I've read in several places (for example, http://www.formerfatguy.com/food-combine.asp, http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/harvey-diamond.asp) that fruit should always be eaten alone, on an empty stomach and given half an hour to digest before eating anything else. They say it's so that all the nutrients can get absorbed and so it doesn't sit on top of all the other food in the stomach fermenting and producing alcohols (which can even cause cancer!). Is this a total myth or is there some scientific basis for it?

Cool, I've always eaten my apples and bananas alone, but now im gonna add a whey shake with them, uh oh im gonna get cancer ;)

I don't believe it will cause cancer. I do believe if possible, eating fruit alone is optimal, unless you are diabetic and have a known blood sugar response. Whether or not it is proven by science, I've tried to all ways and always feel healthier and more energetic when I do it that way. My wife has maintained 14-15 percent body fat for years and starts her day quite often with a huge fruit bowl.

Jeremy

I've read in several places (for example, http://www.formerfatguy.com/food-combine.asp, http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/harvey-diamond.asp) that fruit should always be eaten alone, on an empty stomach and given half an hour to digest before eating anything else. They say it's so that all the nutrients can get absorbed and so it doesn't sit on top of all the other food in the stomach fermenting and producing alcohols (which can even cause cancer!). Is this a total myth or is there some scientific basis for it?

I always eat my fruits together with my meals. Oh my God, help me!!! :d_eek:

surely it can't ferment in a couple of hours,
and if it could the amount of alcohol would be negligible.

~v

does that mean I can get drunk if I eat enough fruit? Sweet.

But, you know, I thought it's best to get some protein in each meal. Fruit alone doesn't have any protein, does it?

I'm not sure it is a requirement to get protein at every meal. Why? What's the purpose?

I know the argument that you need protein throughout the day. However, that certainly doesn't take into account your amino acid pool, which is circulating amino acids like a "bank" in your bloodstream.

Personally, I'm not unhappy with my physique, and I've done nothing but fruit for breakfast for a long time. It's my wife's favorite meal, and she's maintained around 14 - 15 percent body fat for a few years.

So ... do you need protein at each meal? I don't think so - it's more important what you receive throughout the day.

I think the popularity of the protein-at-each-meal comes from two sources:

1) The bodybuilding realm where the idea is that protein provides a constant supply of aminos and also slows digestion, etc. This may be true for bodybuilders but isn't necessarily required for general health

2) The supplement companies that of course would love for you to feel you need protein all the time so you buy their protein products

Now, I'm not saying (2) is bad ... I take protein in shakes myself ... but I see a lot of validation based on the idea of training and looking like a bodybuilder, that are then being used who don't train consistently or have aspirations of being a bodybuilder.

Jeremy

does that mean I can get drunk if I eat enough fruit? Sweet.

But, you know, I thought it's best to get some protein in each meal. Fruit alone doesn't have any protein, does it?

When you mentioned...
1) The bodybuilding realm where the idea is that protein provides a constant supply of aminos and also slows digestion, etc. This may be true for bodybuilders but isn't necessarily required for general health
When you used the term general health, does this mean a lean body as well? Just curious here, but what's the different between bodybuilders and lean/ripped people. And looking at your avatar, what would you consider that physique to be, a bodybuilder's or a general health's physique? :confused:

When you mentioned...

When you used the term general health, does this mean a lean body as well? Just curious here, but what's the different between bodybuilders and lean/ripped people. And looking at your avatar, what would you consider that physique to be, a bodybuilder's or a general health's physique? :confused:

Size. Jeremy is a muscular guy, but I wouldn't actually call him bodybuilder-big. I generally eat protein with everything I eat. But I agree with him. I think this much of it stemmed from bodybuilder practices and otherwise originated to make sure protein needs were met and protein delivered in a steady stream throughout the day. I still think it's good to shoot for protein in every actual MEAL. But I think a cup of strawberries for 45 calories or an apple for 80 calories is absolutely ok on its own.

This guy is a load of garbage. That list has been published all around, and he merely copied it verbatim on his website. The "food combining" theory has been spread for quite some time, and has been debunked numerous times by well-established institutions (aka universities, scholars, scientists). The old adage "tell a big enough lie and people believe it" certainly applies here.

I suppose the reason why we have cancer now has nothing to do with poor diets, no exercise, and uncontrolled environmental factors. Our ancestors 200-12,000 yrs ago, who subsisted on diets of fruits and meat, surely had higher instances of cancer than we do today.

To answer your question: yes, it's a myth.



I've read in several places (for example, http://www.formerfatguy.com/food-combine.asp, http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/harvey-diamond.asp) that fruit should always be eaten alone, on an empty stomach and given half an hour to digest before eating anything else. They say it's so that all the nutrients can get absorbed and so it doesn't sit on top of all the other food in the stomach fermenting and producing alcohols (which can even cause cancer!). Is this a total myth or is there some scientific basis for it?

Size. Jeremy is a muscular guy, but I wouldn't actually call him bodybuilder-big. I generally eat protein with everything I eat. But I agree with him. I think this much of it stemmed from bodybuilder practices and otherwise originated to make sure protein needs were met and protein delivered in a steady stream throughout the day. I still think it's good to shoot for protein in every actual MEAL. But I think a cup of strawberries for 45 calories or an apple for 80 calories is absolutely ok on its own.

So you would call that a "general-health physique"? Damn! And I used to think that the general health usually lives under high bodyfat 12-15%. Guess it's time to change my point of view ;)
By the way, I agree with you guys, having a protein in your meals would be optimal. But there's no sense of trying to force yourself to consume protein every now and then. If it's possible, then do it, but if the circumstance don't allow you to, then don't worry too much about it. :tu:

So you would call that a "general-health physique"? Damn! And I used to think that the general health usually lives under high bodyfat 12-15%. Guess it's time to change my point of view ;)
By the way, I agree with you guys, having a protein in your meals would be optimal. But there's no sense of trying to force yourself to consume protein every now and then. If it's possible, then do it, but if the circumstance don't allow you to, then don't worry too much about it. :tu:

lol. I would call it a top-notch physique. Most people here would be happy to have it. At the same time, Jeremy's not big like high-level bodybuilders, and I don't think he wants to be. Judging by his posts, his approach to nutrition and training is not like theirs either. So, I think if you are a high-level bodybuilder, fruit alone may not be optimal. For the rest of us, it should be fine. Really, it's minutiae. It's not gonna hurt anyone's progress. It definitely won't give anyone caner.

I'm not sure it is a requirement to get protein at every meal. Why? What's the purpose?


I Agree with Jeremy 100%

A perfect living example that protein is not requiered at every meal would be a 90 yr old lacto-ovo vegetarian named Jack La lane. Most consider him one of the pioneers of fitness, not sure people here know who that is, but the guy at approx. 90 is probably more fit than most people in their late 20's mid 30's now days.

Although we need protein it's kinda over rated for the "normal" person.