Proper Food Combining: The Missing Cornerstone to a Healthy, Beautiful Body, Anti-aging & Energy? + my Cleansing Quadruple Berry Acai Smoothie

I promised to offer more information on the potential benefits of Proper Food Combining in my last nutrition post, The Secrets to Detoxing. Proper Food Combining may be the missing cornerstone to healthy eating and something we'll want to understand if we're interested in achieving and maintaining a beautiful, healthy body and mind for life.  Entire books have been written upon these subjects so I must admit, attempting to write blog posts on them can feel rather daunting!  However, I suppose that's the benefit, condensing everything into the most important points so that you can save yourself the effort of sifting through reams of information and get to work applying these anti-aging, beautifying and energy enhancing secrets!  

Proper Food Combining (1,2,3) may enable our bodies to process food efficiently and more effectively absorb the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.  It's based on the theory that different food groups require different digestion times and different digestive enzymes to aid in the digestive process: some acid, some alkaline.  Therefore, correct food combinations are considered important for proper utilization and absorption of nutrients potentially leading to better digestion and ultimately, better health.  Basically, the simpler the meal the better.  

While the method is easy to follow, it's certainly a far departure from the Standard American Diet (SAD).  However, after just two weeks following the guidelines in the chart below, general emotional outlook and appearance can improve as toxins are cleared out of the system faster.  Cravings are often eliminated- making it incredibly easy to stick to - while the immediate energy surge, effortless toning, melting away of excess body fat and glowing skin may serve as reinforcements against any ideas of going back to old habits!  

I am continually shocked to learn the amazing wisdom available when I challenge what I find unacceptable... in this case the gut feeling I'd had all along that staying lean and feeling good shouldn't be difficult.  The constant battle against cravings, subpar energy levels etc., all stayed in place even though I was following the advice and workout recommendations of the most respected doctors and best-selling authors!  Not that I wasn't seeing major improvements along my journey - I was.  However, until incorporating several aspects of proper food combining, it was all a little too effortful, requiring a level of will-power that wasn't sustainable.

Here is where I really want to delve into the science of Proper Food Combining so you can understand the "how" behind it all.  The chart (4) below offers an excellent summary for how to apply the results of all the science involved.  And, since this will turn into a book if I explain every possible poor food combination, I've provided just two examples underneath the chart; what happens when we combine protein and carbohydrates, and how to consume fruit.  Feel free to post specific questions in the comments below and I'll be happy to answer them.  

In the meantime, here's a really simplified version that won't put us all to sleep:  Basically, when we improperly combine food, the environment required to digest it is compromised, for reasons such as improper levels of acidity, the wrong or inhibited enzymes, improper levels of digestive acid etc..  The result is the body's inability to digest the food, causing it to putrify, ferment, produce gas and ultimately create a digestive, toxic nightmare.  This scenario zaps our energy and turns any preexisting nutritive benefits into an age-accelerating, weight gain producing horror.  The terrific news is, simply changing the way we eat can immediately reverse all that.  As I stressed in my last post, the best way to transition into a cleansing lifestyle is gradually, so it's ok and normal that we'll have a learning/implementation curve.  As always, we NEVER need to be perfect :-)  

 

(Click on chart to enlarge)

Examples: 

 Protein and carbohydrate concentrated foods.  Breakdown of protein requires an acid medium, therefore, digestion of protein dense animal products requires high levels of hydrochloric acid. Since digestion of carbohydrate dense foods requires exactly the opposite environment, an alkaline medium,  in order to be broken down, high carbohydrate foods that have been mixed with high protein foods will not digest but will sit there fermenting, producing indigestion, bloating and gas. Since this fermentation of carbohydrates will inhibit the digestion of the protein, even more gas, bloating and discomfort will be produced. This makes the typical American meal, composed of a big chunk of meat alongside bread and potatoes, a recipe for digestive disaster.

Fruits. Fruit digests very quickly. It's extremely cleansing and excellent to eat at breakfast, while the body is still in cleansing mode after a night of fasting.  Always eat fruit on an empty stomach such as at the beginning of the day.  Otherwise, the fruit will get backed up behind another slower digesting food, and will sit in the stomach putrefying, turning what was once a cleansing, beautifying cocktail of nutrition into a toxic, aging, energy drain.  I'll go into further detail in a future post on how this resulting "toxic sludge" gets permanently baked into the body's 98.6F environment- just one reason cleansing requires an ongoing lifestyle in order to remove years of toxicity from the body.

