Food Combination Diet

As with every diet, there are those that are in favor of it and those that don't agree with it. The food combination diet is based on the idea that certain foods need to be separated from other foods and eaten at specific times. This aids in digestion and helps promote a good metabolism. The food combination diet is based on the principle that foods all require different digestive conditions. When you use the food combination diet, you will aid the digestion of all foods.

The theory is that if any food is left undigested it will be left as a fat deposit. This not only makes you gain weight it also can cause indigestion and perhaps some diseases. The credit for the food combination diet goes to Dr. Herbert Shelton, who broke down our food into three categories: protein, food that has carbohydrates and the rest are put into a "neutral" category.

The doctor suggests that proteins and carbohydrates should be ingested at different times. The reason being is that they have a different digestive process. This forms the first principle of the food combination diet.

The next step in the food combination diet is to eat acids and starches separately. This is based on the theory that acids will neutralize the alkaline of the starches.

Proteins and fats should be separated at mealtime because foods rich in fats can take hours for digestion. Finally, the last component of the food combination diet is to eat fruits and protein at different times. Eating fruit before a meal allows it to be digested in about 30 minutes, but if you eat a fruit after dinner, it will take a lot longer.

There are still those that don't agree with the food combination diet. However, the ones that support it find that people are getting the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. People may find it a bit difficult to eat things separately so it isn't the easiest diet to follow. More evidence is needed on the value of the weight loss and digestive benefits. As always, before beginning a diet check with your doctor.

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