Food combining, also called trophology, is a philosophical approach first advocated by William Hay, M.D., in the early 1900's to eat certain foods together that aid digestion and weight loss and to avoid eating certain foods together because they adversely affect digestion and weight loss. Many vegetarians follow food combining principles in their quest for optimum health and prevention of disease. These principles can apply to different types of vegetarian diets.
Food Combining for Digestion
The basic premise of food combining is based on the belief that accumulation of acid that occurs during digestion of certain foods may lower your body's alkaline reserve and cause toxicity in your blood and cells throughout your body. Combining foods have a different effect on the amount of acid your body forms. Foods are classified into three groups. Alkali foods increase your alkaline salts and include vegetables and fruits, including citrus fruits. Concentrated proteins, such as meat, fish and dairy, form acid. Starches, such as grains, breads, cereals and added sugars, also form acid. Proteins and starches each produce acid, yet require different enzymes and conditions for digestion and should not be eaten together. Avoid eating starches and foods with added sugars together because the combination may increase acids. Eat vegetables and proteins or vegetables and starches in the same meal. Food combining also advocates eating whole grains and avoiding refined and processed foods. Some fruits can be combined, but is best eaten alone and not with other foods.
Food Combining for Weight Loss
Advocates may believe food combining enhances weight loss, yet little scientific research supports or refutes this. Research by Alain Golay, M.D., published in the "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders" in 2000 compared the effects of a food combining diet and a balanced diet containing the same amount of calories and foods each day, but differing in when they are eaten and found that the diets did not differ in loss of weight or body fat. Consult your nutritionist about food combining with your weight loss diet.
Vegetarian Nutrition
Vegetarian nutrition is based on the substances in a plant-based diet. Vegans eat only plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes and sprouts. Lacto-vegetarians may also eat dairy foods and lacto-ovo-vegetarians may also eat dairy and eggs. Vegetarian diets have high amounts of most vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, but may need to supplement their diet with vitamin B12, which is found largely in shellfish and meat. Vegetarian diets can also be low in protein or calcium. However, consuming fermented soy foods, such as tempeh, may increase your intake of protein, calcium and vitamin B12.
Food Combining for Vegetarians
Consume vegetables and nuts with meals. Add a starch, such as oatmeal or brown rice, for breakfast and dinner and a protein food, such as tempeh or lentils, for lunch. Add olive oil, a healthy fat and considered a neutral food, to any or all of your meals. Consume fruits alone, preferably as a healthy snack.
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