I will continue to expand upon the applications of Food Combining in my next post where I'll include a sample daily menu following these guidelines.  In the meantime, my incredibly delicious Quadruple Berry Acai Smoothie followed an hour later by this energizing superfood Macaccino drink, are giving my mornings a powerful start :-)

 

Cleansing Quadruple Berry Acai Smoothie

 

Recipe for Cleansing Quadruple Berry Acai Smoothie (Makes 2, 32 oz servings)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 fresh lemon
• 10 oz fresh or frozen blackberries
• 10 oz fresh or frozen blueberries
• 10 oz fresh or frozen strawberries
• 2 frozen, unsweetened, acai packets (Pronounced ah-sah-yee, acai berries come from acai palm trees found in Central & South America. They're touted as being a superfood for anti-aging, weight loss & overall health. If you can't find Acai, substitute 1/4 cup dried Goji berries or just use fresh or frozen raspberries.)
• 2 tablespoons pomegranate concentrate, or sub a sprinkling of fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/2" of fresh ginger root (a fabulous anti-inflammatory which also aids in digestion!)
• your favorite sweetener to taste
  

Method:

1. Place all ingredients into a Vitamix Blender.
2. Fill almost to top with water.
3. Process until thoroughly blended.
4. Pour into two 32 oz mason jars and enjoy the GLOW!!

PS.  Don't forget to post any questions you have in the comments below.  I'm happy to do my best to answer them all.  Also, thank you so much for all the amazing emails you sent me regading StyleNectar and my new Fine Art website too!  I really appreciate the love. You all are AMAZING!

 

In grace, light and presence 

Love 💕

~Jayashrii

 

Live Beautifully

&

Be well

 

Jayashrii (Juliane)   💫

(Jayashrii is my Sanskrit Yogic name given by my teacher in India)

 

 

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Sources:

1. How to Always be Well by Dr. William Howard Hay

2. Fit for Life by Harvey Diamond

3. Food Combining Made Easy, Herbert Shelton

4. http://lytnyc.com/pdfs/foodComboChart_03.09.11.pdf

I am not a healthcare practitioner or provider. To the extent that any information is provided through this website, it is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute or substitute for medical advice or counseling, the practice of medicine including but not limited to psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, the creation of a physician-patient or clinical relationship, or an endorsement, a recommendation or a sponsorship of any third party, product or service by me. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements available on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

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Comments

[Dina K.]

Thank you so much for condensing and sharing this information, helping people like me who get overwhelmed by the research.
I have two questions:
1.where can I purchase frozen acai packets?
2.Should I omit garlic from my simple hummus recipe? The chart above suggests that garlic should be used medicinally. What are your thoughts on this?

[juliane porter]

You're welcome, Dina! It's my pleasure.

Frozen Acai packets can be found at Whole Foods and in the freezer section next to the berries in natural foods stores. Pronounced ah-sah-yee, acai berries come from acai palm trees found in Central and South America. They're touted as a superfood for anti-aging, weight loss & overall health. If you can't find them, no worries, I often substitute a 1/4 cup of dried Goji Berries which I also absolutely love for a little extra protein.

Entire books are written on Garlic. It's a very powerful herb generally lauded as beneficial. However, partly because it's so powerful, there are risks associated with it. Basically what helps one person may harm another. Garlics's cleansing properties, present when it's raw & crushed/finely diced, include inhibition of bacterial growth, fungus & yeast, lowering blood pressure & increasing the flow of digestive enzymes. I personally enjoy it in moderation since I eat a significantly raw diet, & therefore, don't have a lot of mucus in my body (in which case it can overly irritate the digestive tract & lining of our mucus membranes). So we each want to adjust our use according to our bodies needs and response.

Thank you so much for your excellent questions, Dina!

Have an awesome weekend :-)

XOXO

~Juliane

[sabun beras thailand]

Thank you what you share here. I will ask my friend to make as you share... Hope she will help me to do this...

[juliane]

You're welcome, Sabun. I'm so happy you are enjoying the articles and posts on StyleNectar. Let me know if you or your friend have any questions on my recipes or food combining. Have a lovely day:-)
Juliane

[Jon Symons]

Good article. I was writing a book about food combining and referenced this article in my book because you were totally on the money with your point that food combining is the missing piece to great health. Thank you.

[juliane porter]

Thanks Jon, I appreciate your comment. When is your book coming out and what is the title? I look forward to checking it out. Thanks for stopping by... look forward to seeing you again here soon!

