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Food Combining Tips for Better Health

food combination healthy dietNot all foods play well together. Meat and Potatoes. Surf and Turf. Chicken with Rice. Sounds yummy, right? However, proponents of food-combining diets would not combine protein with carbs, and or mix different types of proteins. Food combining advocates believe that eating certain types of food in the same meal can lead to disease, toxin buildup, and digestive issues. They also believe that proper combinations can help relieve these problems.

Food-combining principles first appeared in the Ayurvedic medicine of ancient India, but they became more widely popularized in the mid-1800s under the term “trophology,” or “the science of food combining.”
The principles of food combining were revived in the early 1900s by the Hay diet.

The Principles of Food Combining

Different foods require different enzymes to be processed and require different amounts of time and enzymes to digest. Animal proteins have their own. Carbs have their own. Fruits have their own. They often have specific digestive needs that don’t always work with other foods. That means when you have that big burger, side of fries and a shake, you ask your body to do a serious digestive multitask.

Dr. Damon Miller’s Healthy Eating Workshop includes a section on food combining. Tips from the workshop include:

  • Eat only 1 type of animal protein in a meal. No surf and turf.
  • Do not mix carbs with animal protein. So, do not mix meat and potatoes.
  • Meat and veggies work well together.
  • Veggies and carbs work well together.
  • Eat melon on its own, not with a meal.
  • Eat fruit away from other foods. If you want fruit, eat it separately, or at the beginning of your meal.
  • Avoid added sugars. If you must eat them, combine them with high protein sources such as beans, seeds, and nuts.

Some of the information above was from Dr. Damon Miller’s newsletter and used with his permission. Click for information on signing up for Dr. Miller’s bi-monthly newsletters.

What Are Enzymes and Where Do They Come From?

Enzymes are a major class of antioxidants that act as catalysts to quickly stimulate essential body functions. They aid in metabolism, digestion, respiration, cardiovascular functioning, immune system functioning, and processes that make vision possible.

Most enzymes are types of protein created naturally by our body from dietary protein. They interact with minerals, such as copper, zinc, iron or manganese, to produce specific effects or to create essential biochemicals.

Enzymes beneficial for maintaining vision health include superoxide dismutase (SOD), serrapeptase, and nattokinase. Additionally, there are enzymes like:

  • amylase, which converts complex sugars into simpler molecules such as maltose. The pancreas produces amylase for carbohydrate digestion and lipase for fat digestion.
  • lipase, which decomposes complex fats into smaller fatty acids and glycerol
  • pepsin, which breaks down dietary proteins into smaller peptides
  • lactase, which digests the milk sugar lactose
  • cholecystokinin, which prompts the gallbladder to contract and release bile
  • trypsin, which transforms proteins into amino acids.

Raw Food Diet

Imagine not cooking any of your food. Advocates of the Raw Food Diet assert that cooking changes or destroys the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that are vital to food’s life force. Enzymes help us efficiently digest and absorb a food’s nutrients, reducing the need for our own digestive enzymes. This is why raw foods are often called “living foods.” The idea is that a smoothly functioning digestive system conserves energy for other activities, such as combating illness and disease. Raw food enthusiasts typically consume at least 75% of their diet as uncooked foods. Many raw foodists are also vegans, abstaining from animal-based products.

Light Steaming

Lightly steaming your vegetables allows some nutrients that may be hard to get in raw food to be more accessible. Therefore, a combination of raw food and lightly steamed food is optimal. In Chinese medicine, some people’s constitutions run “hot” or “cold.” Lightly steaming and soups are generally better for those who tend to run “cold” as cooking this way is warming. Raw foods are better for those that tend to run “hot,” because raw foods are cooling.

Eating for Health

The most effective way to obtain vitamins and minerals is through a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and lean protein sources, along with healthy fats like nuts and olive oil. At Natural Eye Care, we recommend the Vision Diet. It is a variation of the Mediterranean Diet, which is popular due to its substantiated health benefits.

As we age, we are less able to absorb nutrients. Taking a multi-enzyme supplement with meals can aid digestion and enhance nutrient absorption.

Suggested Supplements

Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (whole food) 60 vcaps

Dr. Grossman’s Meso Plus Retinal Support and Computer Eye Strain Formula with Astaxanthin 90 vcaps

Dr. Grossman’s Advanced Eye and Dr. G’s Whole Food Superfood Multi1 20 Vcap Combo – 2 months supply

ReVision Formula (wild-crafted herbal formula) 2 oz – based on classic Chinese medicine Liver tonic formula to help support healthy circulation and blood flow throughout the eyes and body.

Dr. Grossman’s Vitamin C Plant-Based Formula – 60 caps

Nattokinase Plus 60 caps

Recommended Books

Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision and Healing

Natural Brain Support: Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Other Related Diseases Naturally