Did You Know That Carbohydrates and Proteins Should Not Be Eaten Together?

Carbohydrates and proteins require different types of chemical environments for proper digestion to occur and for our bodies to receive the full nutritional benefit. Foods can be categorized as acids or alkalines. Proteins require an acidic environment while carbohydrates require an alkaline environment. When eaten together, digestive juices cancel or neutralize each other and can result in intestinal and health problems.

The reason for this is that food is mainly digested in the small intestine. When the wrong combination is consumed, the result is a sticky, gluey substance. I know this is not something we like to hear or read about, but that is the truth. This substance instead of passing through and being eliminated the way it should, will stick to the intestinal walls and provide the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish and for parasites to reproduce. Some consequences of this is indigestion - at the very least, constipation, toxic bowels, and toxic blood. If not corrected, over time it can lead to developing a compromised immune system and other chronic illnesses. Additionally, "this wall" of hardened matter can prevent the intestine from absorbing the necessary nutrients, which in turn can lead to malabsorption complications. We have heard that "most diseases start in the intestine," now we know why.

Vegetables on the other hand, can be digested in either an acidic or an alkaline environment. Therefore, they can be eaten either with proteins or with carbohydrates.

Examples of proper food combinations are: a bowl of soup and a salad, protein and a salad, carbohydrates and a salad or steamed vegetables and a salad. It is recommended that a healthy diet include more vegetables and fruits and that protein is served as a side dish instead of the main course.

This is completely different from what we learned in school. We learned that it was important to eat balanced meals. Balanced meals are still important but the definition of a "balanced meal" has changed within the past decade or two. I still remember the picture of the food pyramid from the fifth grade. The truth of the matter is that that kind of eating is not making people's health any better. In spite of all the technological advancements, diseases like colon cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune problems are on the rise. People are turning to alternative methods of treating health problems or to prevent them in the first place.

Nutritional recommendations vary greatly from one nutritionist to the next but the basic principles mentioned before make sense when we stop to think about it. I personally know of people who have benefited from applying them - my husband and I being part of that group.

Now you know the story behind improper food combinations. If you decide to follow these guidelines, I hope that you too reap the benefits and rewards that come as a result of combining the right foods.