Principle of proper food combination

 BY ARINOLA ADENIYI

Food combining health

I am an unrepentant believer in the fact that ‘diets don’t work!’ The best way to go about losing weight is to develop a long lasting healthy lifestyle you can cope with and enjoy. That way, you would avoid the frustrations of unachieved set weight loss goals, giving up virtually everything you love, fluctuating weight, as well as the yo-yo diet trap.

Coming across a programme that allows you to eat everything you already eat and which makes you lose weight in the process by properly combining your food is worth considering.

Proper food combination is an approach to eating which makes it easier for the body to digest food. It is believed that Dr Howard Hay developed the philosophy in 1904 to treat himself of the very familiar “trinity of troubles” ranked as the primary source of death; viz the combination of high blood pressure, kidney disease and a dilated heart. It postulates that our body cannot effectively digest proteins and carbohydrates at the same time because the chemical processes are anti-productive during digestion.

By following Dr Howard Hay’s food combination guidelines, food is more easily digested, providing better absorption of food, which ultimately gives the body more energy.

- Food can be divided into three groups: Proteins, carbohydrates and neutral

Proteins include meat, poultry, fish, cheese, eggs, soya beans, yoghurt, milk and milk products.

Carbohydrates include, bread (whole meal flour), tapioca, rye, wheat, sweet corn, quinoa, oats, nuts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pastas, rice, sweets, sugar/honey.

Neutral includes most vegetables, all salads, seeds, nuts, herbs, spice, cream, butter, natural and cold pressed oil, egg yolk, avocado, olives.

Tips for proper food combination:

- Proteins and carbohydrates should not be eaten together.

- Neutral foods can be combined with either proteins or carbohydrates.

- Allow four hours between carbohydrate and protein meals.

- Protein, carbohydrate and fats should be eaten in small quantities

- Vegetable, salad and fruits should be a major part of your diet.

- Avoid beans, dried peas and noodles made of eggs because they contain large amounts of protein and carbohydrate.

- Only whole grains and unprocessed starches should be used and all refined and processed foods should be eliminated from your diet.

- Combining foods that are compatible with each other in terms of digestive chemistry is believed to significantly improve our health. Yes, you can have your pounded yam with vegetables minus the ‘orisirisi’(assorted meat); (hopefully there will not be diced beef and dried fish with every mouthful of the vegetable!) Boiled potatoes and vegetables without your chicken? You will acquire the taste and way of eating in no time. You can combine your food properly too when eating out at a restaurant, just always remember the basic guidelines.

Benefits

- It reduces and eliminates indigestion problem

- There is better effective utilisation and assimilation of nutrients.

- It promotes weight loss.

- Helps to jump-start metabolism

- It helps with debilitating diseases

- You feel fuller longer

- It increases overall health and well-being.

 I wish you optimum health and well-being!