Have you ever started your day out feeling great with lots of energy, a good appetite and a nice flat tummy…and then throughout the day as you eat what you think are healthy foods, your waistline begins to slowly expand until at the end of the day you are feeling tired and bloated and thinking “what the heck did I eat?”. The truth is it may not have been exactly what you ate, but how and when you ate it.
 
When we eat a meal (or even a snack for that matter), our bodies produce digestive enzymes in order to effectively digest and assimilate our foods.But the human body is not designed to digest more than one type of food at a time, and it is difficult for our bodies to produce multiple different types of enzymes to break down different foods. For example, foods such as melons that turn into simple sugars require only 15-30 minutes to digest while the proteins in nuts and meat could take up to 4 hours to digest and assimilate. Improper food combining is one of the major causes of digestive discomfort. The results of poor food combining leads to: bloating, indigestion (and heartburn), poor assimilation of nutrients, lack of energy, weight gain, bowel discomfort and toxic build up in the colon. The following are some easy-to-follow guidelines for proper food combining for optimal digestion and health:
 
Combinations that work:
-Leafy greens + veggies + proteins
-Leafy greens + veggies + fats
-Leafy greens + veggies + starches
-Fruit and desserts should be eaten alone
 
Combinations to avoid:
-Starch + Fruit
-Starch + Protein
-Protein + Fruits
 
If you are stuck feeling bloated and heavy after a meal with any improper food combinations, try sipping on a peppermint or ginger tea. This will help soothe the stomach and help in the digestion process. Wishing you happy and healthy food combining!
 
Adrienne Kelly-Durys is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner, 500Hr RYT and lover of feeling good in mind and body. She teaches Yoga and wellness classes at Balanced Life Yoga and specializes in detoxing and nourishment. Classes include Power Hour Yoga, Core Yoga and Strength Therapy, Power Hour +Bonus and Holistic Nutritional Consulting. http://www.balancedlifeyoga.ca