all of which feature two or more concentrated foods. If you choose to consume a concentrated food like meat, dairy or grains, eat it alone or with vegetables, which are high in water and easy to digest.

Protein and Starch

Some foods, like legumes, contain a mixture of both protein and starch, which are long chains of sugar molecules. It is OK to eat such foods. If eating more than one concentrated food at a sitting is unavoidable, you should avoid consuming food that is mainly protein with one that is mainly starch, such as tuna with bread. Diamond urges against combining two proteins, such as milk with eggs, but says that eating two starches simultaneously, such as two different kinds of nuts, is less deleterious.

Fruit

Consisting almost exclusively of simple sugars, fruit requires less energy to be digested than any other food. For this reason, Diamond urges that fruit be consumed on its own, at least 30 minutes before or three hours after other foods. Combining fruit with concentrated foods like meat and eggs, or even with vegetables or grains, impedes the digestion of fruit, and causes it to ferment in the stomach, producing such symptoms as bloating and flatulence. Should you consider incorporating these principles of food combining into your dietary regimen consult a physician and/or a licensed dietitian.