Proper nutrition is not only based on choice of correct foods, but how they are combined.  The improper combination of food groups will surround the cell with toxins rather than nutrients, which in turn leads to weakness, and disease; exhibited first in the athlete by poor performance. 

PROPER DIGESTION – POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CELLUAR TOXINS

Nutrients are derived from food based on specific biochemical principles¹.  Proper nourishment occurs when foods are digested in the alimentary canal by digestive juices and a group of compounds known as enzymes.  Enzymes are involved in the breakdown of food to simpler chemicals that become acceptable to the blood stream and thus usable by the cells.  Different enzymes are required for different classes of food substances.  For example, the conversion of protein to amino acids follows a sequence of specific enzymatic reactions.  First pepsin converts protein to peptones after which the peptones are acted upon by erepsin to produce amino acids.  Likewise, ptyalin, an enzyme that converts starch to maltose is in turn acted upon in the intestine by maltase to form dextrose.  Maltase and ptyalin are not interchangeable.  Ptyalin is preparatory to the end result of dextrose, sucrose, maltose, and maltotriose that is the goal.

Certain combinations of food groups will impact digestive juices secreted.  Digestive mediums, acidic or alkaline, are secreted subsequent to the way starches are mixed with other foods.  Foods that are acid or foods that provide for an acid secretion in the stomach end the action of ptyalin.  Starch that escapes digestion in the mouth and stomach may be acted upon in the intestines from pancreatic secretion of amylase.  This starch splitting enzyme is only effective if the starch has not fermented.  In the absence of enzymes, fermentation of carbohydrates occurs with subsequent formations of toxins among which are alcohol and acetic acid.

Additionally, digestive mediums are of low acidity and absent of pepsin when proteins, fats or acidic foods are combined.  Pepsin acts only in an acid medium.  Pepsin is destroyed in an alkaline environment; precipitated by alcohol; and retarded in low temperature environments as with iced drinks on top of a meal.  In the absence of enzymes, putrefaction of proteins occurs with subsequent formation of toxins such as phenol, indole and skatole rather than amino acids.  Additionally, an end product of putrefaction, ethionine, is a confirmed animal carcinogen.

PATHWAY TO PROPER DIGESTION – NUTRIENTS RATHER THAN TOXINS

Fruits^1,2,3,4

Fruits require minimal, if any, digestion in the mouth and stomach and are quickly sent to the intestines where they undergo any needed digestion.  Fruits eaten with other food groups are delayed in reaching the intestine.  In addition the acid in some of the fruits disrupts carbohydrate and protein metabolism.  Fermentation follows any time fruits are combined with other food groups.  Further, the acid conditions caused by fermentation will halt the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins.  Therefore bacterial decomposition of the mixed food groups occurs with subsequent formation of toxins.  Therefore eat fruits prior to a meal, usually 20 minutes.  Additionally do not eat fruit in between meals when the process of other digestion is still underway.

Acid-Starch Combination^1,2,3,4

The mixed food is acid at the start.  Hydrolysis (enzymatic digestion of starch) from the saliva is halted.  The acids within the foods such as tomatoes, berries, oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, pineapples, sour apples, sour grapes, and other sour fruits destroy ptyalin in the saliva and suspend starch digestion in the stomach.  Undigested carbohydrates will undergo fermentation with the end products of alcohol and acetic acid rather than dextrose.  Therefore eat acids and starches at separate meals.

Protein-Starch Combination^1,2,3,4

The gastric juices secreted respective to the two food groups differ in physical/chemical composition.  For example, when bread is eaten the digestive juices are secreted in sequence to digest the carbohydrates then the protein.  The first phase is neutral, with the second phase of secretion containing hydrochloric acid to digest the protein.  When meat is intermixed with bread the acid secretions required for proteins are poured out immediately suspending starch digestion.  With the digestion of carbohydrates suspended, bacterial breakdown follows, and toxic end products result.  Therefore, with the goal being to minimize toxin production, one should eat protein foods and carbohydrate foods at separate meals.

Protein-Protein Combination^1,2,3,4

Literature validates that digestive secretions are timed.  When milk and flesh products are intermixed the strongest digestive juices are poured out in the last hour for milk and the first hour for flesh.  Additional problems occur when milk is mixed with any food.  Milk turns to curds as it enters the stomach.  Curds engulf other food particles in the stomach.  Until the curd is digested, the engulfed food particle remains untouched.  The fat in the curd inhibits pepsin from being secreted.  In the absence of pepsin, bacteria will activate putrefaction of proteins with subsequent toxins formed.  Specifically, flesh and eggs; flesh and nuts; flesh and cheese; eggs and milk; eggs and nuts; cheese and nuts; milk and nuts, and the like should not occur.  Therefore eat one concentrated protein group at a meal.

