Food combining for a happy tummy

The stomach is a very clever thing. It produces an acidic environment to break down and digest proteins, whereas it produces an alkaline environment in order to break down and digest carbohydrates. In a weak stomach this pH “switching” can cause problems as the acid and alkali neutralize each other – leading to poor digestion, heartburn and bloating.

MAX’S TOP TIP: For optimal digestion do not combine carbohydrates and protein, especially at night or if you suffer from heartburn often.

An example of a commonly eaten bad combination is spaghetti bolognese where the pasta is a carbohydrate and the meat is a protein. A good alternative combination would be corn pasta (carbohydrates) with a vegetable sauce (since salad and vegetables are both “neutral” and fine to combine with either protein or carbohydrates).

The following table lists the commonly consumed proteins and carbohydrates: