THE area of adab (etiquette) relates to everyone -- young and old, male and female - all of whom together form the essence of an Islamic society.  The benefit of establishing a society where everyone pays heed to Islamic manners is that such a society will be peaceful and healthy.

Owing to bad eating habits, I was always prone to stomach upsets in the past. I suffered from flatulence, nausea, acidity, indigestion, burps - you name it, I had it. Until one day, I found the solution to all my digestion issues. I discovered that combining certain food groups and avoiding those that caused indigestion aided in better absorption of nutrients. This helped me have better digestion, no constipation, acidity or flatulence.  

The golden rules listed below helped me feel better and gave me more energy and satiety. If you are tired of depending on all those antacid pills, syrups and other medications to improve your digestion, perhaps it's time for you to go through the following lifestyle changes: 

• 1. Eat fruits alone as they are simple sugar foods which have high water content. They can move easily through the digestive system when eaten alone. When they are eaten with other foods, they tend to remain undigested and ferment in the stomach acid. Citrus fruits and nuts are an exception where the citric acid from the fruits assists in the digestion of nuts. As for melons and watermelons, eating them alone is best. 

• 2. Never combine proteins with starches. Protein foods are acidic in nature whereas starches or complex carbohydrates require a more alkaline medium for digestion. When proteins and starches are consumed together, the stimulation of the digestive juices creates a conflicting response due to which the food is digested improperly. Flatulence, gas and bloating are the end products of such a combination.  

• 3. Proteins + Vegetables; Starch + Vegetables = Great combo! If there is any combination that you should be following, it's the above. Chicken with baked vegetables is a great idea. Pasta with broccoli is obviously a treat for your digestive system. This combination works best for the digestive system 

• 4. Only One Protein per meal: Too much protein is not good for health. Excess proteins make the body acidic, which causes several digestion problems as well. One protein per meal is a safe way to keep your digestion problems at bay.  If you have chicken, let that be the only protein you have on your menu. Leave the other proteins like beef and fish for some other day.  

The rule of combining the right food in our diets is difficult to adhere to, but once you get the trick of the right food combinations of your favourite foods, it would help lessen the burden on our digestive system, improve its efficiency and lengthen its lifespan.

How many times do we hear that people in their old age are unable to eat food and have many digestion issues? Going by this rule can be tough but when you get going, the benefits are unlimited!  

This transition cannot be made in a day. It may take weeks or even months to get accustomed to the above eating pattern. This method of combining food will also let you explore different kinds of foods, giving your body the unique nutrients it needs. We need to get out of our bad eating habits and I really hope the Food Combination technique helps you on your journey… Happy Eating!