Food alternative. Alternative types of food: pros and cons An alternative to separate meals

In the section on the question What is alternative nutrition? given by the author pickle the best answer is The most famous forms of alternative nutrition are the following:
vegetarian food and raw food
whole food and raw food
Bircher-Benner system
macrobiotic nutrition (macrobiotics)
biofood
separate meals
These forms of alternative nutrition in the narrow sense are not diets. More and more people are switching to these types of consumption of food and drink. Growing health anxiety, deteriorating conditions environment and the growing industrialization of food production are some of the reasons for turning to these already far from new, but long-used forms of nutrition. Not only are environmentalists and the Green Party recognizing them, but more and more young families are choosing for themselves.
In addition, there are many systems that have been created over the millennia by philosophers and doctors to healthy eating. It is extraordinarily interesting to observe how in some teachings the "philosophical principle" takes precedence over the "medical" one. Due to the fact that many systems ignore the undeniable medical experience, they have become very vulnerable. We will briefly consider individual forms of alternative nutrition without resorting to their practical analysis.

AT recent times an increasing number of people are beginning to think about and one of its most important components -. There are a lot of conversations and opinions on this subject, and more and more often one can hear about alternative concepts of nutrition that have roots that go back to a deep history, but do not fit into traditional ideas. Each of them has both positive and negative sides. However, the share of common sense is present in all. To help you understand how each concept differs from each other, and what are the main characteristics of each of them, we have dedicated the presented article.

So let's take a closer look at each concept.

Therapeutic fasting

The concept of therapeutic fasting is based on the ability of a person inherited from ancient ancestors to normally endure long periods of fasting. People have talked about the healing effects of this process at all times. As a medicine, it was also mentioned by Avicenna and Hippocrates. But, despite this, this concept has both supporters and opponents, who have been arguing around it for more than one century.

The main idea of ​​this theory is complete abstinence from food intake for a certain time (from a day to 3-4 weeks). And the basis of the action of therapeutic fasting is the stress experienced by the body, the result of which is the activation of all body systems, increased metabolism, and active breakdown of toxins. Together, this has a rejuvenating and strengthening effect on the body.

Nowadays, therapeutic fasting is used to prevent the aging process, prolong longevity, rejuvenate, increase physical and intellectual activity and improve overall well-being. In addition, with the help of this method, people are cured of allergic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases, and also get rid of excess weight and mental problems.

The negative aspects of curative starvation are considered to be a constant feeling of hunger, weakness. But this issue is solved by drinking water with lemon juice and vitamin complexes. Experts most often recommend resorting to a 26-hour fast, during which you should load the body with gentle physical activity, take a contrast shower and visit the bath.

Nutrition of the ancestors

The basis of the concept of ancestral nutrition is a predisposition inherited from ancestors to special diets, in other words, to the use of non-thermally processed foods. The concept under consideration consists mainly of two components - a raw food diet and a dry diet.

Raw food diet - a diet based on the use of only raw, non-thermally processed dairy and vegetable products. Thanks to such nutrition, unchanged nutrients are absorbed, and the feeling of fullness with food comes faster than when eating the “wrong” food. As a result, a person begins to consume less food. A raw food diet is often used to reduce body weight, prevent diseases of the excretory and cardiovascular systems. Despite the fact that there are a lot of raw foodists today, supporters of scientific medicine recommend sticking to this diet only for a very short time.

Dry food - another diet that people have resorted to in the past. It consists in the fact that a person eats only food, but does not drink liquid. Nowadays, dry eating is recommended in very rare cases - during the treatment of special bowel diseases. Otherwise, it is better not to resort to this diet, because. prolonged abstinence from fluid intake will definitely cause dehydration.

Vegetarianism

The concept of vegetarianism is one of the oldest alternative theories of nutrition, in which the consumption of food of animal origin is completely excluded or limited. Vegetarianism is based on plant foods. In general, there is a strict and non-strict vegetarianism. With a strict diet, absolutely all food of animal origin is excluded. With non-strict (killless) - only that part, which is the product of the killing of animals and birds.

According to the vegetarian philosophy, eating animal products is contrary to the structure of the human digestive organs and their functions, resulting in the accumulation of toxic substances in the body, which causes chronic diseases. Vegetable food, in turn, is ideal and contributes to a decent lifestyle.

Thanks to vegetarianism, the risk of atherosclerosis is reduced, blood pressure is normalized, intestinal diseases are prevented, liver function is improved, and other positive changes occur. However, despite this, many scientists believe that specifically strict vegetarianism is the reason that the body does not receive enough proteins, fatty acids, iron and other nutrients. To provide the body with them, you need to consume a huge amount of plant foods, which in itself overloads digestive system, which means that there is a possibility of developing protein deficiency, hypovitaminosis and dysbacteriosis, deficiency of nutrients and amino acids.

