Are you a “Meat and Potato” person?

This doggy has absolutely nothing to do with the today’s blog. (We are not going to eat it, no worries.)

But, he has the cutest face so we are going to start out conversation with the smile delivered by looking at this adorable Mr. Fluffy that I had a privilege to play with.

Positive energy is good for us!

Today’s subject:

Are you a “Meat and Potato” person? 

I am sure that every one of us has had mashed potato, meat /fish and gravy in one meal. Some of us do it almost on daily basis. If it works well for you, keeps you healthy and full of energy – I am happy for you. But, if you would not mind to improve your digestion system and if you have a few extra pounds that you would like to get rid of, you may want to stop the ongoing holiday menu. Why?

Today, we are discussing the Beauty Rule number 5: Protein and starch should not be combined in the same meal.

If you would like to try following this rule and watch your digestion improving and unwanted body fat slowly melting you need to stop combining foods like:

Bagel and cream cheese

Meet and potato

Fish and rice

Deli meat sandwiches

Sushi roles

Without going much into details;
 What I have learned by studying the food system introduced by a clinical nutritionist Kimberly Snyder, I am sharing with you by using simple explanations:

 - Protein and Starch require two different environments in your digestive system to be properly observed and utilized by your body. Protein requires an acidic environment that contains hydrochloric acid and pepsin enzyme.  In contrary to that, we need an alkaline environment to start the breakdown of the starches.  When the stomach is creating two environments at the same time, they neutralize each other. You are mixing the alkaline and acidic digestive juices in the stomach. That digestive process takes hours and uses lots of your energy. (Do you recall feeling sleepy and tired after consuming a meal that contained proteins (meats) and starches (potato or rice)? Well – that is WHY.)

The poor combination like that one results in undigested foods and low nutrition delivered to your body.

I want to be clear on the subject of proteins and starches:  Both are important. You should eat both, just do not combine starch and protein in one meal.

Quickly going over the earlier discussed steps we should take to improve our digestion and health:

1.       Step number one: eat more alkaline foods

2.       Step number two :  eat more raw vegetables and fruits, full of digestive enzymes and life saving anti-oxidants.

3.       Step number three:  go with minimum of pasteurized dairy or go dairy-free

4.       Step number four: go with minimum of gluten

5.       Step number 5: Do not combine protein and starch.

With that, I am offering you

Poached Wild Salmon on the top of the Mixed Veggies and Jicama Fruit:

Jicama  – aka Mexican Potato - a large root vegetable with a thin brown skin and a white crunchy flesh. You can eat it raw or cooked. It  has a slightly sweet and nutty taste to it. It can be compared to a green (unripe) apple. Jicama is often paired with chili powder, cilantro, ginger, lemon,  red onion, salsa, sesame oil, grilled fish and soy sauce.

Today, we are using it with the fresh garden salad and “poached” wild salmon.

But, before we get to the recipe, let’s stay true to our goal of getting educated on every food we eat first. Thus:

1.       Jicama is a low cal fruit: 35 calories per 100 g

2.       Jicama is high in soluble dietary fiber. 100 g of the fruit has 4.9 g of fiber, 13 % of recommended daily intake.)

As a reminder: Fiber helps us to lose weight. There are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble.

Soluble : apples, oranges, carrots, oats, Jicama.

Insoluble: wheat bran, whole grains, beans, zucchini, avocado, nuts

Fiber is indigestible. Generally speaking, soluble fiber ferments in the colon and assists with digestion and insoluble fiber has ability to bulk up  and helps us to stay regular.  Although our bodies can break the fiber down, it cannot absorb it.  When soluble fiber passes through the digestive system it turns into a gummy substance which bonds with water. Constipation can occur if insufficient fluid is consumed with a high-fiber diet.

3.       Jicama  is composed of 80-90% water.   Since we are advised to drink water when we consume foods high in dietary fiber, Jicama is a perfect choice. It is high in fiber and high in water at the same time.

4.        Jicama is high in a powerful anti oxidant, vitamins C. The 100 g of the fruit has 20 mg of vitamin C, or 35% of recommended daily.

Recipe:

1. Create a Green Salad using : romaine lettuce, tomatoes, blueberries, and red onion. Shred Jicama fruit and place on the top of the salad.

2. Poach the fillet of the Wild Caught Salmon in a half cup of vegetation stock. (I recommend avoiding frying the fish. Stick with poaching method. It is almost like frying it in the veggie stock.)

3. Use your favorite seasoning.

4. Place the fillet on the top of your salad, and dress it up with one of our home made dressings.