Food Combining Ideas

Finding the proper combinations of certain foods can help promote weight loss while offering you a steady stream of nutrition throughout the course of the day. Eat three to five meals per day to help boost your metabolism. By consuming small, frequent meals you feel more full and your body expends more energy in assimilating the food.



Resist the urge to skip meals as you might become hungry and eat larger meals later on in the day. Consult with a physician before starting a diet program.

Fad Diets

• Refrain from using food combinations in fad diets as most of these diets promote improper food combinations for weight loss. For example, high fat and low carbohydrate food combinations carry health risks and usually aren't effective. Any diet or weight loss plan that makes fantastic claims or extreme results should be avoided. Most fad diets don't allow a variety of foods, stress rapid weight loss and can be dangerous to your long term health. When combining foods be sure to maintain a balanced diet which ensures that you receive proper nutrition.

Good Fats

• Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats help lower dangerous LDL cholesterol. Canola oil, nuts and olive oil are excellent sources of monounsaturated fat. Polyunsaturated fats like cottonseed oil and sunflower oil also help to guard against insulin resistance.

  Combine good fats like olive oil, avocado and salmon with leafy greens to form a low calorie and nutritious meal. Since fat contains over twice the amount of calories per gram than both protein and carbohydrates mix nutrient dense and low calories greens like romaine lettuce or spinach with healthy oils to form a balanced, light meal.

Fruit

• A Utah State University study published in the Nutrition medical journal notes that increases in fruit consumption were associated with subsequent weight loss. Fruit are high in water content which helps to provide volume while sparing excess calories.

  Consider combining fruit with dishes like oatmeal or whole grain cereals. The mix of complex carbohydrates is high in fiber and cancer-fighting phytochemicals. You might add a tomato to your sandwiches for a satiating meal.

Protein

• Combine healthy proteins with fresh vegetables to create a low calorie, nutrient-rich snack which aids weight loss. A study from the University of Washington School of Medicine noted in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests an increase in dietary protein intake can increase satiety and result in significant weight loss. Consume at least 3 protein rich meals a day from sources such as chicken breast, tuna and turkey breast and combine with fresh vegetables to keep your calories in check.