"Food Combining" was first proposed in the early 1900's.  Had it won out over the "four food groups," chronic health problems, that plague our society today, might have been the exception. 
    Americans that suffer from chronic health conditions brought on by years of use of tobacco have filed and won class actions suits against tobacco companies.   Perhaps the food industry, especially processed, refined, convenient and fast foods should consider these class actions suits and change their ways! 
    Altruistic concern for the welfare of the consumer will be the wave of the future.  With America getting fatter every decade, the fast food industry will be directly responsible for this outcome and liable for chronic illnesses caused by consuming their "foods."
    Anyone complaining of recurrent bowel problems especially gas, bloating, stomach upset, or those who routinely use digestive aides have been helped by food combining.  This "natural hygiene" is a paradigm shift, a growth spurt, a trek unto the non-traditional. 
    To dedicate the rest of your life to eating right will be the most important action you can take next to stop smoking!  
    In order to have a deeper understanding than this webpage can relate, please purchase and read Harvey and Marilyn Diamond's books:

Food Combinations:
    In the 1930's a dietary concept know as "Natural Hygiene" was proposed, but due to politics, the "four food groups" won out and began a century of digestive problems.  In fact according to Harvey & Marilyn Diamond, In Fit For Life II:, "the archaic notion that we need to eat from each of the four basic food groups at every meal is probably responsible for more digestive difficulties than any other dietary habit we have." 
    The Diamond's books are a must for any one wanting to understand food combinations in detail.  Fit For Life the original book is tame and politically correct.  The Fit For Life II: is much more expressive.  I find the second book a natural vent for my frustrations with a political system that is built to maintain those on top. 
    The second book also has topics on food, water, air, loving relationships, animal products, feeding children, detoxification, and recipes.
    The basic chemical principles pushing these dietary concepts were proposed in the early half of the 1900's and were known as "natural hygiene."   It is only too clear, that when we eat food, we use different enzymes in the stomach to digest each food.  Some foods are "acidic" and some foods are "basic."  (Does this remind you of chemistry?  Well, it is!)   When more than one food is eaten together; like meat and potatoes, the meat needs an acid enzyme to digest, while the potatoes need a basic enzyme.  Together these acid and base enzymes CANCEL one another out!  Nothing gets digested!....and all that food in your stomach ROTS......rotting food causes gas!!....and all those digestive problems. 
    To cut to the quick and dirty..... 

The Basic Food Combining Principles are as follows:

1. Fruit should be eaten alone on an empty stomach, not with anything or immediately following anything.  This means eat fruits first thing in the morning.  Wait 30 minutes then eat the rest of your breakfast following the remainder of the combining principles.
       If you want to eat fruit any other time during the day, you must have been using the food combining principles and have not eaten within the last three hours.   Then eating the fruit, you must wait thirty minutes before you eat any other food.
       The Diamond's believe that eating fruit in the morning until noon allows you to maximize your work potential because your body is not diverting "energy" to digest food.  This way you don't need that "coffee break" to get a "charge" from the caffeine so you can continue until noon!

2. Meats and starches are NOT to be eaten together.  You may have all the "meats and vegetables" you want.  You may also have all the "starches and vegetables" you want.  You just can't mix them all.

3. Meats are NOT to be mixed.  This means you can only eat one meat at a time.   You cannot have steak and lobster.  You either have to have just the steak or just the lobster!

4. Starches may be mixed....breads and pasta are allowed.

5. An exception is beans and rice, they may be eaten together.

I am always amazed at the weight people lose on this diet...not to mention the decrease in bowel gas and distress.