Acid-Protein Combination^1,2,3,4

Acids inhibit the outpouring of gastric juice.  Even though the digestion of protein occurs in an acid environment, other acids, for example, from fruits will inhibit the gastric secretions and in turn limit or destroy the release of pepsin.  Acid end products of fermentation also affect the release of gastric juice.  Also, salad dressings that contain lemon juice or vinegar inhibit the secretion of hydrochloric acid.  Under these conditions, bacteria will activate putrefaction.  Therefore eat proteins and acids at separate meals.

Fat-Protein Combination^1,2,3,4

Fats will inhibit the secretion of gastric juice.  Also, fat lowers the amount of pepsin and hydrochloric acid in gastric juice.  Creams, butter, oils should not be mixed with nuts, eggs or fish.  If these conditions occur, bacteria will activate putrefaction.  Therefore, fats and proteins are to be eaten at separate meals.

Sugar-Protein Combination^1,2,3,4

Sugars undergo their digestion in the small intestine, not in the mouth or stomach.  When mixed with other foods they are held in the stomach until the digestion of the other foods occur.  Under the conditions of warmth and moisture of the gut these sugars will ferment rapidly.  Acids from fermentation will inhibit the gastric secretions necessary for protein digestion.  These conditions cause the suspension of digestion with subsequent toxins forming during fermentation of sugars and putrefaction of proteins. Therefore eat protein and sugars at separate meals.

Sugar-Starch Combination^1,2,3,4

Again, sugars are held in the stomach awaiting the digestion of starches.  The consequent acid environment from the fermentation of sugars will halt the digestion of starches.  Toxins will occur from the breakdown products of these food groups.  This is evidenced by most America’s breakfasts leading to a sour stomach and eructation.  An additional complication can occur when sugars are eaten with starches.  Sugars cause the secretion of saliva devoid of ptyalin.  Consequently starch with sugar may prevent the adaptation of saliva with starch, i.e., little or no ptyalin being secreted.  Therefore eat starches and sugars at separate meals.

Milk^1,2,3,4

Milk with its composition of fat and protein combines very poorly with all foods.  The fat in the milk will inhibit secretion of gastric juice.  The gastric juice that is secreted will have lower amounts of pepsin and hydrochloric acid.  Additionally milk that enters the stomach will form curds and these curds surround food particles, insulating them from gastric juices.  Digestion is unlikely for the engulfed food particles.  Once the curd is assimilated the food particle will undergo fermentation or putrefaction, depending if it is a carbohydrate or protein, respectively.  Therefore take milk alone.

In summary, indigestion of food occurs in the absence of digestive juices.  Indigestion causes bacteria to activate fermentation of sugars and starches and putrefaction of proteins.  The end products of fermentation and putrefaction are toxins.  Improper digestion resulting from the wrong combination of foods will introduce toxins into the media surrounding our cells which in turn will lead to cellular death with the immediate effect exhibited by poor performance in any activity. 

Performance gauged by strength and endurance originates at the cellular level where nutrients from proper digestion are to prevail.  Unfortunately diet wellness programs are absent the following facts:  (1) the American diet leads to the assimilation of toxins consequent to the improper combination of foods; and, (2) diet wellness programs do not recommend the need to alter improper food combinations.

¹Ganong, William F., MD  Review of Medical Physiology.  Los Altos California:  Lange Medical Publications, 1971.

²Wigmore, Ann.  Rebuild Your Health With High Energy Enzyme Nourishment.  Living Foods Lifestyle  (Available from the Ann Wigmore Foundation), (1991).

³Shelton, Herbert M.  Food Combining Made Easy.  Willow Publishing , Inc.:  San Antonio, Texas, 1994.

⁴Jensen, Bernard, DC, Ph.D.  The Science and Practice of Iridology (Volume I).  Bernard Jensen Publisher, 1952.

Doctor Brancato is a recognized authority in preventive practices to safeguard human health.  His expertise in alternative health practices, industrial hygiene, environmental sciences, toxicology, and chemistry has allowed a seamless transition into the field of environmental medicine.  He has been certified through the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT), American Naturopathic Medical Association (ANMA), American Association of Drugless Practitioners AADP), American Association of Nutritional Consultants (AANC), and Association of Professional Industrial Hygienists (APIH), International Iridology Practitioners Association (IIPA), and American Academy of Quantum Medicine (AAQM).

Copyright © 2004 by Personal Trainer Today. All Rights Reserved.