To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art. ~
Sometimes I understand why hermits built shanties deep in the woods and disassociated themselves completely from information that might be disturbing. A few weeks ago I either heard or read that the order of food consumption can make a difference in an individual’s health. And now I can’t ignore the possibility that there might be something to it. Since I have fewer years left than the number I have left behind, perhaps I should be proactive in improving them. I decided to seek out opinions, and there are plenty.
I first checked out an article by Cooper Aerobics Health & Wellness because the article’s summary on Google seemed to indicate order didn’t make a difference. My quick scan turned out to be simply a portion of a single paragraph that points out the obvious. “Research has shown that digestion happens no matter what order food is eaten.” That was in reference to which food group. Well, yeah. But there’s more.
Some suggest that certain food types should not be mixed with others. That is, carbs with carbs, protein with protein, and never the twain shall be combined. Part of the problem with this is that every food has different nutrients. Some dairy has carbs and fat and protein and some protein has fat. Fortunately, the digestive tract, according to this article, is a complex mechanism. It is built to handle whatever type of food you decide to toss down your gullet. And before you take a deep breath and put your hands on your hips, this assertion applies to humans whose internal organs are functioning as designed.
However, there may be something to the theory that the level of digestion efficiency can be aided with certain combinations. For example, if you are eating wholegrain bread, consuming ascorbic acid (vitamin C) with it will aid the digestion of iron. Note that orange juice isn’t the only source. Check out this article by Harvard’s School of Health for other options.
For a select group of people, eating proteins and low carb foods results in a lower insulin and glucose levels. This is according to a study done by Weill Cornell Medical College on Type 2 diabetics who are also obese. Hopefully, most people in this category are already under a doctor’s care, and they would do well to follow their medical professional’s advice. However, we don’t have an 8-ball to tell us whether we may be next in line to develop endocrine issues. Perhaps we ought to avoid habits that lead us to that undesirable destination.
According to MBG Health, which quotes Jessie Inchauspe, we can all do ourselves a favor by avoiding high-carb foods at the beginning of a meal. So, here is the suggested order:
- Vegetables
- Proteins & fats
- Carbs and sugars, but I repeat myself.
Inchauspe also suggests that you don’t stuff yourself with bread that’s brought to the table whether you ask for it or not. Ok. That’s not a direct quote, but it’s a good idea. It’s counterproductive to fill up on carbs before you begin your actual, planned meal. Begin with what’s healthiest, and perhaps you won’t consume so much sugar at the end of the meal.
While Inchauspe has written a book about this very issue, I don’t know enough about the digestive tract, or even meal planning, to confirm or refute her level of wisdom. It does seem to make sense; I’ll give her that.
To [begin to] wrap it up, I’d like to say, “moderation in all things.” But I won’t. There are too many objects out there that you can ingest that you shouldn’t ingest, beyond the obvious–poison and some drugs. For example, take a look at the article where WebMD provides a list of foods/spices that we either want to avoid entirely or severely limit intake:
- Unripe elderberries contain cyanide. Who knew?
- Nutmeg can cause hallucinations or seizures (or something else) in amounts as small as 2 t.
- Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic, which impacts your system to the extent it makes it hard for your body to absorb calcium, and that can lead to a series of other issues.
- Raw cashews contain Urushiol, which is the same toxin contained in poison ivy.
There’s more, but this gives you a taste. Couldn’t resist. Anyway, what I don’t know is what quantities (other than the nutmeg) were tested. Or frequency or other variables such as age, weight, or muscle density. I could go on, but we don’t want to go down the rabbit hole so far we can’t find our way out. I will take the warnings on these foods seriously as nothing is lost, in this case, by erring on the side of caution.
On the balance of the theories, perhaps it’s wise to go half-hog in the interim and see how it all shakes out. Sometimes it takes years before a new theory can be tested sufficiently to attain credibility. That’s part of my reluctance. Another part is learned behavior. I have seen too many numbers sliced and diced too many ways, depending on preconceived notions or agendas.
I am not in any way suggesting that findings have been fabricated, but they may be skewed for other reasons, as mentioned in my post on surveys. Rather, I think it’s like driving. Your hands naturally turn the wheel in the direction you’re looking. For now, I’ll just pass on the free bread and try the vegetables before I dig into the protein. No harm, no foul there.
PLUS, the video below indicates that the vegetables-first practice has the added value of reducing the chance of feeling the need to eat before it’s actually time to eat. That’s an idea that will pair well with my efforts to eat healthier. You?
