The purpose of food combining is to reduce the stress in the gastrointestinal tract by enhancing the efficiency of our digestive enzymes. Proper food combining principles allow for better digestion and absorption of the nutrients in your foods by reducing the inflammation and irritation of your intestinal lining, as a result of poor digestion. Remember, it is not only what we eat, but rather what our body absorbs that is important. By doing proper food combinations we can make it easier for the body to absorb nutrients.

We have been told that we need to have a balanced diet consisting of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. However, when you look at all the other mammals in the animal kingdom, you will see that none of the other animals eat a balanced diet either. Rather, they eat a whole stack of leaves, bananas, or meat at one time. This allows for greater absorption and assimilation of nutrients, due to the fact that some foods digest faster than others and when two foods are placed together, that digest at different rates, it can cause digestive difficulties.

Carbohydrates digest very rapidly. Starches take a little longer. Proteins and fats digest very slowly -- 3 to 5 hours -- depending on the quantity. There are certain food combinations that are difficult for the body to handle. If you are not having any digestive problems it might not be that difficult for your body to digest those difficult food combinations. However, if you are experiencing indigestion, bloating, gas or heartburn, it may be the food combinations that are the problem.

A common statement many patients have made, when we talk about the need for proper food combining, is “I have eaten this way all my life, why did it all of the sudden start creating a problem?” My response: when you buy tires you don’t wear them out in the first thousand miles -- it takes 40 thousand miles to wear them out! The same applies to the intestinal lining. It takes a certain amount of time to encounter symptoms (a process that will be accelerated by poor food choices over time), but once they start, they need to be managed.

Rules to Follow and Understand

Proteins and Starches: To digest proteins requires a lot of acidity. If that acidity is not there or is diluted, protein is not adequately digested. This undigested protein then begins to putrefy and rot in the stomach. This rotted food then runs through our small intestine, irritating and damaging the intestinal lining. It will then promote the overgrowth of the unwanted bacteria in our intestines. Therefore, avoid poor food combinations such as steak and baked potato, chicken and rice or shrimp pasta. On the other hand, a good choice is to have protein with highly fibrous vegetables.

Proteins, Fats and Sugars: All simple sugars (jams, jellies, honey, etc.) and fruits are digested very rapidly. However if they are consumed with fats and proteins (which require 3-5 hours for digestion) the sugars will begin to ferment in the stomach. This fermentation of the sugars can cause irritation to the intestinal lining, and promote overgrowth of the unwanted “bad” intestinal bacteria. This overgrowth can reduce the absorption and assimilation of nutrients. It's best to eat fruits by themselves.

As we age we produce less enzymes and hydrochloric acid, which are needed for proper digestion, absorption, and assimilation. With proper food combining we may be able to reduce and eliminate the discomfort associated with heartburn, bloating, gas and indigestion.

If you do experience bloating, gas, indigestion, heartburn, or acid reflux, I would recommend proper food combining along with the use of digestive enzymes. Poor digestion not only leaves you with the above stated symptoms but can lead to fatigue, cravings, headaches, allergies, sinus problems, weight gain or irritable bowel syndrome, which may lead to more complicated health issues.

Better health begins with proper digestion, absorption and assimilation of our vitamins...

Guidelines for Food Combining

• Eat proteins (fish, chicken, beef, eggs etc.) with fibrous carbohydrates (broccoli, cauliflower, squash, zucchini, lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, asparagus etc.)

• Do Not combine proteins with starchy carbohydrates (potato, corn, beans, rice etc.)

• Only eat fruits by themselves. Do not eat them with your meals.

• Drink only a few ounces of water with your meal, which prevents the dilution of stomach acid and enzymes during digestion.

Dr. Len Lopez began his career with a goal to treat patients with natural methods. He holds a number of certifications, including Certified Clinical Nutritionist (C.C.N.), Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (C.C.S.P.), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (C.S.C.S.), with additional training in Applied Kinesiology and Homeopathy. Dr. Lopez has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs and is the author of the book To Burn or Not to Burn - Fat is the Question. His approach to healing is very simple - treat the cause, not the symptom!