All my best,

Juliane

[Andrea]

Hi,
Recently I have become very confused regarding my food choices. About 2 years ago, I stopped eating gluten, which was basically my entire diet. Bagel for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, maybe a couple veggies and meat with pasta or bread for dinner. At this point, I am gluten free, dairy free, almost meat free. That leaves me with fruits, veggies, nuts & seeds.
I seem to be having more digestive issues with a healthier diet than I had as a SAD diet eater. I have been following food combining principles lately, but I don't understand why my body could process all kinds of processed crappy foods, but can't seem to process healthy foods.

[juliane porter]

Hi Andrea,

Thank you for your excellent question!

First, congratulations on taking such powerful steps to reclaim excellent health and wellbeing as your own! You are on an amazing journey.

As you can see, it is a process, a life-long one, of being tuned in to our body's ever-changing needs, of evolving, and of learning to provide the best possible care and love for ourselves. Here are my initial thoughts:

First, work with your doctor, preferably one with expertise in both Eastern & Western practices, to rule out any sort of diagnosis that would be important to take into consideration.

Next, I will say it takes the body time to adjust to any changes which we, ideally, want to make gradually so as not to shock our systems or overwhelm our immune systems with too intense a detox reaction. Implementing a series of gravity based colon hydrotherapy sessions moves huge amounts of (digestive disorder causing) toxicity out of the intestines, speeding our cleansing process in a safer manner. For more info, check out http://www.releasenyc.com recommended to me by none other than beautiful, Raw Vegan Celebrity chef, Sarma Melngailis.

80% of our immunity resides in the gut, and it takes time to repair & clean out all the toxic residue from years of acid-forming dairy, grains, sugar, processed foods, antibiotics and everything else. Most of the population is dealing with candida (yeast overgrowth) as a result of all the aforementioned sugars etc. Candida has a detrimental affect on our gut/digestion/health overall. In candida cases, it is advisable to eliminate all sugars, including fruit, for a month or longer, to starve the yeast (which feeds on sugars) and let it die off. Additional positive by-products of eliminating candida include appetite reduction and elimination of cravings for carbs/sugar/sweets.

Living fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds have all their healthy, antioxidant rich, cleansing fiber in tact. The digestion of all this new fiber will be an adjustment for the body in itself, if it has been used to the fiber-devoid SAD diet. Some ways to make digestion of fruits and vegetables easier include making green juices and green smoothies- highly nutritious, healing and easily digested. Also, nuts and seeds are difficult to digest due to their phytic acid & enzyme inhibitors, and should, therefore, be soaked to remove these digestive impediments and activate their beneficial enzymes at the same time. I will be doing a post soon on how to soak/sprout nuts and seeds (it's basically very easy- just soak them in purified water overnight or, for almonds: 24 hours changing water every 8 hrs in the am & pm).

Taking digestive enzymes prior to each meal will help digestion and replenish critical enzyme reserves in the body.

Making meals very simple- as in 5 ingredients or less- or even doing mono-meals meaning only 1 ingredient (think a huge bunch of grapes, ½ a watermelon or 5+ bananas) is much easier to digest and highly energizing.

Probiotics are crucial in rebuilding gut health, by increasing beneficial bacteria thus outnumbering/eliminating the harmful bacteria.

Raw, unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) will also help digestion (1 or 2 tsp in 8 oz of water or in salad dressings – see my upcoming video for details). ACV will help kill off candida as well as parasites and provide healing enzymes as well.

Lastly, it is wise not to drink water (or any other beverage) with meals- instead, don't drink water ½ hour before a meal and wait another ½ hour after, as all the water disrupts ideal digestion of food from happening because it dilutes the digestive enzymes necessary to break down the food.

So this is a lot! Let me know if you have further questions about anything, Andrea. And, thank you again for sharing your question. I am so proud of you for all the great strides you’ve taken already. You are amazing and you can do it!

