SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATIONS: CORRECT FOOD COMBINING

Correct food combining ensures optimum digestion and absorption. However, it’s not necessary to be as strict as some exponents of food combining claim. To live on a daily fare that sees one eating protein only at one meal and carbohydrate only at another, with fruits and vegetables separated at opposite ends of the day would be incredibly boring for most people. Such boredom can so stress the body as to raise the adrenalin levels which then interfere with digestion and absorption. Food and the eating of it is one of the greatest sensual experiences nature has bestowed on us. The more it’s enjoyed the better it is digested—ask any Italian. For eating to be a sensual experience the meal must have flavour and aroma. Flavour and aroma are best achieved by combining two or more foods in a given dish. It is the aroma and anticipation of a meal that helps to get our digestive juices flowing and it’s the flavour of the meal that perpetuates that flow. The secret of optimum digestion and absorption is optimum digestive juice flow. Certain food-combining practices aid and abet the digestive juices.

The practice of drinking large quantities of water or eating a fruit or garden salad or a large bowl of soup before the main meal dilutes the hydrochloric acid secreted from the stomach walls for the digestion of protein foods (meat, poultry, seafood, eggs and cheese). These foods contain minerals (zinc, manganese, iron) and minerals need a good supply of hydrochloric acid if they are to be absorbed. Protein can’t be broken up without hydrochloric acid. Small amounts of water taken before and sipped during a meal is fine. Pineapples and paw paws contain protein-splitting enzymes and may be had in small quantities just before or with a protein meal as may bitter salads which help promote hydrochloric acid secretion. It’s the little exceptions to the rule like these that make strict, uncompromising food combining invalid.

It’s best to eat at least half of the meat, seafood, poultry, egg, cheese (protein) component of the meal before starting on the carbohydrate (potato, rice, pasta, yam taro, sweet potato, pumpkin) . The bottom part of the stomach is where the hydrochloric acid is secreted and because this acid only works on protein it pays to get a good measure of protein food down there first. When the bottom part of the stomach (pyloms) is full of protein it closes off and the rest of the food is stored in the top part (fundus) until the bottom half has emptied its semi-digested contents into the small intestine.

It works out well for the second part of the meal to be the carbohydrate foods as most of their digestive, enzymes are found in the mouth. While waiting in the closed-off top section of the stomach their digestion, which began in the mouth, continues unhindered by the acid in the lower portion of the stomach. Hydrochloric acid stops the digestion of carbohydrate foods, which don’t resume their digestion until they pass through the lower part of the stomach into the small intestine. Too much carbohydrate soaks up the hydrochloric acid (like a sponge does water), reducing the acid’s contact with the protein food. Furthermore, the alkaline carbohydrates tend to neutralise the acid. However, if the bulk of the protein has passed to the small intestine by the time the carbohydrate foods are released into the lower stomach, their passage through it into the small intestine will be quick as small amounts of protein food in it tends not to hold its passage up.

In the small intestine protein and carbohydrate food can be digested simultaneously and if small quantities of protein foods are carried through with the carbohydrates they don’t strain the small intestine’s capacity to digest them, even if they haven’t first been broken up by hydrochloric acid. Most importantly the bulk of the minerals in the protein food have already been absorbed in the strong acid medium that existed before the carbohydrates reached the lower stomach.

Ideally, all the protein foods should be consumed before starting on the carbohydrates, green and colored vegetables and sauces. However, some people find that this practice detracts from the enjoyment of the meal. So, as long as half the protein food is consumed first there will be enough minerals absorbed to sustain the average healthy person, though I suggest the seriously rundown eat all of their protein first until such time as they have built themselves up.

Remember, everything that leaves the mouth should be in a fluid state. The digestive juices are designed to mix with fluid food, they do not work as effectively on chunks of this and that. Don’t bolt your food. Take your time and chew it properly. Don’t sit hunched forward for the duration of the meal. Draw your chair in closer and periodically lean back against the back rest while you chew. This way you won’t compress your digestive organs and reduce their function. The main reason for sitting back and relaxing after the main meal of the clay is to prevent the compaction of the digestive organs.

Formula Six has been designed to aid digestion and promote optimum absorption. It contains the vitamins and minerals needed to help achieve this and for this reason must be taken with a little water just before the main meal of the day. This way you can be sure hydrochloric acid is waiting in the lower part of the stomach to receive your protein food and that, there will be optimum absorption of the minerals in Formula Six. Many people are hydrochloric acid deficient due to a lifetime of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and for this reason don’t receive optimum benefit from the food they eat. Hydrochloric acid deficiency is most prevalent in the over forties.

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