| There are a lot of diets out there that claim to | | | | repeat this only to prevent confusion. |
| help fibromyalgia syndrome sufferers. Some of | | | | If you just can’t take it, you can try a |
| them are great and some are not so great. In | | | | combination of a whole-grain like brown rice with |
| fact, a lot of them are pure fiction. There are | | | | light proteins, or whole-grain bread with eggs. |
| people out there that try to take advantage of | | | | Papaya and pineapple have a plentiful amount of |
| the fact that we’re in pain and looking for | | | | enzymes that aid digestion, so they can be eaten |
| something - anything, that will help. I am doing | | | | with any food group. They will especially help |
| my best to weed through the bad to get to the | | | | protein digestion. Depending on your digestive |
| good! Food Combining has been shown to truly | | | | system, fruits may or may not be combined with |
| be effective for many FM sufferers! I call it one | | | | seeds and nuts, grains or milk products. You will |
| of the “good” ones. | | | | have to test them and see. |
| Everyone needs to be aware that stimulants | | | | |
| (sugar, salt, caffeine, MSG), overcooked meats, | | | | Do not combine raw fruit or fruit juices with |
| highly processed foods, hydrogenated fats, | | | | slightly starchy vegetables - lemon juice is the |
| saturated fats, food additives and preservatives, | | | | only exception, otherwise it is best to keep to a |
| and bad food combinations fill the body with toxic | | | | separate meal or allow at least half an hour |
| substances that it has to process. Toxicity | | | | before eating fruit after a meal. Also, avoid |
| build-up can intensify fibromyalgia symptoms and | | | | combining fruits with other foods, sugary deserts |
| even cause some of them. | | | | after meals, melons (ferment quickly and cause |
| Food combining is a way of eating foods so that | | | | gas), and milk with other foods. |
| they do not work against each other. There are | | | | If you eat your food in a systematic way, your |
| three categories that food falls into when | | | | digestive system will work more smoothly. Your |
| combining: proteins, neutral foods and starchy | | | | food will digest in less time and absorb more |
| foods. Fruits are treated separately. Starchy | | | | nutrients. You can start with foods that digest |
| foods and proteins cannot be eaten together, but | | | | quicker and easier and work your way up to |
| both can be eaten with neutral foods, promoting | | | | foods that are more difficult and take longer to |
| more efficient digestion. | | | | digest. This helps you keep the foods that digest |
| Combining the wrong foods can cause gas, | | | | more easily flowing through your system and |
| bloating, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, and | | | | prevent your digestive system from stalling. If |
| other problems. It can even lead to symptoms | | | | you eat foods that take a lot of time to digest |
| of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers, | | | | first, it slows the digestion of everything that |
| arthritis, hypoglycemia, eczema, colon cancer and | | | | follows. |
| more. | | | | Digestive Timing and Order: Liquids like juice and |
| Moderation is the key to proper digestion. | | | | water digest the fastest (about 20-30 minutes). |
| Don’t overeat. You cannot avoid all bad | | | | Soups and fruit take about 30-40 minutes to |
| combinations, but if the good combinations are | | | | digest. Vegetables take approximately 30-45 |
| greater than the bad ones you will see results. | | | | minutes to digest. Grains and other starches can |
| Proteins can be divided into three groups: heavy | | | | take 2-3 HOURS to make their way through the |
| proteins (beef, pork, lamb), lighter proteins | | | | digestive tract and beans, poultry, red meat, pork |
| (poultry, fish, shellfish, game, tofu, eggs), and | | | | and fish can take 3 or MORE hours to digest. |
| other proteins (cheese, peanuts, nuts, seeds, | | | | While you are deciding what combinations you will |
| lentils, beans, peas). | | | | incorporate in your meals, you must also eat your |
| Neutral and low-starch foods: all vegetables | | | | meals in the proper order for this method to be |
| (except potatoes), salads, herbs, cold-pressed oils, | | | | effective. Let’s face it, this isn’t easy! |
| mushrooms, avocados, honey, maple syrup. | | | | It requires planning and thinking through everything |
| Starches can be divided into two groups: slightly | | | | you eat and drink. If is was easy, everybody |
| starchy (carrots, beets, parsnip, turnips, radishes) | | | | would be doing it already, but it’s worth it to |
| and high starches (potatoes, bread, wheat, oats, | | | | give it a try if it means getting some pain relief, |
| flour, pasta, corn, barley, rye, bananas, ripe peas, | | | | being healthier and happier! Talk to your doctor |
| sweet grapes, peanuts, beer, dried beans). | | | | about how this system might benefit you. What |
| Remember, starchy foods and protein should not | | | | might be good for some, may not be for others, |
| be eaten together, but you can eat starchy foods | | | | so it is always best to discuss your options with |
| with neutral and low-starch foods OR you can eat | | | | your healthcare provider. |
| protein with neutral and low-starch foods. I | | | | |