Combining Foods - Carbohydrates And Fats

Author: Marko Balašević Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

Combining Foods - Carbohydrates And Fats

Is the combination of carbohydrate and fatty foods dangerous for weight and metabolism?

The principles of proper food combination are the pillars of healthy eating in every aspect. Whether we are looking for a positive effect on weight or just striving to maintain the tone and energy balance of the body, in both cases the effect is more complete if we combine the right foods in our menu.

It is a well-known fact that the most problematic in this regard are carbohydrates. They are absorbed the fastest and can interfere with the metabolism of all other nutrients in our diet, leading to bloating and general discomfort. Therefore, combining them with other types of nutrients in one meal requires the most serious attention.

In a previous article, we looked at the specifics of combining foods rich in carbohydrates with those high in protein. We will now look at how carbohydrates and fats affect each other when taken with one meal.

It turns out that carbohydrates and fats can be consumed simultaneously, without worrying about stomach discomfort or negative effects on metabolism. We must clarify that this group includes the so-called complex or slow carbohydrates , not the powdered sugars contained in pastries and desserts.

Very rich in slow carbohydrates are rice, quinoa, whole grain pasta , but also a number of commonly consumed vegetables - potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes. All of them require an alkaline environment in the stomach for their complete decomposition. Therefore, they are very easy to supplement and can be combined in one menu, without worrying that they will create metabolic problems. Thus, rice and potatoes or quinoa with zucchini and tomatoes can be consumed together and used to prepare various dishes. Such products can be easily combined with foods rich in fats.

As mentioned, the breakdown of carbohydrates requires an alkaline environment . Fats are also most fully broken down into high (alkaline) pH, provided by intestinal enzymes . Thus, the two types of nutrients do not compromise each other's breakdown and absorption, and the enzymes that metabolize them do not neutralize each other. This is why carbohydrates and fats can be combined in one meal without worries about metabolism or weight.

The situation is different with legumes - they are also rich in slow carbohydrates, but also contain a lot of protein, which makes them unsuitable for combination with carbohydrate or fatty foods, because they will mutually slow down their breakdown and absorption.

Combining Foods - Carbohydrates And Fats

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