Reading the instructions for medications, you probably noticed that some drugs are able to enhance or weaken the effect of others, in the case of simultaneous administration. The same thing happens when eating certain foods.
To get the most out of what you eat, make sure you combine the foods correctly. And this time, instead of telling you how to do it wrong, we have carefully selected pairs of perfectly matched food products. Bon appetit to all:
Beef liver and sweet red pepper
Working pair: iron and vitamin C
Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron, which plays an important role in hematopoiesis and oxygen enrichment of blood and tissues. The lack of iron in the body leads to anemia, oxygen starvation, a drop in immunity, deterioration of performance in general. Iron deficiency, or the so—called «glandular anemia» is one of the most common conditions in both adults and children.
Beef liver is one of the best natural sources of iron. Red pepper is one of the best non—starchy vegetables — sources of vitamin C. The liver, being a protein product, is poorly digested in combination with starchy vegetables, so red bell pepper is an ideal side dish for beef liver.
Tip: you can safely add tomatoes, onions, spinach, celery and broccoli to this perfect pair. It will turn out a wonderful and healthy side dish to the liver.
Sweet red pepper and olive oil
Working pair: antioxidant carotene (provitamin A) and unsaturated fatty acids
Carotene is a yellow—orange pigment in vegetables and fruits, which is a precursor of vitamin A. It is extremely useful for the body. At the same time, it is insoluble in water, and like vitamin A itself is fat-soluble, that is, it turns into an active form only in the presence of fat molecules. But if you really add fats to your diet, then those that do not bring us extra pounds and problems with the cardiovascular system, that is, unsaturated and irreplaceable for health – omega 3 and omega 6.
Contrary to popular opinion, the champion among vegetables rich in carotene is not carrots, but red sweet peppers. Provitamin A in it is almost 2 times more than in carrots. And olive oil becomes a source of essential fatty acids, under the influence of which you can «squeeze» carotene out of red pepper to the maximum.
Tip: you can add grated carrots and walnuts to this perfect pair. You will get the perfect vitamin salad.
Green tea and lemon
Working pair: ascorbic acid and catechins
Catechins are enzymes with antioxidant properties that are important in the fight against aging, cancer, diseases of the cardiovascular system and diabetes. Vitamin C does not need recommendations at all. It is also proved that in the presence of ascorbic acid, the number of catechin enzymes increases significantly.
Adding lemon juice to green tea leads to a sevenfold increase in the beneficial enzymes of this drink. In addition, the use of green tea with lemon is useful for smokers — active and passive. According to research, regular consumption of such a drink reduces the harm caused to the body by tobacco smoke by 25%.
Tip: if there is no lemon at hand, add ascorbic acid to green tea. Not so aesthetically pleasing, but also effective.
Oatmeal and milk
Working pair: Magnesium and calcium
We need calcium for healthy bones and teeth. Children need it for growth, adults — so that the bones are strong until old age. Magnesium, in addition to the fact that it is needed by our nervous and cardiovascular systems, is an important condition for the absorption of calcium.
Milk (except fat-free) is a good source of calcium. Oat flakes are a rich source of easily digestible magnesium. Oat flakes with milk are what you need in order to significantly increase the absorption of calcium by the body, and at the same time replenish your magnesium reserves (you also need to take care of this).
Tip: you can add figs or banana to this ideal pair — both products are perfect as a natural sweetener for oatmeal porridge, replacing unhealthy sugar.
Chicken meat and buckwheat
Working pair: Zinc and vitamin B6Cinc is one of the main elements of metabolism. With its deficiency, memory, attention deteriorates, immunity decreases, wounds and abrasions heal worse and longer, and at the aesthetic level, nails and hair become brittle, white spots appear on the nails. Vitamin B6 plays a very important role in the functioning of the nervous system, regulates the production of female hormones, participates in the immune system. To list all the spheres of his «activity» is the topic of a separate article. It is found in many foods, but zinc is needed for its assimilation.
Chicken meat (and poultry meat in general) is an excellent source of well—digested zinc. Buckwheat porridge is a storehouse of vitamin B6 — 100 grams of buckwheat contains 20% of the daily value of vitamin B6. But to get this vitamin dose, we need zinc, which we will take from chicken meat. By the way, poultry meat and buckwheat are recognized as compatible products even among advocates of separate nutrition.
Tip: add boiled carrots to this perfect pair. Thus, you will add caratinoids to your dish, which are also better absorbed in the presence of zinc.
Combining different products, you should also not forget that everything is individual. For example, in Ayurveda, the traditional system of Indian folk medicine, it was considered as follows: «The rules of nutrition of each person are individual and depend on his nature, innate constitution, metabolic rate, life goals and personal duty to society.»
And briefly a few more pairs of products that are ideal for combining if you want to get the most out of them:
Carrots and walnuts. Carotene, vitamin E and zinc from these products work better together.
Tuna and arugula. The anti-cancer and antibacterial substance sulforaphane contained in arugula increases its effectiveness by 13 times under the action of selenium present in tuna.
Figs and milk. Magnesium from figs helps to better absorb calcium from milk (milk should not be skimmed). In addition, it is also an excellent remedy for colds.
Ginger and honey. In this pair, several enzymes with a tooth-crushing name interact at once. In short, when infusing ginger with honey, we get a powerful immunostimulating drink that helps to keep the defense even during epidemics of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory infections. At the same time, you can drink it instead of regular tea, and not as a medicine from a spoon.
