Food combining
I apologised to my tummy before taking it on a one-week trip to Italy, where food intolerances are most definitely not catered for! Although I indulged in a few naughties while away, the break gave me time to reflect on the confusion I’ve been feeling over finding the right cure for my tummy ills. Luckily, I had more than a few revelations… I also apologise to readers for my somewhat schizophrenic posts recently. That’s what sometimes happens when you’re trying to figure out something so complex. What seem like eureka moments may not be and it’s onto the next idea. This is just how my process has unfolded!
To update, I realised early on in the process (through the hypoallergenic diet) that dairy makes me pretty sick, as do high quantities of animal fats and vinegar. Apple cider and rice wine vinegar seem to be okay, though. After reading a lot of different material, it looks like the most common IBS triggers are dairy, red meat, alcohol, coffee, caffeine, wheat, fat and sugar. While I didn’t react to coffee, it does interrupt the tummy in so many ways that I’ve cut it out (except a few espressos in Italy, oops!) and I also had no trouble with wheat, but am trying to limit processed foods and grains so will avoid bread. Lamb is allowed on the hypoallergenic diet and didn’t cause problems either, but as red meat is very hard to digest I’ll opt for fish when I can.
As I’ve previously (and probably so often you’re sick of hearing it) said, everyone is different. In a recent post, I wrote about the link between soluble fibres and IBS relief. After reading more, things didn’t sit quite right with me. I asked my naturopath about his take on things and his reply? Soluble fibres can help, but it’s more important to drink water separately from meals (30 minutes either side), go for a short walk after eating, and try to have alkaline foods with grains. The first two points I’d already been doing, so I decided to look further into this whole alkaline business. It seems I was probably quite right that it’s not just about what I eat, but when I eat it, but maybe soluble fibres aren’t the answer; maybe it’s all about food combinations.
I’m now following the advice of Gillian McKeith in You Are What You Eat about what foods to team with what. In order to help your food digest properly and obtain the best nutrients, she recommends the following:
- Eat fruit separately, preferably on an empty stomach
- Don’t mix proteins (meat, eggs, nuts, soy) and grains/starchy vegetables.
- Proteins and other vegetables are okay, as are grains/starchy vegetables with other vegetables.
- Beans – with the exception of soy – and grains are fine to mix.
Instead of hopping on the soluble fibre bandwagon, I’m definitely eager to try food combining as it seems like a much healthier solution than lining your tummy with a limited food group. Wish me luck as I bring on the raw veges!
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