Much love,
Juliane

[juliane porter]

Andrea- PS. I forgot to mention Aloe Vera Juice which has been found to alleviate major digestive problems, be healing to the gut, assist with allergies/asthma & much more. It's full of minerals & alkalizing as well. Nutritional profile: Vitamins: B1, B2, B3 and B12, choline, folic acid, vitamin C and beta-carotene (a precursor to Vitamin A), all vital to optimal health &formation of certain key enzymes. Minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium, chloride, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, chromium, sulfur, boron, silicon, phosphorus, and sodium. These minerals are vital in the growth process and essential for the function of all body systems. People even report it cures ulcers after years of prescription meds. As always, it's important to start taking any supplement (or new addition to our lifestyle) in very gradual amounts, to consult with our doctor for any contraindications with prescriptions being taken, & to pay attention to our body's reaction to anything new we implement. I prefer aloe WITHOUT anthraquinone (which has a laxative affect), such as Herbal Answers, Pure Aloe Force brand.
Again, any questions, let me know.
xoxo
Juliane

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[Marta]

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[juliane]

Thank you for your kind compliment Marta! It's great to have you SN subscriber :) All my best to you.

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[dimagrire subito]

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[Cedric]

Juliane, i love your blogs. so well written and very informative. you seem to do a lot of research and that is great. i recently changed from SAD diet to almost completely vegan. but i think i did it way to fast. My stomach and intestines didn't like the rapid change. it seems to be slowly adjusting though. i have never had a colonic. Is this safe and benficial? Also i have read that there is a minium amount of calories that the body must have for vital functions. Plus i do workout, so how do i get those calories with the correct food combining. thanks again for any input..

[Juliane]

Hi Cedric,

Thank you for your kind compliments and excellent questions. There is SO much I would like to share, more than I can possibly write here, so please feel free to contact me personally if you would like to work with me on an individual coaching basis (See Holistic Health & Wellness Coaching under categories in R sidebar). Meantime, congratulations on the outstanding steps you are taking to realize your optimum health and vitality. You are totally worth it and I'm so proud of you!!

First, work with your doctor, preferably one with expertise in both Eastern & Western practices, to rule out any sort of diagnosis that would be important to take into consideration. Also there are a few common deficiencies to be aware of (for vegans and SAD diets alike) via tests w/ your doctor: B12, Iron, D3/Mk7/Calcium/Magnesium (bone/teeth/ligament health), Omega 3's & EPA/DHA (for brain health & more) and Iodine (even the RDA amount is only enough to prevent goiter- do research here- or I can explain if you work w/ me). Be sure to rotate your fruits/vegetables for nutrient variety so you're not always eating the same ones over and over again- read Victoria Boutenko's Green for Life for more info on this. It's excellent that you're listening to your body. This is a life-long process of discovery during which we'll be constantly adjusting as our needs and circumstances change. What works for one person may not be right for another and what works for us today, may not be what we need 10 years from now! Always remember the point is not perfection it's about the process of bringing the most acceptance and loving kindness possible to ourselves in each and every moment.

Your intuition is right, it's important to make changes gradually so as not to shock our bodies to allow them sufficient time to respond to new conditions. There are all sorts of reasons for this such as; the risk of drumming up too much cellular toxicity at once which can overwhelm the immune system (tho yes, colonics can assist w/ this- more on this in a minute), the toxicity released during the "die-off affect", withdrawal symptoms from removing sugar/meat/gluten/caffein etc, and more.

I often recommend swapping out just one or two meals a day in the beginning, gradually making the transition toward your ultimate goal. Smoothies are a great way to sub in high quality vegan meals that are predigested by the blender and therefore easier on your gut. Many people love colonics (gravity based colonics are excellent- however make sure you do really great research to find an excellent practitioner) as a means to assist in cleaning out the colon and speed removal of toxicity to prevent detoxing too fast. Another great option is using a far infrared sauna which penetrates 3" into the skin and stimulates: cellular cleansing, immunity, endorphin release, elimination of toxins via sweating at lower temperatures than a standard sauna and the induction of a false fever which also assists in killing off bacteria etc. The fact that you're working out is great! This too, will help your body detoxify as you sweat and as you circulate clean fresh blood throughout your body.

It certainly is important to get enough nutrition - some ideas:

AM: start out w/ a fresh green juice (200-250 cal) or smoothie (350-400 cal), then 1 or 2 hours later, depending on which one you had, have a couple of slices of hearty bread slathered w/ a fresh avocado + olive oil, himalayan salt & pepper (400-500) starting your day w/ a ton of high quality, great calories.

Snack ideas: dried superfood mix like goji berries/mulberries/raisins/almonds/sunflower seeds/pepitas/walnuts/flaked coconut/mulberries/pecans/etc. Dried fruit combines differently/more easily than fresh so this is an ok combo for most.

