The first figure to turn his attention to the peculiarities of food processing was Academician Pavlov, who noted in his works that many factors influence absorption - the composition of the product, the digestive department in which the component is processed, the rate of breakdown by gastric juice. His works formed the basis for all the scientific activities of Shelton and many other nutritionists.
Product Compatibility Chart
In addition to the digestion time, it is also necessary to take into account the energy value of foods - food in which carbohydrates predominate does not go well with fats. The same applies to proteins. To make it easier to determine the combination of products, a special table was created by which it can be determined. It shows which ingredients we combine this or that component with and which we don’t.
Products | Fine | Badly |
Non-acidic fruits | Fermented milk products | Sour fruits, cereals, baked goods, dairy products |
Sour fruits | Milk, nuts | Starchy foods, cereals, baked goods, sweets, protein foods |
Starchy | Vegetables, oils | Protein, fruit, sugar |
Meat | Vegetables | Milk, sweet, sour vegetables, oils, fruits |
Eggs | ||
Nuts | Vegetables, sour fruits | |
Milk products | Non-acidic fruits | Vegetables, cereals, legumes |
Cereals | Vegetables | Sour fruits, sweet, dairy products |
Liver + cabbage (liver + pomegranate or apples) = down with anemia
Apples contain the most iron (2.2 g per 100g), but it is contained there in an indigestible form, unlike heme iron in meat and liver. But if you combine these products (liver and apples or liver and pomegranate), you can enhance their effect in the fight against anemia. Heme iron is much better absorbed in the presence of vitamin C from fruits and vegetables.
And the combination of cabbage and liver is even more beneficial! Cabbage is rich not only in vitamin C, but also in vitamin K. It is necessary for normal metabolism, blood clotting, and helps the liver. In addition, cabbage is rich in vitamin U, which is not only an “anti-ulcer” vitamin, but also helps increase the secretion of gastric juice, which improves the absorption of iron.
Flavor combinations
To prepare a delicious dish, it is enough to take into account the taste combination of products with each other. It will significantly diversify the daily menu, delight the taste buds and make weight loss recipes less monotonous.
Many famous chefs use established combinations of edible ingredients as the basis for their culinary experiments. Here are just some of the most successful of them:
- tomato + basil + garlic - this classic combination will always come in handy in any dish where tomatoes are present;
- olive oil + garlic + lemon juice - this combination can become an ideal dressing not only for any salad, but also for a second one;
- soy sauce + honey + ginger - with this combination you can also dress salads or marinate meat products or fish;
- avocado + shrimp - a healthy balanced combination used for weight loss; salads, sandwiches or snacks are prepared with it;
- cheese + grapes - a combination served with wines as an independent snack, but is often used in salads for the richest taste;
- rosemary + game - rosemary is a very bright spice, but in this combination it complements meat very well;
- potatoes + nutmeg - the spice will highlight the aroma of potatoes prepared in any way;
- potatoes + dill - dill is a very successful combination with boiled potatoes, the same applies to salads that include this ingredient;
- beans + walnuts are an interesting combination that complements both vegetable dishes and those that contain meat. Nuts are suitable for both green beans and grains;
- lemon + fish - in this combination you can use lemon juice or stuff the fish with citrus slices, the effect will be the same - the flesh will become tender, the fishy smell will not be so noticeable.
Tomatoes + vegetable oil = youthful skin and fight cancer
Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, reduces sun damage to the epithelium. Vegetable fats help lycopene to be better absorbed. The results of a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who eat a lot of olive oil have fewer wrinkles. And flaxseed, rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, helps improve the condition of skin and hair.
By the way, tomatoes can be eaten with olives, which is even healthier than with oil. Recently, an experiment was conducted in the United States, which found that men who ate large quantities of tomato and olive salad were able to recover from prostate cancer much faster than those who did not.
Plus, tomatoes and oil are made to be eaten together as a bruschetta or caprese salad. The cosmetic effect of the Mediterranean “couple” can be enhanced. Simmer the plum tomatoes in olive oil over low heat (110 degrees) (heating releases more lycopene).
