protein and starch are eaten simultaneously the body will wear itself out by producing both alkaline and acidic digestive juices, which nullify each other and interfere with digestion. This diet promotes eating proteins and starches at separate meals. Vegetables can be eaten with both protein and starch, but fruits should be eaten alone. Its’ proponents say this diet will encourage weight loss and improve digestion.
There’s no valid scientific evidence showing that food combining is beneficial for weight loss or digestion. For people with diabetes, this diet is contrary to the American Diabetes Association’s nutrition recommendations for optimal blood glucose control. Balancing a meal with both protein and carbohydrate promotes fewer carbs at the meal, resulting in more stable blood glucose and insulin levels.
Macrobiotic Diet
This diet incorporates the Asian philosophy that foods are either yin (cooler) or yang (warmer) and that particular health conditions require food that will cool or warm the body. The macrobiotic diet is vegetarian-based, consisting mainly of brown rice, whole grains, and vegetables.
Researchers are examining whether a macrobiotic diet can prevent and treat diabetes. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism found that a macrobiotic diet could be a successful therapy for type 2 diabetes. The macrobiotic diet is naturally high in fiber, which helps to slow the conversion of starch to glucose, thus keeping the blood glucose more stable. In fact, participants in this study were able to reduce their insulin by as much as 64 percent.
Raw Food Diet
Based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, the raw food diet consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, dried fruit, and seaweed. Followers believe that heating food above 118 degrees F destroys helpful enzymes in food, but eating food raw or carefully dehydrated increases energy, improves digestion, promotes weight loss, and reduces the risk of chronic illnesses including diabetes.
This diet is very restrictive and could cause nutrient deficiencies in calcium, iron, B12, and protein. Contrary to the belief of raw food diet proponents, the enzymes needed for digestion are produced by the pancreas and small intestines. Research on the raw food diet is underway, but no studies have looked at the diet’s effect on diabetes specifically.
The Maker’s Diet
The Maker’s Diet is based on eating foods that God “intended” for us to eat, such as