It is for this reason that strict vegetarianism as a diet is recommended only for a short time as a contrast or fasting diet. Non-strict vegetarianism, including the consumption of milk, eggs, etc., is quite acceptable.

The main nutritional factor

The concept of the main nutritional factor is based on the opinion that the body must be regularly supplied with one or some several nutritional factors. Any others are considered secondary, and therefore excluded or ignored. Even a non-specialist will understand that with such a diet, the body will experience a constant shortage of some specific substances that are indispensable to it. And supporters of scientific medicine generally argue that there simply cannot be any main nutritional factor, because. the human body needs to obtain the most complete complex of all substances, which can only be provided by a rational balanced diet.

Separate food

The concept of separate nutrition implies that there are products that are compatible and incompatible. The main thing that is taken into account here is digestion, and other features of the interaction and absorption of substances in the gastrointestinal tract are not taken into account. Proponents of separate nutrition believe that it is impossible to combine starchy and protein food, because digestion of proteins occurs at the bottom of the stomach in an acidic environment, and starches - at the top, thanks to the saliva enzyme, which requires an alkaline environment. An acidic environment inhibits the activity of enzymes, and the digestion of starchy foods stops. As for acidic food, it should not be consumed with starchy and proteinaceous food, because. this negatively affects the gastric enzyme pepsin. This means that rotting processes begin in protein foods, and the body simply does not absorb starchy foods. Sweet fruits and sugar should also be eaten separately from all other foods. But many nutritionists tend to argue that there is no difference in what a person eats first and what - in the end, and digestion itself occurs mechanically. The food itself should always be varied.

Nutrition Indices

The essence of the concept of food indices is the value of food products, representing for the body the sum of their constituent chemical indicators. But the application of this concept actually causes many products of ambiguous quality to be considered interchangeable, which creates the danger of unbalanced diets, because. The main principle is not the balance of nutrients, but index values.

The most common diet that perfectly reflects the above principles is the spectacle diet. One point in it is equal to 30 kcal. All products should be evaluated only by the parameter of the energy component, regardless of chemical composition. Any substances (carbohydrates, fats, proteins and even alcohol) are interchangeable factors, which cannot be in principle.

"Imaginary" drugs

People who adhere to the concept of "sham" drugs believe that individual products have healing properties. This becomes the reason for the fact that any product begins to be actively advertised, and its properties are praised. The product is beginning to be recommended as a panacea suitable for everyone. perfect example the craze of people for the use of quail eggs, germinated seeds, etc. can serve. The effectiveness of this concept is easy to dispute, because the human body is complex system, which is simply impossible to have a significant impact on with just one product.

"Living" energy

The first information about the concept of "live" energy appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. Its supporters are people who are firmly convinced that the human body (and any living being) is a receptacle of a special non-material energy. This substance is transmitted in an inexplicable way, but it has a major impact on the vital activity of the organism. The only more or less suitable material explanation for this process can be that when humans and animals take plant food, the energy transferred to plants is transferred. sunbeams. Those. in fact, “living” energy is the energy of the sun.

Absolutization of optimality

Adhering to the concept of absolutization of optimality, they make every effort to discover and designate the composition of such a diet that would be the most optimal for a person, i.e. would be equally effective for all the functions of his body. In other words, the search for the ideal diet is underway. As a suitable example, we can cite the concept of "Convinance", popular in Europe, where the principles of a healthy lifestyle are combined with the principles proper nutrition and popular diets, as well as a special philosophy. In addition, it has now become fashionable to lead a fitness lifestyle, the components of which are directly healthy lifestyle life, sports and the most healthy diet.

So what can we say in conclusion? As you can see, today humanity is seriously concerned about nutrition, i.e. what kind of diet should be followed in order to have an extremely positive effect on your body, promote longevity and good health. Which option to choose for yourself, of course, you decide. Moreover, you already know about the advantages and disadvantages of each concept. You should not only finally and irrevocably indulge in the chosen option. Try what seems most acceptable to you. Pay attention to how your body reacts. Over time, you will be able to compose your ideal concept, which may even consist of several. You can also find useful information on nutrition and.

Leave comments, share own experience You may be aware of some alternative nutritional concepts not covered here.

What do you think?

Below we bring to your attention a small survey, the results of which will be of interest to everyone who is concerned about the issues of proper nutrition.