With spices
Properly selected spices can create interesting combinations with other products, enhancing their taste, complementing them and allowing their aroma to unfold. The system of combining spices and foods is based on the same principles - many seasonings can speed up the processing of foods, and can whet the appetite or replace sugar, which is only a plus for dietary nutrition. Here are the most common food combinations with spices:
Meat | Dill, coriander, rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, cumin |
Bird | Garlic, oregano, thyme, coriander, turmeric |
Seafood | Dill, marjoram, thyme, basil, coriander, tarragon |
Vegetables | Garlic, basil, marjoram, tarragon, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, nutmeg, ginger |
Mushrooms | Dill, cloves, coriander, allspice, white pepper, rosemary, juniper berries |
Legumes | Dill, tarragon, rosemary, oregano, marjoram |
Lentils + bell peppers (sesame seeds + greens) = get rid of fatigue
Nutritionists say that every fourth woman does not have enough iron in her diet. But this is what gives us energy! But the situation cannot be corrected by simply eating food rich in this microelement. For example, lentils are simply a storehouse of iron; there is almost 12 mg of it for every 100 g of product, more than in beef liver (8.2 mg per 100 g). And sesame and sunflower seeds are generally an “iron bomb” - they contain about 61 mg of iron!
However, as you know, iron is absorbed much better from the liver, because it is heme there - part of hemoglobin. Non-heme iron, which comes into the body from foods of plant origin, is poorly absorbed. It turns out that the source of energy contained in lentils is useless?
But no! Try adding red bell pepper to lentil dishes, and sprinkle sesame or sunflower seeds on a salad with peppers and herbs. Vitamin C, which is contained in paprika, parsley, dill, wild garlic, like a key, opens bins full of useful microelements for red blood cells.
Principles of combining products from Maya Gogulan
Maya Gogulan is a famous journalist and supporter of the principle of separate nutrition. Her system is a combination of products based on nutritional components. The main rules of the combination look like this:
- carbohydrates should not be consumed simultaneously with carbohydrates (for example, eat porridge and pasta with bread);
- eat proteins at one meal with carbohydrates (for example, do not eat fish as a snack with bread, but oatmeal with chicken);
- vegetables can be combined with each other and with any other products;
- Vegetable and animal fats are well complemented by carbohydrates or protein.
In addition, Gogulan advises completely eliminating sugar from the diet, reducing the amount of salt and spices, which lead to increased appetite. Make the choice of products towards unprocessed ones. Oatmeal is a good example—coarse, unrefined flakes are better than processed ones. It is necessary to leave the table slightly undernourished. There must be a desire to do something. Drowsiness and laziness are signs that a person has overeaten, and this is not beneficial.
Many experts also advise paying attention to the method of preparing dishes - reducing the consumption of fried foods, replacing boiled
Eggs + tomatoes (eggs + onions) = eternal youth
The most useful thing is to make fried eggs from these products in vegetable oil. Onions and tomatoes are rich in selenium, which plays an important role in the development of the body's reproductive system. This substance is properly absorbed in combination with vitamin E, which in turn is found in eggs and vegetable oil.
In this case, you need to consume foods containing these minerals at the same time. Therefore, scrambled eggs with onions or tomatoes, or even better, with both, are an excellent source of selenium and vitamin E. The main thing is to remove the pan from the stove in time, since long-term heat treatment destroys these beneficial substances.
Table of food combinations for separate meals according to Shelton
To make it easier to navigate among a variety of products and adhere to a healthy diet, Herbert Shelton developed a special table that allows you to determine the compatibility of certain components. It is very simple to use - select a product in the first column and see which of the components listed above it is combined with.
Gradually you can remember all the listed components and their features. The basis of their combination is an acidic or alkaline component, which decomposes in the stomach for a certain time.
Salmon + glass of red wine = depression away
Of course, white wine goes very well with fish, but the antioxidants contained in red wine along with the omega-3 fatty acids of salmon are simply a great duo! It can drive away depression and improve brain functioning. It is known that fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are very beneficial for health and beauty. However, only recently scientists have discovered that when combined with red wine, the body receives much more of them.
