3 Food Combining Tips to Enhance YOUR Energy

Food Combining

Did you know that the combination of foods we eat can impact our energy levels and leave us sluggish, bloated or gassy with a feeling of heaviness?

The typical meal consists of starchy carbohydrates, protein and vegetables, followed by some fruit.  This type of meal also results in feeling full and sleepy.

Why you ask? Because carbohydrates, protein, vegetables and fruit all require different terrains for optimal digestion to take place. When they don’t get the environment, they require the digestive system must work extra hard to breakdown, absorb and assimilate the nutrients thereby utilizing more of our energy and slowing down metabolism.

This longer process can also cause fermentation of certain foods, resulting in gas, belching and a bloated feeling.

Tip #1

Problem: Eating starchy carbohydrates and protein together, e.g. a burger, meat and pasta, rice and chicken etc.

Here’s why, Starches need an alkaline environment to digest whilst Proteins need an acidic environment to digest. When they are eaten together the environment in the stomach is neither acid nor alkaline but a neutral environment, causing a slowdown of the digestive process and requiring more energy from the body to complete digestion.

Solution: Eat your starchy carbohydrates and proteins separately, you will immediately see a difference in your energy levels.

Here are some examples:

• A bowl of leafy greens, celery, asparagus, peppers with chicken/fish/turkey
• 2 Skewers of meat kebabs with grilled onions, tomatoes, zucchini and broccoli
• Egg salad filling wrapped in lettuce with a side of coleslaw
• Brown rice stir-fried with cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, onions, mushrooms and bean sprouts
• Sweet Potatoes with a green leafy salad
• Pasta with sautéed onions, mushrooms, zucchini, asparagus and peppers.

Tip #2

Problem: Eating fruit immediately after a meal

Fruit digests very quickly when eaten by itself, it usually goes through the system in approx. 20 minutes.

However, when its eaten after a meal it must wait until the meal before it is fully digested. This meal can take anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on its content. In the meantime, the fruit is fermenting, and turning into food for the unwanted bacteria in the digestive tract thereby causing gas and bloating.

Additionally, this increases the digestion time resulting in further depletion of energy levels.

Solution: Eat your fruit on an empty stomach and away from meals. If you like to eat it at meal times, then consume at least 30 minutes before your actual meal.

I include fruits in my diet in the following ways:

• In my breakfast smoothies (yes, they can be incorporated with nuts, seeds and fats)
• As a mid-day snack when its been at least 2.5hrs since my last meal
• Before a workout

Note: All types of Melons should be eaten entirely by themselves, they have a notorious reputation for upsetting the digestive system. This include Honeydew, Cantaloupe, Watermelon etc.

Tip #3

Problem: What about Legumes?

Legumes, consisting of lentils, beans, peas, nuts are more complicated as they have good amounts of Protein but also contain large quantities of starchy carbohydrates.

Solution: It is best to categorize Legumes under Starchy carbohydrates and pair them with leafy greens and some other starches, here are some suggestions:

• Bean burger Patties with Kale salad
• Lentils with brown rice (remember they are both higher starch so they can be paired together)
• Vegan Chili with avocado

I have personally benefitted greatly from applying these food combinations and have noticed immense improvement in my energy levels. If you are looking to elevate your energy levels, start by trying one of these tips for a week and see the difference! Especially the first one, that alone makes a huge difference, especially when you see the disappearance of the mid-afternoon slump.

To make this easier I have attached a Food Combining chart that you can print and keep handy, so you know immediately which foods combine well, or not.

If you are confused or have any questions fire away to [email protected]