Separate food

Theory separate power supply was developed by dietitian Herbert Shelton in 1928 of the last century. He wrote: “We do not benefit from food that is not digestible. Eating and at the same time spoiling food in the digestive tract is a waste of food.”. However, not all scientists supported his theory. The debate about whether separate meals are useful or not continues to this day. In this article, we will try to figure out what is separate meals and why is it so popular?

The principle of separate power supply

The essence of separate nutrition is to eat only those foods that are compatible with each other during digestion. This theory has gained particular popularity among those who sit on and dream of losing weight, as well as among people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The first thing to remember if you decide to switch to separate meals is the basic rules, which are not recommended to be violated.

Product compatibility rules for separate meals

Never eat carbohydrate foods (bread, potatoes, peas, beans, bananas, dates, etc.) carbohydrate products) and acidic foods (lemons, oranges, grapefruits, pineapples, cranberries, tomatoes, and other acidic fruits) in one go.

    Never eat concentrated protein (nuts, meat, eggs, cheese, and other protein foods) and concentrated carbohydrate (bread, cereals, cakes, sweet fruits) at the same meal. In one meal, you need to eat eggs, fish, milk, cheese, in the other - bread, cereals, noodles (if it is not possible to refuse them).

    Never eat two concentrated proteins in one meal. two squirrels different kind and different composition require different digestive juices and their different concentrations. These juices are secreted into the stomach in different time. Therefore, you should always follow the rule: One protein in one meal.

    Fats (cream, butter, sour cream, vegetable oil) should not be eaten with proteins (meat, eggs, cheese, nuts and other proteins). Fat suppresses the action of the gastric glands and inhibits the secretion of gastric juices when eating meat, eggs, nuts.

    Do not eat sour fruits (oranges, lemons, tomatoes, pineapples, cherries, sour plums, sour apples) along with proteins (meat, nuts, eggs). The simpler our meals, the more efficient our digestion.

    Don't eat starches and sugar at the same meal. Jelly, jams, butter, sugar, molasses, syrups on bread or at the same time with cereals, potatoes, sugar with cereals - all this causes fermentation, and then poisoning of the body.

    There is only one concentrated starch per meal. If two types of starch (potatoes or porridge with bread) are consumed at one time, then one of them goes for absorption, and the other remains intact in the stomach, like a load, the intestines do not pass, delay the absorption of other food, cause it to ferment, increase the acidity of the stomach. juice, belching, etc.

    Do not eat melon with any other food. Watermelon, honey, musk and other types of melons should always be eaten separately.

    Milk must be taken separately. Milk fat prevents the secretion of gastric juice for some time. Milk is absorbed not in the stomach, but in the duodenum, so the stomach does not react to the presence of milk with secretion, which interferes with the absorption of other food.

Rules for eating with separate meals

For, in order for food to be effective there are a few more rules to remember.

    it is necessary to give up alcohol, smoking, hot spices.

    reduce the amount of protein in food (meat, eggs, cheese, mushrooms, legumes, etc.).

    reduce your dietary salt intake.

    increase the proportion of natural, natural foods in the diet.

    restore a healthy appetite.

    do not eat often and much.

    during the day there should be one main meal and two additional ones.

    you need to eat slowly, chewing food well. it is especially important to observe this rule when consuming raw and less often boiled plant foods in order to prevent gastric and intestinal disorders.

Simplified options for separate power supply

If at first it is difficult for you to remember all the above principles of separate nutrition, or, for some reason, you are not able to adhere to all of them, you can use a simplified separate nutrition scheme, which is based on the following principles:

  1. Separate proteins from carbohydrates and do not take them in one meal, and the proteins themselves must also be separated, depending on their type. Separately, yes, but not together.
  2. Reduce the amount of sweets you eat, and completely eliminate sweets and chocolate - positive emotions will have to be drawn from something else.
  3. Consume mineral water during the day.
  4. Give preference.
  5. Treat this way of eating - not as a temporary phenomenon, but as your way of life, then these rules will not be a burden to you.

P. Ivanov's system as an alternative to the principles of separate nutrition

There are a lot of followers of the system of Porfiry Ivanov, or "Ivanians" as they are also called in our country, since many liked the simple principles of this old man with kind and wise eyes. We will not cover their essence on all scales, but will focus only on what Porfiry Ivanov said regarding the way of eating. So, he also recommended to his followers to separate products into protein and carbohydrate-containing, and not to mix them in one go. He did not recommend using dairy products with something, while mixing them together - for example, cottage cheese with sour cream - even approved. And, the wise old man constantly reminded about during the day.

