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Food Combinations to Avoid

We are what we eat.....but suppose we are eating all wrong??? Ever thought how our food combinations work for or against our digestive system? Here are a few tips.
Kanika Goswami
According to the Kosher food system, "lamb should never be cooked in its mothers milk;" effectively, meat and milk should never be eaten together. This may have started as a religious dictum, but actually has roots in the wisdom of ancient men.
Meats and milk cannot be digested together, so it is not a good idea to eat them together. Eating them in one meal will result in indigestion, production of toxins, and putrefaction of the food.
What better way to stop their men from committing this mistake did the Ancient Jews have, than to have religion forbid it? Similarly, the people of Eastern cultures believe that eating fish with milk causes deadly diseases, which may or may not be true, but certainly helps to keep people off milk and fish combinations.
Scientifically different food groups are digested differently, at different places in the system, using different chemicals, and at different times. So in order to have a digestive system that works efficiently, it is a good idea to check out what we are eating.
While starchy foods require an alkaline environment for digestion, protein-rich foods need an acidic medium. If both are taken in one meal, the stomach cannot digest all the food, and the result is a chemical reaction that causes toxification of the system.
Undigested food rots inside the digestive tract, thereby releasing toxic gases. In the long term, this causes serious disorders, the roots of which may then be unable to trace. Constipation, nervous disorders, and a slowdown of the general metabolism is bound to occur.
According to a recent study, an average American male carries about five pounds of undigested, rotten red meat in his digestive system. Imagine keeping 5 pounds of red meat in a dark damp corner of your kitchen, day in and out, letting it rot. Got the picture? That's his stomach. To fight such instance, following guidelines while planning a meal.
► Starch + Acids: NEVER eat starch and acids (acidic fruits) in one meal. For instance, white bread and citrus juice cannot be digested together.
Fats and sugars (fruits) should not be mixed in one meal. Simply, one should never eat cereals, bread, potatoes, or other such foods with berries, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, or other acidic foods. So there goes the classic English breakfast, as well as the All American one.
► Proteins + Carbohydrates: Proteins (nuts, seeds, dried beans, dried peas, peanuts, lentils, milk, eggs, cheese, flesh foods) and carbohydrates (potatoes, Lima beans, mature corn, winter squash, artichokes, chestnuts, yams, pumpkins, grains, carrots, beets, coconuts) should not be eaten in one meal, and there should be only one kind of protein in one meal.
Protein-based foods will excite acids in the stomach, while starchy foods will start the alkalis flowing; and any chemistry student can tell you that the two will instantly neutralize each other, forming a watery solution, digesting neither. The food then rots inside while we are happy with a full stomach.
This rotting food is the cause for all kinds of problems, the main ones being digestive stress, gas, heartburn, cramps, bloating, constipation, foul stools, bleeding piles, colitis, and so forth.
Medicines will only give temporary relief; and till the system clears out the garbage accumulated inside, nothing will be cured. The blood stream will absorb the toxins produced by putrefaction, and pass it on; resulting in allergies, hives, headaches, and nausea.
► Melons + Other Foods: Melons should never be eaten with any other fruit or food. They cannot be digested with anything else.
► Acidic Fruits + Sweet Fruits: As far as fruits are concerned, never mix acidic fruits (orange, grapefruit, pomegranate, strawberry, pineapple, tangerine, lemon, lime, and kiwi) with sweet ones (banana, dates, raisins, papaya, fresh fig, grapes, persimmon, and other dried fruits). They cannot digest together.
Fruits should preferably be a separate meal, but tomatoes can be combined with low-starch vegetables and oily proteins like nuts.
► Wine + Beer: When it comes to drinks, wine (red or white) should never be combined with ale or beer, but a shot of whiskey or gin is not so bad.
► Desserts After Meals: Having desserts at the end of the meal is a BAD idea. They cannot be digested after all the carbohydrate and protein intake. They lie on top of the bulk of your food and do not get digested, creating fermented alcohols, vinegars, and acetic acids.
Good combinations include proteins with low-starch foods or green veggies. For example, meats and leafy vegetables or low-starch veggies. Green leafy vegetables can also be digested with starchy foods (rice and spinach).
Milk should not be consumed with meat, but is a good combination with fruits (except citrus fruits). In fact, traditional meals including toast, eggs, bacon, and milk are among the most toxic food combinations that can be eaten. The stereotype of steaks and mashed potatoes is a complete no-no, as the combination can cause more damage than anything else.
Ayurveda - the science of food and health, says that honey should never be cooked. In fact the ancients go so far as to say "uncooked honey is nectar, cooked honey is poison." Cold milk (unless straight from the udder), may also cause problems in the stomach, so milk should, almost always be taken warm; it speeds up digestion.
It also says that chilled water is very bad while taking sips of lukewarm water during meals aids digestion. After a meal, it is a great idea to finish off with yogurt or buttermilk with a dash or ginger and a pinch of cumin powder. To keep it light, use two large tablespoons of yogurt and these additives in one cup of water, instead of having full yogurt.
We can safely assume that each of the ancient sciences tally well with modern scientific research; the old men know exactly what they were talking about!!!
And finally, the mantra for a long and healthy digestive system: NEVER eat to your full capacity, leave alone overeat. ALWAYS leave the table only two-thirds full, that way you will not overburden your system, nor put on weight. Adhere, and be saved!!!
Disclaimer: This write-up is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.