How To Combine Food for Optimal Digestion

The optimal diet for people mainly consists of fresh fruit and tender leafy greens.  However, some combinations of fruits may lead to digestive problems such as excessive gas and poor digestion.  Below we describe how fruit can be categorised to that one will more easily know which fruits combine and still give optimal diestion.

What is fruit?

To begin, it can be useful to know what we mean by fruit.  In this article we will ascribe to the following definition:

Fruit:  Seeds/Kernels that are covered by a meaty substance.

This definition includes many fruits that we commonly see as vegetables.  Some examples are:  tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squashes.  All of these contain seeds that are covered by a meaty substance.

How Fruit/berries, Fats and Leafy Greens Can Be Categorized

Below we provide a useful way of categorizing fruit, fats, and leafy greens.  Some combinations of the categories will mix with others without producing any digestive issues.  Other categories will often tend to produce digestive discomfort.  However, it is important to keep in mind that these are only guidelines and not set rules.

Most apples, for instance, will tend to fall into the sub-acid category.  Some apples, however, will fit better into the acid category.

1.  Melons

Examples:  All types of melons, watermelon, honey dew melon, galia melon, catalope, etc…

Melons can be combined with other melons but should always be eaten separately from all other types of food.  They contain very large amounts of water, usually around 96%, and tend to be quite sweet.  They are very easy for the body to make use of.  However, when they are mixed with other food they will usually not be digested properly.  Instead they will start to ferment, creating alcohol, acetic acid and generating digestive issues.

2.  Acid fruits

Examples of acid fruits and berries:  citrus fruit (oranges, grapefruit, mandarins, lemons), pineapple, passion fruit, tomatoes, some types of apples (Granny Smith), etc.

Acid fruits can be combined with: Other acid fruits, leafy greens, concentrated fats, non-sweet fruits.
Acid fruits should not be combined with: Sweet fruits, melons.

3. Sub-Acid fruits

Examples of sub-acid fruits and berries are:  Cherries, grapes, apples, pears, plumbs, nectarines, peaches, kiwi fruit, mango, papaya, guava, apricots, most types of berries.

These are fruits that will often taste sweet but will still contain some acid.

Sub-acid fruits can be combined with:  Other sub-acid fruits, acid fruits, sweet fruits, leafy greens.
Sub-acid fruits should not be combined with:  Concentrated fats, non-sweet fruits, melons.

4. Sweet Fruits

Examples of sweet fruits are:  Bananas, dates, figs, mamey.

These fruits will in general contain much less water than the acid and sub-acid fruits.  They will usually be more calorie dense and contain no acid.

Sweet fruits can be combined with:  Other sweet fruits, sub-acid fruits, leafy greens.
Sweet fruits should not be combined with:  Acid fruits, concentrated fats, non-sweet fruits, melons.

5.  Non-Sweet Fruits

Examples of non-sweet fruits are:  Peppers, cucumbers, squash, zucchini.

Non-sweet fruit can be combined with:  Other non-sweet fruits, acid fruits, concentrated fats, leafy greens.
Non-sweet fruit should not be combined with:  Sweet fruit, sub-acid fruit. melons.

6.  Concentrated Fats

Examples of concentrated fats:  Avocado, nuts, seeds.

concentrated fats are difficult for our bodies to digest.  Some opinions are that we do not need them at all.  Others believe that we should include some of them in our diets.  When eaten, fats should be consumed modestly, so that our calorie intake of fats will on average not exceed 10% of all calories consumed.

Concentrated fats can be combined with:  Other concentrated fats, acid fruits, leafy greens.
Concentrated fats should not be combined with:  Sweet fruit, sub-acid fruit, melons.

7.  Tender Leafy Greens

Examples of tender leafy greens:  Romain lettuce, Cos lettuce, spinach.

Leafy greens are optimally tender.  This way our bodies will be able to access the nutrition they contain.  Some leafy greens, such as kale, have hard leaves and contain significant amounts of cellulose.  Beyond the teeth, our digestive system has no ability to break down cellulose.   And so the tougher leafy greens will mean more work for the digestive system and little nutritional gain for the body.  The tougher leafy greens may occasionally be added to our food, but should not be the basis of our leafy greens.

Leafy greens can be combined with everything except for melons.
Leafy greens should not be combined with melons.

Is It Healthy To Eat Vegetables?

Examples of vegetables (that are not fruit) are:  Root vegetables (carrots, beets, onions), collards (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage), legumes (peas, beans, lentils).

Vegetables tend to contain very few calories and large quantities of indigestible fibers (cellulose).   Because they are so difficult to digest they are not an optimal food for us.  Having them in smaller quantities now and then is not likely to be harmful (with the exception of some, like onions and garlic).  But they should not form any significant part of our diet.

Are Herbs and Spices Healthy?

Examples of fresh herbs:  Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme, Salvia.

Anything that we cannot make a meal out of is not optimal for our body.  Herbs tend to contain toxic and stimulating substances.  This way they protect themselves from being eaten by insects.   Optimally we would only use fresh herbs on special occasions and not make them a part of our everyday diet.

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