Lunch ideas: 32 ounce smoothie packed with hemp seed or chia seed (both high in clean easily assimilable protein), a fresh green salad toped with veggies, tree nut cheese, legumes or pepitas/sunflower seeds/pistachios/etc or canned sardines/salmon/fish (of course those aren't vegan but perhaps good during transition) dressed with olive oil (you can be generous if calories are an issue for you) and lemon juice or Raw ACV. On the smoothies, since they're blended, experiment to see if you can add in extra hemp seed/almonds/nut butters/coconut butter w/ bananas/avocado and other high cal/protein ingredients to keep your calorie intake where you want it (a Vitamix is a godsend in this lifestyle.)

For dinner generous quantities of steamed veggies like sweet potatoes/greens/whatever is in season w/ lots of delicious coconut oil (excellent for you!!) plus generous portions of high quality-high protein grains such as quinoa/millet/oat groats/brown rice (yes it's great in savory dishes too!) or lentils/legumes or a high quality fish (this meal can be up to 800-1000 cal depending on your serving size.

For dessert feel free to check out any of my sweet smoothies or other raw vegan treats (see recipe index). This is a lot of info - and I do offer menu planning as part of our coaching so please feel free to contact me as I don't know your specific health needs/history/concerns so these are very generalized ideas. When it comes to proper food combining, no need to be perfectionistic about it- use it as a guide to start experimenting & becoming aware of what does and doesn't work for you specifically.

Again, Cedric, I am so happy for you that you're on such an outstanding journey. Wishing you much success, love, happiness and laughter in 2015! Please do let me know if you have any questions on anything. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

PS. My husband loves Vegan Orgains and my Dad loves Raw Meal by Garden of Life for high quality calorie support that you don't have to prepare yourself. I actually love them too- and no I don't get paid to say that :)

Much love,
Juliane

I am not a healthcare practitioner or provider. To the extent that any information is provided through this website, it is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute or substitute for medical advice or counseling, the practice of medicine including but not limited to psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, the creation of a physician-patient or clinical relationship, or an endorsement, a recommendation or a sponsorship of any third party, product or service by me. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements available on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

[lili]

Hei, I have two questions: Maybe You have already clarified it, How will you cook the meat, if meat and oil is a bad combination? Can I drink water after 30 minutes of eating my meal? Anyone that can help me, I would appreciate it. Thanks

[Juliane]

Hi Lili,

Thank you for your questions.

On meat, I am now a vegan, however I understand that many people still incorporate it into their lifestyles. I'm going to attach a couple of links to excellent articles on the effects of meat on the body as well as the effects of various cooking techniques. Additionally, I will offer, boiling, steaming and baking in parchment atop a bed of veggies are all options which don't include oil. The very cooking of oil actually turns the oils rancid, so even if it were a good combo, one would be eating rancid oil which in itself is an issue. Here a couple of links to articles by Dr. Gregor: http://nutritionfacts.org/topics/meat/ , http://nutritionfacts.org/2013/07/04/avoiding-cooked-meat-carcinogens/ & http://nutritionfacts.org/video/estrogenic-cooked-meat-carcinogens/

Yes, drinking water 30 minutes after a meal is fine. It's even ok to sip on hot tea during your meal. Experiment with what you find works best for your body... and make your own rules.

Sending you much love and wishes for a beautiful day!

Juliane

[Catherine]

What are the recommended time periods between eating different foods?
Such as, how long after eating fruit can I have some yogurt? Or something from a different category? Etc...

Also, can I have cereal with lactose-free milk?

Thank you :)

[juliane]

Hi Catherine,

Thank you for your excellent question. Please see https://www.stylenectar.com/stylenectar/2013/03/how-to-properly-food-combine-within-your-lifestyle-with-a-sample-menu.html for a sample menu which indicates the transit /time periods between foods.

I'd recommend dairy free milk as dairy, whether lactose free or not, is highly acidifying to the body and highly mucus forming. Try coconut milk, oat milk, almond, cashew etc. They are full of deliciousness and alkaline to the body. As for yogurt, for optimal energy and and vitality stick with a dairy free option such as coconut yogurt.

In grace, light and presence

Love
Jayashrii (Juliane)

[Catherine]

Thank you SO much for your speedy reply! VERY good/informative info!
I've been trying a food combination way of living on and off for some time now.
(I don't like to call it a "diet.") (Lol)
When I can stick to it, I think it REALLY works for me!
Thanks again!

Love,
Catherine

[juliane]

You are so welcome beautiful Catherine.
Feel free to reach out if I can help or be of service in any way.
Have a lovely day:)
Love,
Jayashrii