As it turns out, polyphenols in wine (and not found in beer or spirits) help the body extract five times more omega-3 fatty acids from fish, which make skin smooth, prolong youth and protect against many diseases.
Rules
If you want to lose weight, maintain longevity and improve your health, you need to follow the principle of combining foods, while adhering to a few more simple rules:
- choose only natural and fresh ingredients for cooking;
- do not overeat - leave the table with a slight feeling of hunger and lightness in the body;
- bad signals are the desire to sleep and heaviness in the stomach - this is evidence of overeating;
- you need to eat often, but little by little; take into account the acidity of the product when adding it to a dish;
- Fresh vegetables should make up a large proportion of the diet.
The principle of combining foods can facilitate the digestion process without spending a lot of energy on processing foods, which can be usefully spent in other areas. By adjusting your diet, you will have additional strength and will be able to live an active life.
Peculiarities
Melons are digested in the intestines. If melons enter the body together with other food, then the digestion of both melons and other food is inhibited. Therefore, melons are consumed as an independent dish. Due to the fact that melon (and sometimes watermelon), when eaten with other foods, is poorly digested in the stomach and causes upset, an opinion has arisen that melon is “weak.” Meanwhile, it cleanses the gastrointestinal tract well if eaten separately.
Milk is taken as a separate food. Milk is difficult to digest with any food except sour fruits.
Most desserts They are difficult to digest and inhibit the absorption of other foods. Therefore, it is better to avoid eating desserts. Cold desserts are very harmful. Because cold interferes with the functioning of digestive enzymes.
Fruits are very useful to combine with nuts. In addition, fruits are well digested together with root vegetables and vegetables that do not contain starch.
There are also stricter recommendations from nutritionists:
- Do not mix fruits with other foods.
- Don't eat fruit as a snack. Let fruit be your breakfast or dinner.
- It is useful to eat fruit half an hour before meals.
- Do not mix sweet and sour fruits. Eat them separately.
- Fruits that ripen in the same season go well together. You can prepare a fruit salad with celery.
Food combinations to avoid:
- fish + rice;
- chicken + fries;
- steak + pasta;
- ham sandwich;
- a cheese sandwich;
- breaded fish;
- flour-based sauces for meat;
- nut brownies.
- omelet with ham
- Omelet with cheese
- melon + ham
- melon + bread
- melon + cake
- melon + fruit salad
Green tea + lemon = cancer prevention
Recently, Japanese scientists found that green tea drinkers who drink at least two cups a day have a lower chance of dying from a stroke or other cardiovascular disease. This protective effect is provided by catechins - polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that also suppress the growth of cancer cells.
However, unfortunately, these fighters have a hard time in the stomach - only 20% survive. Researchers at Purdue University have discovered that if you squeeze a lemon into a cup of green tea, catechins acquire properties that make them “survival” by 80%.
Overview of food groups
Protein foods contain a lot of animal or plant protein. The category of protein products includes all types of meat and seafood, chicken eggs, legumes, cheese and feta cheese, milk, cottage cheese, nuts, buckwheat and millet. How can you eat such food without any harm to your digestion? The table shows that meat, fish and eggs can only be eaten with a salad of raw or boiled vegetables.
Legumes are a wonderful source of valuable plant protein. It is also sufficient in buckwheat and millet. This protein is easily absorbed by the body. These products contain both protein and starch at the same time. They are best eaten either as a starchy food or as a protein with any vegetables.
Starchy foods contain complex carbohydrates (starch). This category includes grains, legumes, flour (rice, wheat, barley and corn). Bread, pasta, cereals and jelly contain a lot of starch. Vegetables include potatoes, beets, radishes, autumn-ripening pumpkin and radishes.
Starchy foods can already be flavored with butter, ghee or vegetable oil, but in small quantities. Such light fats help optimal absorption of starch. Enzymes and vitamins contained in low-starch vegetables also contribute to this. Starchy foods should be chewed thoroughly.