I don’t know what you say, but in our opinion, such a system really has a lot in common with the principles of separate nutrition. Well, if all this is supplemented with a cleansing purpose, then it is likely that the secret, if not eternal youth, then at least healthy old age, has already been revealed by us.

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Poor environmental conditions, deteriorating health make many people monitor their diet, adhere to a variety of diets. But there are a number of forms of nutrition that are not diets in their essence, but pursue the same goals. This is the so-called alternative food.

The most famous of them are:

  • raw food and nutritious food
  • raw food and vegetarian diet
  • nutrition system according to Bircher-Benner
  • biofood
  • macrobiotic nutrition (macrobiotics)
  • separate meals

These and similar nutritional systems have been developed over thousands of years by doctors and philosophers to maintain health and longevity. True, some of them adhere to principles that disregard the established medical facts. Let us briefly consider individual alternative nutrition systems without analyzing them in depth.

Vegetarianism and raw food

Vegetarianism is based on religious beliefs that it is impossible to kill animals for food, as the human soul moves into their bodies. Many religions, which are based on orthodox Hinduism, adhere to these ideas. At present, vegetarianism most often implies love for living beings and the conviction that such a system provides good nutrition. And religious motives receded into the background.

Vegetarian cuisine is divided into three areas:

  • Vegans - use only plant foods for nutrition;
  • Lacto-vegetarians - eat plant and dairy products;
  • .Ovo-lacto - vegetarians - add eggs to vegetable and dairy products.

Vegetarianism is not only a nutrition system, but an established way of life, in which some features of sects are quite often present. They prepare all food with open hearts filled with love and joy. That is why all vegetarian dishes have great vitality.

Vegetarians try to eat raw foods. And if they cook dishes, they prefer to do it in a saucepan, frying with frequent shaking, also wide application Vegetarians got a wok pan.

For food, vegetarians use all kinds of vegetables and fruits, a variety of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, grains, pasta, cereals. Lacto-vegetarians enrich their diet with dairy and fermented milk products. All vegetable oils are used to meet the needs for fats. Often dishes are seasoned with rice or corn flour.

Soya

Vegetarians, and recently not only them, assign soy a separate role in nutrition. This plant is a legume similar to the bush bean. In its composition, its grain contains proteins about 40% and fats about 20%. Soybeans are used to make soybean oil, which is used throughout the world, both as a vegetable oil and as the basis for the production of margarine. Waste from oil production is used to make soybean meal, flour and oilcake.

Soy is used to make various food products:

  • from soy flour- Soy meat
  • from boiled and squeezed soybeans - soy milk
  • from soy milk and acidifiers - tofu (bean curd)
  • from soy milk - soy cream, soy mayonnaise
  • from roasted soybeans, spices and grains - soy sauce
  • from soy flour - soy puree

Using these products, which are sold in many stores, you can make many delicious vegetarian dishes.

There is nothing negative about vegetarian cuisine, but it is quite difficult for vegetarians to include in the diet all the necessary nutrients for life in a rational combination.

Complete nutrition

Let's take a look at what nutrition is. Its main principle is that a person receives in the right amount of all the vital elements for metabolism. Any food consumed has a value determined by its ingredients, place of origin, storage, method of production and preparation.

To adhere to this nutrition system, you do not need to monitor daily nutritional value consumed products, the main thing is to do it in a certain period.

In order for nutrition to be complete, it is imperative to follow its principles:

  • . food products must be of natural origin;
  • at least a third of the food consumed must be fresh, the rest - heat-treated;
  • meals should be at least five;
  • most of the diet should be grain products, fruits, various vegetables, including legumes, nuts, dairy products;
  • exclude meat once a week, replacing it with fish;
  • products should be preferred fresh or minimally thermally prepared;
  • read a meal with fresh products;
  • dress salads only with vegetable oils;
  • instead of seasonings, use spices and herbs;
  • drink about 2 liters of liquid during the day.

Such principles of nutrition allow you not to limit yourself in food and do not harm your health, moreover, they act as a complete diet.

Bircher-Benner system

It was developed by a Swiss doctor and is a symbiosis of a raw food diet, vegetarianism and good nutrition.

Breakfast consists only of raw food, preferably Bircher muesli, which contains oatmeal, honey, nuts and fruits. Wash it all down with a glass of whole milk. Lunch consists of salads, boiled vegetables and fresh fruits.

You can eat meat no more than twice a week. Drink a glass daily lemon juice. Dinner is like breakfast, but milk is replaced with rosehip tea.

Macrobiotic or macrobiotic nutrition

Quite an old teaching that allows you to comprehend the art of longevity. One of its main rules is to prevent the impact on the human body of adverse environmental conditions.

