1. Bad Combination Of Food (..used to be inseparable..)
Our body uses different kind of digestive juices to break down different foods. Also, digestion time or “transit” through digestive tract is different for different nutrients.
Carbohydrates, for example, first require salivary digestion, then neutral environment in the stomach with the help of enzymes ptyalin, and finally presence of alkaline juices in duodenum.
Additionally, to metabolise food, which is mainly composed of proteins, acidic juices are necessary.
If we mix “unlikely ” groups of food, i.e. the one that consists mainly of carbohydrates (bread or potatoes) with protein food (meat or cheese), it might remain in the body undigested for a long time, causing abdominal pain and bloating.
2. Fruit After Meal (…have you been drinking….?)
Since fruit digestion occurs in the small intestine, the fruit will have to wait for hours in the stomach if taken after a large meal (protein, carbs).
During the “resting” time in the digestive tract sugar from fruits ferments and converts into alcohol. It can be compared with plums in a fermented brew that change colour and structure overtime during the process of making brandy.
In addition to alcoholand acids, fermented fruit can release some harmful toxins causing heartburn and indigestion and should not be part of late night eating.
Also, if we drink juices, water and other beverages during meals or immediately after, the gastric juices are diluted and their digestive efficiency reduced.
The fluids should be taken on an empty stomach or 30-20 minutes before eating, or at least an hour after a meal consisting of fruits and vegetables, even longer after a carbohydrate meal, and 6-8 hours after a meal with meat or other proteins.
3. Excessive Thermal Processing (your food is dropping dead!)
High-temperature cooking and baking can destroy all food nutrients (vitamins and minerals), as well as the components that trigger bowel movements, such as cellulose.
This is particularly the case with reheating leftovers, that lead to even greater damage and over-decomposition. (Aset of experiments on mice supports the findings). The mice were divided into three groups. The first group was given food immediately after preparation, the second after 20 min and reheated, and the third group ate the food reheated after five hours. The mice in the third group died after one month; mice from second group died within another three months, while those in the first group lived a few more years.
Preferably, food is best taken raw or cooked in little water/steamed, or baked in the oven at a lower temperature. Fried food should be excluded for good.
4. Have breakfast like a King…(really?)
The very idea that large meal early in the morning helps speed up metabolism is wrong. In fact, our body is not yet ready for the food “attack” at that time.
After a good night sleep we are refreshed and rested and actually don’t need to be re-energized. All we need is to grab some coffee or fresh fruit juice, or a cup of oatmeal or something light, not layered cheese sandwiches or fried eggs with bacon.
Although our circulatory system and blood flow do not decrease after a meal, large breakfasts do make us sleepy and sometimes we are struggling to work and concentrate.
Scientists say that drowsiness might be because our brain, through parasympathetic nervous system, sends our body a message to “focus” primarily on digestion. Also, serotonin, linked with relaxation and sedative-like effects, seems to be more “inclined” to fatty foods.
However, high-energy food has its place in a daily menu; only it should be consumed at the right time. It is better to adjust large meals with the workday timetable and eat when we are relaxed, since “emotional” (over) eating won’t reduce calorie intake. On the contrary, it’s always going to be unrequited love.
5. Starvation (don’t even think!)
Extreme calorie restriction (anything under 1200 calories) over prolonged period of time will eventually put our body into so-called starvation mode.
To provide more energy for the brain, our body fights back by slowing down metabolism and consequently the rate of weight loss. Then it begins burning some of its own muscle tissue and fat reserves to preserve enough energy for its basic functions. We gradually become drowsy and extremely fatigued, feeling depressed most of the time. We must keep in mind that prolonged starvation can eventually cause severe organ failure and even death.
Thinking that starvation and/or cutting out specific food or whole food group for a few weeks can produce a nice result is simply wrong. On the contrary, it can only disrupt our metabolism and endanger our health.
Our meal plan to lose weight should include food that is diverse, delicious and biologically/nutritionally valuable.
Change Your Perspective, Change Your Life: Loosing Weight Should Be Fun And It Is Fun!
