Is proper food combining the secret to weight loss?

A while ago I was asked by one of my client's about the validity of 'food combining'.

This is something that quite controversial, so I wanted to do some good solid research before offering my opinion.

So for what it's worth, here it is...

For those of you who are unsure of what this is all about, there have been numerous 'experts' touting the benefits of only combining certain foods with each other at meal times.

The premise is that different foods require different digestive enzymes to be properly broken down and utilized by the body. Furthermore, if this food is improperly digested, then weight gain and digestive troubles are the result.

One of the typical no-no's touted by food-combining pros is that you should never eat protein and starch in the same meal, as they require different digestive juices, which, if secreted at the same time would neutralize each other resulting in indigestible and rotting food in your digestive tract.

This makes no sense at all.

Nature has provided us with countless food sources that contain both protein and starch in the same food (such as rice), so why would this be so if we were unable to digest them properly?

The following is a quote from Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby MB, ChB, MD, PhD - nutrition and food allergy specialist from the UK - from his book 'Diet Wise'...
"...you may have heard of the "food combining" approach to diet. A lot of elaborate theory is put forth as a justification for the ritual of separating morning, midday, and evening - your body is supposed to be unable to digest proteins and carbohydrates at the same time, some foods are acidic and some are alkaline, and other such fake science. These claims are simply not true. The body is geared to digest fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, sequentially, in different segments o the alimentary tract."

Basically, what Dr. Scott-Mumby is stating here is that digestion does not just take place in the stomach. For instance, sugar digestion starts in the mouth, fats are emulsified in the small intestine and so forth - your body is able to digest all types of food at the same time.

So why are so many people jumping on board this bandwagon if it doesn't work?

Most likely because food combining severely restricts the types and quantities of food you eat. For example, since starch and protein don't digest together but veg and protein do (in the eyes of food combining experts) then instead of the hearty serving of mashed potatoes with your roast beef, or nice scoop of pasta with your meatballs, you'll be substituting vegetables. Also, since fruit is 'best digested in the morning - and should not be combined with any other food' your breakfast bowl of sugar laden cereal, cup of coffee, or eggs and bacon, is now replaced by a grapefruit or an apple.

You've probably started to see where all the miraculous benefits of food combining really stems from.

So what do I recommend?

Don't worry so much about not eating certain foods with each other, but rather limit the amount of starches and simple carbs you are taking in (white flour products, sugars) and increase the amount of fresh fruit and veg in your diet. Not because it digests better, but because they are healthier substances and contain high levels of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Yours in health,

RD