Basic Food Combining, Part 5

Fruit Eating.  The human anatomy and physiology are similar to those primates known as the anthropoid apes.  They thrive primarily on fruits and vegetation.  Apes are classified as “frugivores,” rather than “carnivores” (animals that kill and eat other animals) or “herbivores” (animals that feed on grasses).  Humans are also naturally “frugivorous,” as a study of our anatomy and physiology shows.  Fruits and vegetables are our natural primary foods.  By eating fruits to satisfy our need for sugar, and vegetables to satisfy our need for sodium, our desire for processed foods containing refined sugar and salt will greatly diminish.

Here is an excerpt from Dr. Shelton’s book, commenting on fruit eating:  “Fruits are among the finest and best of foods.  Nothing affords us more good eating pleasure than a rich, mellow apple, a luscious, well-ripened banana, a carefully selected buttery, creamy, smooth avocado, or the wholesome, heart-warming goodness of a sweet grape.  Real gustatory happiness is derived from the peach brought to the point of ripe perfection.  Fruits, indeed, are a taste-enchanting, treasure trove of delightful eating enjoyment.”

Fruits may be relished in their natural state – whole unseasoned, and uncooked.  They supply us with nutrients in the most easily assimilated form.  Their carbohydrates are in the form of simple sugars; their proteins are in the form of amino acids; and their fats are in the form of fatty acids.  These nutrients are ready for absorption, not requiring the energy expenditure of the digestive process.  This fact concerning fruit digestion requires that they be eaten by themselves as an entire meal.  This will allow them to be quickly sent to the small intestine where their nutrients may be readily absorbed.

However, if fruits are eaten with other foods, they will stay in the stomach until the other food is digested, and the fruit sugars will ferment.  This creates gastric disharmony, and the fruits are unjustly blamed for the problem.  The common practice of eating fruit with cereal, as in breakfast, or eating fruit as a “dessert,” are examples of haphazard fruit eating.

Let’s determine how fruits should be eaten.  Fruits may be conveniently divided into three sub-classes: acid, sub-acid, and sweet.  Determining which sub-class a particular fruit belongs is somewhat arbitrary.  (See “Classification of Foods” which we will post later – J.P.)  Combining fruits from the different sub-classes may or may not be compatible.  These at the sub-acid group may be combined with either the acid group or the sweet group.  However, acid fruits should not be combined with sweet fruits, as the acids will interfere with the sweet fruits by delaying their exit from the stomach.  Also, it’s probably best to limit the types of fruits eaten at a meal to two to three.  If the fruit has matured on the tree or vine and is fully ripened, one type of fruit may be totally satisfying.

(Specific, fruit combining will be further discussed on Monday, Sept. 10, 2012 – J.P.)