Does your food sometimes make you feel uncomfortable after eating?

Functional food combining is a form of food combining sometimes used to help heal the gut and support weight loss.

Combining foods that break down at different rates may be a major source of digestive discomfort. Avoiding specific combinations may help alleviate bloating and gas while optimizing metabolism and reducing digestive stress.

LESS DESIRABLE COMBINATIONS

There are many versions of food combining, here are some combinations considered most taxing to the digestive system. Avoiding these pairings may help reduce digestive stress.

🍗PROTEIN + STARCHES

Protein and starches included in the same meal may lead to sub-optimal digestion.

For example, dishes like meatballs and pasta or meat with rice could lead to bloating or discomfort.

Tip: Zucchini noodles and cauliflower rice are great non-starchy substitutes for protein-based meals.

🍗PROTEIN + ACID

The combination of protein and acid is thought to be additionally taxing on the digestive system. Meats with acidic marinades or fish in an acidic sauce might lead to indigestion.

Tip: Swap seasonings, like oregano, basil, paprika, and cayenne, for the marinades and sauces.

MILK + 🍴ANYTHING

For optimal digestion, milk is considered best consumed on its own.

Tip: Consider nut, seed, or oat milks instead.

🍓FRUIT + 🍴ANYTHING

Based on this theory, fruit shouldn’t be combined with other foods because it digests quickly. In addition, food combining recommends eating fruit on an empty stomach and considers it the perfect food for the morning.

Tip: Make banana “ice cream” by blending bananas in a food processor and putting it in the freezer!

IDEAL COMBINATIONS

Protein + Non-Starchy Vegetables:

Protein paired with non-starchy veggies is considered a winning food combo that can help ease digestive strain. This combination is also considered ideal as an evening meal. Here are some examples:

🍴• Chicken + peppers

🍴• Steak + green beans

🍴• Tuna + broccoli

Fruit + Fruit:

Fruits are generally considered to combine well with other fruits,

but melons – like watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe – are best enjoyed on their own. If you’re interested in exploring different combinations, here are a few ideas:

🍴• Oranges + grapefruit

🍴• Peaches + cherries

🍴• Apples + pears

Nuts + Non-Starchy Vegetables:

Fattier foods, like nuts, combine well with non-starchy vegetables. A great way to try this is to add some nuts to a fresh salad or sprinkle them over a vegetable soup. Some other ideas include:

🍴• Walnuts + arugula

🍴• Almonds + cucumber

🍴• Pistachios + Brussels sprouts

Starches + Non-Starchy Vegetables:

Starches pair best with non-starchy vegetables. Grains, beans, potatoes, and pumpkin are all starchy foods. Here are some examples of ideal combos:

🍴• Brown rice + asparagus

🍴• Sweet potato + green beans

🍴• Lentils + cauliflower

Food combining is about not only the types of foods combined but how those foods are eaten. Eat “lighter” foods, like fruit, earlier in the day and “heavier” foods, like protein-rich dishes, in the middle of the day to best support digestion.

Functional food combining also recommends chewing food completely and getting enough water, exercise, rest, and sleep for optimal health.