RE: Food combining [s]

[Guest guest]

Oh, sorry Dale, I forgot to answer your question about reliability and

sources of information about food combining.

 

To my knowledge, there are no " scientific papers " on the subject, at least

not recent ones. Who would fund the studies?

 

Much of what is written is in books, course notes, etc. from Herbert

Shelton, T. C. Fry, and others. Some of what I shared is taught by Dr. Doug

Graham, Dr. Tim Trader, others in the Hygiene school of thought. All is,

ultimately, based upon experience, empirical observation, which is the

foundation of all science. So none of it is " True " with a capital " T. " That

is why I included the section on making your own hybrids (smoothies), to

give a sense of choice, flexibility, etc.

 

Having said all this, there is some reasonable scientific thinking behind

the recommendations I provided. Chiefly, we can look at the biochemical

complexity of digesting various types of foods, and therefore the time,

energy, and other resources required. Such analyses were done a century ago

by a Dr. Atwater, who formulated the whole calorie-based model of

thermomechanical/physiological energy widely used today. Similar analyses

have been done from time to time, usually to explore some specific question.

 

 

From this collective work, we know, generally speaking, that high

water-content foods (fruits and greens) tend to move through our systems

fastest, high-density foods (meat, grain, nuts, seeds, to a lesser extent

heavier vegetables) slowest. So we would reasonably choose to put

fast-digesting foods in front of slower ones, given the physical shape of

our digestive system (a long, one-way tube with no pump).

 

We know that most nutrients are absorbed from the intestine only when they

are in solution in water. So hydration is key, fruits and greens hydrate and

oxygenate us best.

 

We know that anytime we put sugar, starch, and water anywhere on the surface

of the earth, fermentation begins immediately. So we would choose to eat in

ways that avoid having sugar/starch combinations backed up in our digestive

tube for very long.

 

We know that anytime we break open any of Nature's food coverings -- skin,

shell, etc. -- oxidation of the contents begins immediately. Se we would

choose fresh, whole foods wherever possible, and minimize prep time, storage

time, etc.

 

We know that ALL animal flesh/dairy products rot rapidly in any dark, warm,

wet environment. Our digestive tube is dark, nearly 100 degrees F, and quite

wet. You get the picture.

 

We also know some things about how our digestive systems work. For example,

we know that protein digestion occurs primarily in the stomach. Therefore,

is we mix protein and sugar (as nuts and fruit in a pie crust), we know that

while the protein and fat in the nuts is being digested, the sugar is

sitting there, fermenting.

 

I could go on, but hopefully this provides enough information to help people

move forward. If anyone has specific questions, please write!

 

Best to all,

Elchanan

 

Dale Wing [dwing]

Friday, March 11, 2005 2:35 AM

rawfood

Cc: Victoria Boutenko

[Raw Food] Re: RE: Green smoothies/food combining ADDENDUM

 

 

 

Hi Elchanan,

 

May I ask who you are quoting when you say, " Soft or " tender " greens are

ideal. These include lettuce of most

varieties, but NOT kale, chard, collards, in general the tougher, more

bitter greens. Other vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc. as well

as the tougher greens are all high in cellulose, i.e., nondigestible fiber,

and are

therefore not an idea component in our diet and not ideal to mix with

fruits. "

 

I disagree on your take on vegetables, we need all the fiber we can get.

 

In " Food Combining Better Health - The Natural Way " , (not a raw book), by

Rita Bingham, says, " British physician Denis Burkitt found that the rural

Africans he studied ate some 50 to 150 grams of fiber a day. Americans, by

contrast, typically consume about 20 grams. [DW- I've seen studies where

Americans only eat 8-10 grams of fiber a day.] It is generally accepted by

many researcher today that we should double or triple [DW - 40 to 60 grams]

our fiber intake (mainly soluble fiber, eaten as unrefined foods). "

 

How much fiber do you think you are eating a day?

 

Soluble fiber slows digestion and helps your body absorb vital nutrients

from foods. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to the stool, helping foods pass more

quickly through the stomach and intestines.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002136.htm

 

If you check it out, greens are almost the best source of fiber for a person

who eats raw foods:

All foods - http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-000006000000000000000.html

vegetables - http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-011006000000000000000.html

 

The vegetables you look down on, " kale, chard, collards, other vegetables,

such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc " , are I believe the ones we should it

tons more of for our health.

 

In, I believe, your last email you stated, " Victoria Boutenko in particular

promotes the idea of green smoothies these days. " it is not greens she is so

much promoting, but fiber, the very thing if I understand what your saying,

we shouldn't eat because they are " tougher, more bitter, or are high in

cellulose and nondigestible fiber " .

 

By the way, right now she makes up a gallon drink made up of one bunch of

kale and two mangos blended in a vitamix, and she herself drinks two of

these gallons a day. They shared some with me and it tasted GREAT.

 

If you read Dr Ann wigmore's books " The Blending Book " , and " Rebuild your

health " this is exactly what Dr. Ann was teaching before her death. Dr. Ann

said, " My personal opinion is that a diet should consist of 70 percent

blended foods and 30 percent other living foods. " She also says, " I cannot

emphasize enough the importance of blended foods in order to give the body a

chance to assimilate nourishment to supply the missing elements. "

Source: The Blending Book, by Ann Wigmore and Lee Pattinson, pgs. 11, 20.

And the green you appear to be tell us not to use are the ones Dr. Ann

suggests we use.

 

And if you are going to follow the works of Dr Shelton, which does have a

rule that " Eat sugars (fruits) and starchy foods at separate meals " , All

vegetables with the exception of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and may Jerusalem

artichokes, are considered non-starchy vegetables and don't fall under the

above rule.

 

I like Dr. William Howard Hay, theory on food combining, he considered all

vegetables other than potatoes, and Jerusalem artichokes to be neutral foods

which can combine with proteins or starches or fruit or sweet fruit.

 

If you can point me to some scientific papers on food combining, please post

them. I see a lot of personal theory on food combining, no proof, facts, or

truth to back up their theories.

 

I would like to say one last thing, I really enjoy your post, they are very

informative.

 

Blessings,

 

Dale

 

Webmaster

Http://hishealingways.com

 

-

Thu, 10 Mar 2005 15:43:32 -0800

" INFO @ Vibrant Life " <VLinfo

RE: Green smoothies/food combining ADDENDUM

Please add the following to my comments from earlier, repeated below:

When addressing the question about mixing vegetables/greens with fruit,

either on a plate or in a smoothie, it is important to acknowledge certain

distinctions:

1. Soft or " tender " greens are ideal. These include lettuce of most

varieties, but NOT kale, chard, collards, in general the tougher, more

bitter greens.

2. Other vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc. as well as the

tougher greens are all high in cellulose, i.e., nondigestible fiber, and are

therefore not an idea component in our diet and not ideal to mix with

fruits.

Thanks to Laurie Masters for suggesting I add this information to the post.

Elchanan

[Guest guest]

Dale,

 

> All foods - http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-000006000000000000000.html

> vegetables - http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-011006000000000000000.html

 

This is a bit off your topic but I wanted to thank you so very much

for sharing these links. This is one of the best web pages I love the

pantry function!

 

Love and kisses,

Lu