Macrobiotic nutrition is based on the principles of:

  • ballast substances when eating should be at least 50%;
  • raw vegetables and fruits for one meal should be 30% of the total;
  • exclude meat and all dairy products, sugar from the diet;
  • eat only sea salt
  • exclude heating vegetables, legumes, cereals and fish.

Bio or eco food

Biofood is a young and very fashionable nutrition system that has affected a short time fairly large segments of the population around the world. In Russia, bioproducts are also appearing in stores.

Eco-food or bio-food implies the principles of ecological Agriculture, that is, a complete rejection of the use of pesticides, mineral fertilizers, additives in animal feed and purchased feed. Organic farming involves replenishing the nutrients taken from the soil through careful crop rotation and the use of compost and manure.

In this type of agriculture, weed control is done by hand rather than by mechanical or chemical means. Pests are controlled only by biological means. This farming is reflected in the high price of organic products, which makes it less competitive with conventional farming. But despite the high cost of all more people all over the world prefer bio- and eco-products. Because they prefer to take care of the health of their children and their own health with a guarantee.

Bio- or eco-food is the use of food products of a different production method, and not a different composition of consumed substances.

Separate food

This doctrine was founded by the American physician G. Shelton. It is based on the principle of separating the intake of different foods, according to a special compatibility table. It describes which foods complement each other perfectly, and which are better not to eat together to avoid them together. negative impact on the human body. This power supply system will be studied in more detail and in detail another time. But it is worth noting the positive feedback from adherents of this way of eating, but many nutritionists and other specialists are negative about separate meals, which over time will wean the digestive system to cope with ordinary mixed meals.

Russian school of dietology

All food systems described here are selected and placed in random order, as they are intended to emphasize only their diversity, and not to indicate any preferences. Many of them may not be meaningless, and some are so strange that it is best not to trust them at all.

weight diet

Professor N. M. Asomov founded such a system of food consumption. He proposed not to count the calorie content of the foods eaten, but instead to take into account their weight. It is necessary to exclude all fried foods from the diet and cook without adding salt. Meat can be eaten very rarely. In addition, this diet prescribes the use of food only when a feeling of hunger sets in, the irregularity of eating is recognized as a normal healthy phenomenon.

Gastrointestinal diet

The diet of Professor B.V. Bolotov is based on four main principles:

  • The process of digestion occurs due to the consumption of foods rich in cellulose, such as vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts;
  • Removal of toxins is carried out by acids used in food
  • Spices and herbs remove salts from the human body
  • Berries and lactic acids destroy bacteria

Diet change

The diet of the natural healer VF Vostokov is based on eating a variety of plants: forest, medicinal and horticultural, which, according to the author, help maintain health for many years.

pyramid diet

Its author Yu. P. Gushcho created the principles of nutrition, which are based on good nutrition and vegetarianism. He compiled a food pyramid in which he identified a basic diet consisting of various grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds. Products placed in each next step of this pyramid, a person should consume, respectively, in a smaller amount.

Steps of the pyramid:

  • Cereals, nuts, legumes, seeds
  • Vegetables, roots, herbs
  • fruit
  • Milk, honey
  • Beverages

Diet of the natural cycle

Originally from the 19th century. diet of the author A. Suvorin, based on faith in the power of the sun and chlorophyll. Plants, in his opinion, are the most important in nature, because the sun strongly influences their growth. Therefore, people should eat predominantly vegetarian food.

seasonal diet

The diet developed by G. S. Shatalova is quite well known. It is based on the principles of vegetarian nutrition, but only with products, in accordance with the coming season and growing in the area. No matter what problems arise with what to buy for a diet. In the spring - these are herbs, in summer and autumn - vegetables and fruits, in winter - cereals and grain products.

Foreign School of Dietetics

It is also necessary to briefly describe some foreign diets. They are also randomly selected and unrated to highlight their diversity.

Starvation

Natural healer and physician G. Benjamin suggests hunger instead of food. In his opinion, such hunger cleanses the body well. You need to fast for at least 5 days, but not more than 30. Drinking is allowed, consisting of water and vegetable and orange juices.

Combined nutrition

Doctor P. Bragg is also an adherent of fasting. Before starting any diet, a person must first starve, and only then gradually start eating. Strictly natural food should be used in food. Distilled water must be used for drinking. Walking in the fresh air and the sun only increase the effectiveness of all diets.

Food of natural origin should be very diverse. It is advisable to combine different foods: fruits with vegetables, nuts with herbs, etc. It can even be called a combined diet.