To date, there are a huge number of theories regarding how to eat right. One of the most popular concepts – separate meals for almost 100 years of existence has millions of fans. So what is it and what is the use of separate nutrition?

The theory itself was proposed by the American specialist Herbert Shelton, who stated that the compatibility of foodstuffs depends on how well they are digested.

Separate nutrition really has a positive effect on the work of the stomach and the entire digestive system. Many athletes use separate meals as the basis for planning their diet for the day.

Despite the stereotype that separate nutrition only helps to lose weight, it has also found its application in bodybuilding.

What is the essence of separate nutrition?
The main idea of ​​separate nutrition is to eat small portions throughout the day and only those foods that are well combined with each other. In other words, you need to eat separately carbohydrates with fats and proteins.

Physiologically, carbohydrates begin to break down even in the mouth and getting into the stomach, under the action of gastric juice, they are digested there very quickly. Due to this, you get energy due to the ingestion of glucose into the blood.

Proteins are broken down much more slowly. In order for the protein to be completely digested by the stomach, it needs more time. If you take proteins along with carbohydrates, then as a result, most of the proteins will not be digested well and there will be almost no benefit from them for muscle growth.

Fats are recommended to be eaten along with carbohydrates. If it is not possible to separate fats from proteins, then many experts advise taking green vegetables.

Advantages of separate power supply
Separate nutrition, despite criticism, is increasingly gaining popularity both among ordinary people and athletes. The use of this principle of nutrition has a beneficial effect on the human body, improves well-being. The main advantages of separate nutrition are the following:

Improving the quality of assimilation of products.
Cleansing the stomach and intestines.
Reducing the amount of subcutaneous fat.
Good health.
Sleep improvement.
As you can see, the advantages of this system are very significant. Of course, there are also disadvantages, which for the most part associated with strict adherence to the regimen and frequent meals. Not all people have the opportunity to eat small portions and often, and even separately consume carbohydrates and proteins. However, you can try it if you’d like.

Separate nutrition for athletes
Most athletes in one form or another practice separate nutrition. It helps to maximize the benefits of food and keep the body always in good shape. Separate nutrition is also the basis for most sports diets that athletes adhere to during competition.

Separate nutrition is now also very common in bodybuilding. Athletes gaining weight eat 5-6 times a day in small portions. This principle was taken precisely from the idea of ​​​​separate nutrition. This mode of eating will allow you to always feel full, not pass, but at the same time take the maximum benefit from food.

Separate nutrition in bodybuilding is often used during drying, when the athlete needs to minimize the consumption of fats and carbohydrates. Taking exclusively protein foods in small portions many times a day, the athlete reduces the amount of subcutaneous fat, while increasing muscle volume.

Paradoxically, separate nutrition can also be practiced for mass gain. Eating separately in small portions, you will feel a slight hunger. This is a signal that your body has already coped with the last meal and is hungry for the next one. Thus, you will not overload the food system, but in general, eat a lot of food in a day. And if it was useful and of high quality, then you will begin to gain weight, with a minimum amount of subcutaneous fat.

Tips for eating using separate meals
Eat food only when you feel hungry. No need to overload the digestive system. If after 2-3 hours you are still not hungry, then you need to review your diet, replace slow carbohydrates with fast ones, etc.
Don’t drink your food. By pouring water during the digestion of food, you greatly complicate the work of the stomach and large intestine. Stop drinking water 10-15 minutes before eating and start – no earlier than 20-30 minutes after eating.
Chew food well. For example, the breakdown of carbohydrates begins in the mouth.
Eat simple foods in small amounts products (at one time). Thus, you will speed up the process of its digestion.
No need to transfer. If you overload your stomach, then nothing good will come of it.
Conclusion
We hope that this article will be useful for you and still try to keep a separate diet and evaluate its advantages over time. Of course, there are criticisms of this approach. We just recommend trying it and drawing your own conclusions.

There are a lot of menu options for separate meals. You can make your own, but the main thing to remember is that you don’t need to mix carbohydrates and proteins.