Sussanna Ngodoo Jacob
Simply feeling up the stomach with food is not a guarantee the food will replenish the cells effectively. Consciously applying certain culinary techniques however would make a world of difference. Certainly, we must be savvy to make the best out of the foods available to us. We need to consciously apply beneficial culinary techniques in our every day dietary regimen in order to harness good quality and quantity of nutrients from the foods available to us if we wish to replenish our basic unit of life (cells) adequately and support optimal bodily function.
To achieve this, we must understand the concept of healthy dieting Techniques. Healthy dieting techniques are simply beneficial ways of relating with foods. The most important dieting method would be to do all you can to influence better digestion in order to influence good absorption of nutrients and assimilation. This is crucial because it is the food we digest absorb and assimilate that nourishes our bodies, and not just what we consume.
According to research some dieting methods are more digestion friendly than others. And one of such dieting techniques is “food combining”. The concept of food combining is that certain foods biochemically balance each other and when paired they boost the nutritive and therapeutic value of the foods making it more digestion friendly and supports better absorption and assimilation.
Food combining maintains that the key to good health may not just be the wonderful healthy food we eat, but how they are also combined; the correct pairing of foods can maximize the benefits the body obtains from foods generally. The idea of food synergy is to get more out of foods to best serve our bodies.
A good example of food combining is that of turmeric and black pepper; this combination makes the nutrients in turmeric more biologically available for the body to utilize. Food combing is very broad and cannot be exhausted in one article. Below are some tips for combining fruits.
Healthy fruit combining method for maximum benefits
Since fruits are some of the commonest foods consumed in our society, we thought a more elaborate food combining tips would come in handy. Fruit combining science suggest that when fruits are taken in their individual grouping or when paired from a biochemical compatibility standpoint, they offer more benefits than mixing fruits across board like we casually practice in our fruit salad recipes, smoothies or even juices.
Fruit classification
1. Acid fruits
2. Semi-acid fruits
3. Sweat fruits.
4. Melons
Fruit combining examples
- Acid fruits: this group includes all citrus fruits such as pineapple, cashew-apple, lemon, lime, grapes, grapefruits, tomatoes strawberries etc. Apparently acid fruits do not combine well with sweat fruits because of their high acidic nature. However, they do very well with sub-acid group of fruits. They also combine well with leafy vegetables and nuts. Although they go well with vegetables when mixed together, but never eat these fruits after eating vegetables, they turn to ferment in the stomach and may produce gas, which can be discomforting and sometimes even painful.
- Sub-Acid Fruits: sub acid fruits are versatile, and they go well with both acid and sweat fruits. They are the neutral group of fruits; however, fruits that are similar in texture always work best. For example, apple and English pear, mango and plums, coconut and dates, etc. sub-acid fruits include apples, English pear, mango, apricot, plums, pawpaw, peaches, etc.
- Sweat Fruits: Sweat fruits are very low in water content and because they are sweat, they are usually high in calories. Sweat fruits do not mix well with acid fruits, the combination could influence indigestion, gas, acid reflux, or they can create acidic fermentation in the stomach all of which offers no benefits. Sweat fruits include Banana, dates, coconut, dry fruits and others.
- Melons: Melons may be similar to sub acid fruits, yet distinct. Lemons contain more water than other fruits and digest quicker. Apparently Mixing Melons with other fruits slows the digestive nature and processes of the melon which cause it to ferment in the stomach. Melons do not mix with any food, not even its kind; melons are a strict stand-alone fruit. For best result eat lemons’ separately, also ensure to space well before you consume another food before or after consuming melons’ because when you introduce another food immediately you may experience some discomfort most often bloated stomach. Lists of melons include watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew, etc
Avocados also deserve a category of their own. They are more like an exotic fruit; avocado is truly an unusual fruit; unlike any other fruit avocadoes contain huge amounts of healthy fats. It is also neutral to a large extent as it combines well with most fruits especially acid fruits except for sweat fruits such as Bananas.
Food coming is a great dieting method to help maximize the foods available to you, as the essence of consuming foods is to nourish the body, and not to appease hunger. The human body is said to require 21minerals, vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids and a good amount of fibre on a daily basis. All of these will not be possible if good digestion is not supported. It is the food we digest that nourishes the body and not just what we fill our stomachs with.
These tips are your ally to healthy culinary and dieting so generously incorporates them in your daily dietary routine!
