The dissociated diet plan, also known as food combining, is a dietary approach centered around the principle of separating food groups during meals. This article delves into the rules, origins, and scientific scrutiny surrounding this dietary approach.
Origins of the Dissociated Diet
The Hay Diet, developed by New York physician William Howard Hay in the 1920s, is a prominent example of a dissociated diet. Hay's method involves categorizing foods into three groups: alkaline, acidic, and neutral. Notably, Hay's use of these terms differs from the scientific definition of pH.
In 1905, Hay experienced an episode of acute heart failure after running for a train. Consequently, he discovered he had Bright's disease (hypertension with nephritis) with a dilated heart, a condition with a grim prognosis at the time. Hay sought ways to improve his health, initially adopting a vegetarian diet and restricting his meals to once a day in the evening. He then eliminated coffee and, a few months later, quit smoking tobacco. After three months of this new regimen, his weight decreased from 225 lbs to 175 lbs, and he noticed improvements in his health.
Inspired by this experience, Hay spent the next decade studying naturopathy, orthopathy, and food combining to reduce what he termed "the vast quantities of acid waste that result from wrong selection and combination of the daily foods." He believed that fruits and vegetables produced alkaline 'end-products' when metabolized, while processed and refined foods resulted in acidic 'end-products' after digestion.
Core Principles of the Hay Diet
The Hay System promoted eating three meals per day, with specific combinations for each meal:
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- Meal One: Alkaline foods only.
- Meal Two: Protein foods with salads, vegetables, and fruit.
- Meal Three: Starchy foods with salads, vegetables, and sweet fruit.
An interval of 4.0 to 4.5 hours was recommended between each meal.
Modern Interpretations and Variations
A similar theory, called nutripathy, was developed by Gary A. Martin in the 1970s. Other figures who have promoted alkaline-acid diets include Edgar Cayce, Luigi Costacurta, D. C. Jarvis, and Robert O. Young.
The Fit for Life diet, a diet and lifestyle book series stemming from the principles of orthopathy, is another prominent example of a dissociated diet. The diet is based on Diamond's exploration of Herbert M. Shelton theories of food combining. Both authors claimed to be able to bring about weight loss without the need to count calories or undertake anything more than a reasonable exercise program.
In the first version of the program, Diamond claimed that if one eats the foods in the wrong combination they "cause fermentation" in the stomach. This in turn gives rise to the destruction of valuable enzymes and nutrients. Diamond categorized foods into two groups: "dead foods" that "clog" the body, and "living foods" that "cleanse" it. According to Fit for Life principles, dead foods are those that have highly refined or highly processed origins; while living foods are raw fruits and vegetables. Fruits are best eaten fresh and raw.
In the 2000s, the Fit for Life system added the Personalized Fit for Life Weight Management Program, which employs proprietary protocols called Biochemical "Analyzation", Metabolic Typing and Genetic Predispositions. The Diamonds claim that these protocols allow the personalization of the diet, which thus customized is effective only for one individual, and can be used for that person's entire life. This version of the diet also puts less emphasis on "live" and "dead" foods, and instead talks of "enzyme deficient foods".
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Rules of the Dissociated Diet
The primary rule of the dissociated diet is to only eat one food group at a time. This is based on the principle that weight gain is caused by eating alkaline and acidic foods together, creating an imbalance of digestive and metabolic enzymes that the body can't deal with, says Lauren Blake, registered dietitian at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Fans of the diet tend to follow it in one of two ways: Either using a weekly rotation, where they only eat one food group each day (for example, Monday fruits and veggies, Tuesday protein, Wednesday whole grains, and so on), or a daily rotation, where each meal only has foods from one food group.
Scientific Evaluation and Criticism
Currently, the theory that carbohydrate and protein rich foods should be eaten separately is considered "unfounded" because it ignores the fact that carbohydrate rich foods contain significant amounts of protein.
Many of the proposed principles and benefits of the Fit for Life diet are not supported by citations to any scholarly research, and some of the claims have actually been directly refuted by scientific research.
The rigor of study underlying Harvey Diamond's credentials have been disputed, which has drawn questions about his competence to write about nutrition, because his doctoral degree came from the American College of Life Science, a non-accredited correspondence school founded in 1982 by T.C. Fry, who did not graduate high school or undergo a formal accreditation process himself.
Arguments Against Food Combining
- Lack of Scientific Evidence: There's no proof to back up the claim that our bodies aren't able to digest alkaline and acidic foods together properly, especially since many foods include both properties.
- Digestion and Weight Loss: Even if there was scientific proof that eating alkaline and acidic foods together messes with digestion, improving digestion alone wouldn't result in weight loss.
- Calorie Restriction: You lose weight on the dissociated diet simply because you're consuming less calories than you normally would. When you cut out all food groups and only eat meat for one meal or one day, for example, you won't consume the same amount of calories as you would when eating a normal diet with all the food groups.
- Nutrient Deficiencies: The biggest problem with the dissociated diet is that it focuses too much on maximizing the process of digestion and not enough on the quality of the meals being digested. It doesn't focus on the nutrient density or diversity needed to fulfill our daily macronutrient and micronutrient needs. The body requires a certain ratio of carbs, protein, and fat to function optimally, and the dissociated diet ensures you're nutrient-deficient most of the time.
- Potential for Overconsumption of Certain Foods: You also run the risk of going overboard in the fruit department when you eat fruit and veggies for an entire day. Although fruit is rich in micronutrients, it's very high in sugar.
Potential Benefits
The dissociated diet does encourage better eating habits that promote weight loss, such as eating more nutrient-dense, plant-based foods and steering clear of empty calories. There's a focus on real, whole foods with an emphasis on increasing plant-based foods and limiting animal and refined products.
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Proponents of the diet claim that once the digestive system is operating at peak efficiency, nutrient absorption is maximized, and your body's needs are met with smaller portions.
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