Somersize me!

[osmosis]

I met a woman recently who was "Somersizing". From what I can gather, this involves a less-extreme-than-Atkins carb reduction, and what appears on the surface to be some woo.

The woo part is the notion that certain foods should be eaten at the same time as others, and certain other foods should NOT be eaten at the same time as certain other foods.

For example, fruits and starches might go together, but starches at meats should be avoided. The underlying logic seems to be that the molecules will bind together into beneficial/unbeneficial chemicals. This goes against my understanding of how digestion works, which is that food is broken down into more basic parts, not built up into more complex parts.

I'm sure there's a name for this type of food coupling, but I don't know what it is.

Of course, this woman believes it works, and for the reasons it says it works. But I don't believe it.

 

[SirPhilip]

I met a woman recently who was "Somersizing". From what I can gather, this involves a less-extreme-than-Atkins carb reduction, and what appears on the surface to be some woo.

It's also dangerous. Low card lifestyles are based around the process of lipolysis, which occurs roughly two days after all carb and sugar intake is stopped (you can actually notice it, as your brain starts 'switching' fuels, and get a short headache as a result). Then begins a rich diet of non carb foods, which, if not in lipolysis, would cause cholesterol levels, among other things, to skyrocket. There is also a 'maintenance' intake of abour 40carbs every 24 hours, but this is not a license to (over)kill.

The woo part is the notion that certain foods should be eaten at the same time as others, and certain other foods should NOT be eaten at the same time as certain other foods.

Well, this is true at a pinch. For example, on a low carb diet, you'd ideally want to eat anything that impacts blood sugar levels five hours after having say, a steak, including fruit, or have set times for doing that once a day, instead of throughout the day.

Of course, this woman believes it works, and for the reasons it says it works. But I don't believe it.

It's simply a fad diet.

 

[Cuddles]

The woo part is the notion that certain foods should be eaten at the same time as others, and certain other foods should NOT be eaten at the same time as certain other foods.

It's not always woo. Peanut butter should NOT be eaten at the same time as jelly. Or anything else for that matter.

 

[sophia8]

It sounds like the decades-old Hay Diet, updated to include brand new gobbleydegook. (No, you don't eat hay, it was the idea of a Dr. Hay in the 1920s.) Basically, you're not supposed to eat protein and carbohydrates together. Here's the rationale, according to this page:

Digestion of Protein
Proteins need an acid medium for digestion. When animal proteins are eaten, hydrochloric acid is produced in stomach, which activates the enzyme pepsin, which splits and digests proteins. This process can only take place in a wholly acid medium. This acid medium is neutralized by the presence of a high starch or sugar with its accompanying alkalies, and the proteins are incompletely digested.
Digestion of Starch
Carbohydrates need an alkaline medium for digestion. This process begins in the mouth with the enzyme ptyalin, which starts to break down the starches before they enter the small intestine, where they are further reduced, and where main digestion takes place. The presence of meat or other acid-compelling foods, or acid fruits, upsets the alkaline medium necessary for the intestinal digestion of starches.
Problems arising from Mixing Protein and Starch
In brief, when high starches and high proteins are mixed at the same meal, there is too much acid to allow continued alkaline reduction of the starch, and too little acid to start digestion of the protein. This can result in a wide range of health problems.

 

[JJM]

It sounds like the decades-old Hay Diet, updated to include brand new gobbleydegook. (No, you don't eat hay, it was the idea of a Dr. Hay in the 1920s.) Basically, you're not supposed to eat protein and carbohydrates together. Here's the rationale, according to this page: Quote:
Digestion of Protein
Proteins need an acid medium for digestion. When animal proteins are eaten, hydrochloric acid is produced in stomach, which activates the enzyme pepsin, which splits and digests proteins. This process can only take place in a wholly acid medium. This acid medium is neutralized by the presence of a high starch or sugar with its accompanying alkalies, and the proteins are incompletely digested.
Digestion of Starch
Carbohydrates need an alkaline medium for digestion. This process begins in the mouth with the enzyme ptyalin, which starts to break down the starches before they enter the small intestine, where they are further reduced, and where main digestion takes place. The presence of meat or other acid-compelling foods, or acid fruits, upsets the alkaline medium necessary for the intestinal digestion of starches.
Problems arising from Mixing Protein and Starch
In brief, when high starches and high proteins are mixed at the same meal, there is too much acid to allow continued alkaline reduction of the starch, and too little acid to start digestion of the protein. This can result in a wide range of health problems.

Nice to see the "rationale." Of course it is pure bunk. Like most good nonsense, there are kernels of truth.

All food passes through an acidic stomach, and then into the mildly alkaline small intestine. Protein digestion in the stomach by the enzyme pepsin is aided by the acid conditions. Sugar digestion may also begin in the acid, albeit less efficiently than digestion by intestinal enzymes.

After exiting the stomach, protein digestion continues in the intestine- catalyzed by the enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin.

There are some drugs that may not be ingested with various foods; but foods are always compatible (except ketchup on hotdogs). Cuddles- peanut butter (or sauces derived therefrom) goes with everything; be it animal, vegetable or mineral.

 

[aggle-rithm]

My wife's aunt has her own interpretation of Atkins that says it's OK to eat carbs as long as you also eat fat. The two will cancel each other out.

Sadly, this doesn't appear to have resulted in weight loss on her part.

 

[Miss Anthrope]

My wife's aunt has her own interpretation of Atkins that says it's OK to eat carbs as long as you also eat fat. The two will cancel each other out.

Sadly, this doesn't appear to have resulted in weight loss on her part.

The Well Buttered Biscuit diet?

 

[jon]

One thing - I'd suspect (though can't site studies etc.) that 'food combining' type diets may 'work' for a time just because it makes it such a hassle to eat, and excludes so many 'normal' meals. For example, not eating starches with meats excludes lots of traditional (often pretty calorific) meals.

 

[grayman]

I thought this thread had something to do with Suzanne Somers. I was right.

Here's another bit of info on nutrition if you are interested: Secrets to Optimum Health. Has nothing to do with Somer's diet though.

 

[sophia8]

I thought this thread had something to do with Suzanne Somers. I was right.

So she's a plagiarist as well.
And I suspect Jon is right - if you can't have carbs with protein or carbs with fat, that means no pizzas, no flapjacks, no sandwiches, no filled baked potatoes; no meat meals with potatoes or chips or sweetcorn.
And not many people will fancy having potatoes, bread etc. on their own or with veggies, with no butter or fat. So anybody seriously trying this kind of diet is certain to be reducing their calorie (and fat) consumption.