by Susan Bowerman, M.S., R.D., CSSD, CSOWM, FAND – Senior Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training, Herbalife
People often ask me if there are foods that they should or shouldn’t eat at the same time. Some people have heard that not combining protein and carbs in the same meal can lead to weight loss. But a study published about 10 years ago debunked that idea.
On the other hand, there is another concept around food combining – sometimes called food synergy or food pairing – that recognises how certain foods offer a bit more nutritional benefit when eaten together than if consumed separately. Think of it as a nutritional “one and one makes three.”
How to Get Better Nutrition with Food Pairing
Colourful veggies with a little fat
Many fruits and vegetables contain compounds called carotenoids. These are natural pigments that give foods like tomatoes, carrots and spinach their beautiful hues. The specific pigments are called lycopene, beta-carotene and lutein, respectively.
Carotenoids function as antioxidants in the body, which is one reason why fruits and vegetables are such an important part of a healthy diet. These important compounds are fat-soluble, which means that when you eat your veggies with a little bit of fat, your body can take up more carotenoids. So, adding some healthy fat such as by including avocado in your salad or using salad dressing made with olive oil will help you absorb the carotenoids found in romaine lettuce, carrots and tomatoes.
Vitamin C with iron-containing veggies and grains
Iron comes in two different forms. One form called “heme” iron is found in fish, meat and poultry, and it is more easily absorbed by the body than the so-called “non-heme” iron found in plant foods.
When you consume Vitamin C along with a source of non-heme iron, your body will absorb the iron better. And it doesn’t take much: The amount of Vitamin C in one orange or one tomato can nearly triple iron absorption. Strawberries will help you take up the iron in your cereal. The iron in spinach will be better absorbed if you toss some orange or grapefruit wedges into your spinach salad.
Lemon and green tea
Green tea phytonutrients, which are naturally occurring and contain some unique and beneficial antioxidants called catechins, act to help protect the body’s cells and tissues from oxidative damage. When you add lemon to your green tea, Vitamin C can help your body absorb these beneficial compounds. If you don’t like lemon in your tea, have a fruit that’s rich in Vitamin C along with your brew, like a bowl of berries or a sliced orange.
Fish and leafy greens
When you drink milk that’s fortified with Vitamin D, the Vitamin D helps your body absorb the calcium in the milk. But there’s another great way to pair these two nutrients – fish and veggies. Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel provide Vitamin D, and leafy greens like turnip greens, mustard greens, kale and bok choy provide calcium. Pairing the two will help your body take up the calcium in the veggies.
Mixtures of plant foods
Plant foods – including fruits, veggies and beans – are some of the best sources of antioxidants around. The antioxidant benefit is enhanced when you eat mixtures of foods, rather than eating them by themselves. A combination of oranges, apples, grapes and blueberries has been shown to have a higher antioxidant capacity than an equivalent amount of each fruit eaten individually.