Why combining certain foods bloat you

[BarbellBeauty]

Ok, now I know what I'm about to say goes against everything that we all think we know but do you think it is possible that combining certain foods together can cause digestive problems, IBS, gas and bloating? Here is the reason why I propose this question:

For years I always ate protein and complex carbs and fruit and protein together, etc. and I walked around bloated all of the time. My belly button looked like it was frowning all of the time...lol Then about a year ago I decided to put this theory to the test. So I began to pay attention to what foods I combined together and my stomach not only felt better but my abs were showing and looked flat. Then about 3 weeks ago I decided to switch my nutrition back to my old ways with combo's like: egg whites and oatmeal, egg white protein powder and fruit, chicken, sweet potato and veggies and sure enough I am walking around looking bloated and I really feel gross and uncomfortable. Let me also say that my stomach is not the greatest. I have to be careful of what I eat anyway. I am lactose intolerant also.

So my question is if this is true then does anyone have any suggestions in terms of how I can make sure to get in my macros if I have to be careful of what foods I combine? I am also trying to cut at this time. And also what are everyone's thoughts on this and does anyone else support this or feel the same? There are tons of articles and websites that support this.

[princessTiffany]

Oh, this is interesting.
I used to go to a intestine specialist who would always lecture me about the foods I combine. I have this neat little flow chart I'll scan if I can find It shows you want not to put together.

Hmm. ..what about eating things separetly with proper digestion time imbetween and keeping track of macros that way?

[BarbellBeauty]

Here is the list of no's no's. But all you have to do is google this and there's tons of info. on it. This is from Dr. Gillian Mckeith.

Food groups:
Group 1: protein-rich foods such as red meat, poultry, cheese, fish, eggs, milk, seafood, soy, tofu and all products from soy, yogurt; they need certain enzymes for digestion. Their digestion is slow.

Group 2: carbohydrates - all cereals, grains and products deriving from them, (bread, pasta, morning cereal, flour, crackers, all baked goods and pastry). Also in this category: vegetables with starch such as potatoes, ignames, corn. These need a different type (alcalinic) of gastric acids. They have a faster rate of digestion.

Group 3: all leafy vegetables, most vegetables, seeds and nuts, greens, spices, oils from different seeds. Also in this group: butter, whipped cream, margarine and fatty spreads, olive oil.
All these can be combined with foods from either group 1 or group 2 But foods from group 1 and 2 will produce gas if they are consumed together (for example red meat or any type of meat and potatoes or rice).

Group 4: fruit; all fruits are not to be combined with any of the remaining groups. They detain the record speed for digestion as they use completely different enzymes from the groups above.

Conclusions:
1. Don't mix: Group 1 (proteins) and 2 (carbohydrates)
2. You can mix: group 3 (greens, fats) with group 1 or group 3 with group 2.
3. Fruit should be eaten alone, 1/2 hour before or after any other meals, ideally in the morning before other foods.
4. After a meal with carbohydrates, don't eat protein for 2 hours.
5. After a meal with protein, don't eat any carbohydrates for about 3 hours. Proteins take about 3, 4 hours to reach the intestin, while carbohydrates take 2.

6. if you mix your morning cereal with milk (especially with any amount of fat in it) or with meat, you'll get gas.
7. if you mix fruit and vegetables = gas
8. fruit and meat = gas
9. fruit with cereals or with milk/yogurt = gas

10. no gas: pasta and vegetables (except the starchy ones)
11. no gas: fish/seafood or any meat with all vegetables (except potatoes, corn, ignames, rice)
12. no gas: string beans/beans or vegetables (spinach, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes etc.) with carbohydrates/any type of cereal.


Hmm. ..what about eating things separetly with proper digestion time imbetween and keeping track of macros that way?[/QUOTE]

^^That might be a good idea. I guess if at the end of the day its about calories in vs. calories out then it should be ok. I guess I have always had the mentality in the past of ingesting a balanced meal of protein, fat and carbs, which for most people it would be fine but my stomach is a pain. I think I'm going to play around with this a bit to see what works Time to make myself a guinny pig I suppose..lol

[fitnessfreak88]

I have certainly found that I can get bloating if I combine fruit with other foods. I have always been fine eating mixed protein and carb meals though.

Perhaps you could try to include some healthy fats in with your carb meals in order to slow the release of insulin? I know that if I have a meal that is high in carbs and little protein or fat then I get hungry quickly and have big dip in my energy levels.

Also, I'd take everything that Gillian McKeith says with a large pinch of salt. She has recently had to give up her 'Dr' title as her Doctorate is considered to be pseudo-academic and some of her claims about the body and food are certainly not based on established scientific findings.