food combining

​The way jolie combines foods significantly impacts how well our clients’ bodies absorb nutrients. While eating a nutrient-rich diet is important, ensuring those nutrients are fully absorbed is just as critical. 
 
Certain foods enhance absorption when paired together, while others can inhibit it. Understanding the right combinations, the role of raw versus cooked foods, helps optimize your nutrition and wellness.
 
Nutrient absorption is influenced by factors such as digestive enzymes, gut health, and food synergy. Some nutrients require fats for better absorption, while others are inhibited by compounds such as phytic acid or tannins. By structuring meals with these principles in mind, your body's ability to utilize essential vitamins and minerals is enhanced.
 
A Paradigm for Maximum Nutrient Absorption
A balanced ratio of raw and cooked foods, strategic food pairings, and mindful meal timing maximize nutrient uptake throughout the day.
1. Raw vs. Cooked Foods: Striking the Right Balance

• Morning (Raw-Element Meal)
  • Start the day with enzyme-rich raw foods to stimulate digestion - berries, yogurt, nuts.
  • A smoothie like the Morning Miracle with leafy greens, berries, and soaked nuts/seeds provide bioavailable vitamins and minerals.
• Midday (Cooked + Raw Meal)
  • A mix of cooked and raw foods allows for both fiber and enhanced bioavailability of certain nutrients.
  • A warm bowl, salad, or soup and salad which combine cooked and raw vegetables offers fiber, resistant starch, and digestive enzymes.
• Evening (Cooked-Dominant Meal)
  • Dishes with predominantly cooked foods in the evening are easier to digest and help with nutrient assimilation overnight.
  • A lightly cooked protein with steamed greens and healthy fats aids in optimal digestion and nutrient absorption.

The jolie weekly ratio we aim for is 50% raw (mornings and snacks) and 50% cooked (afternoon and dinner).  This balance ensures digestive enzyme availability while maximizing bioavailability of minerals from cooked foods.  For clients with digestive challenges, however, primarily cooked foods are needed to ensure the ability to digest what’s eaten.
 
2. Best Absorption Pairing & Why It Works
Iron (Non-Heme)
Leafy greens + citrus (e.g., spinach + lemon)
Vitamin C increases iron absorption.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins (A, D, E, K)
Carrots + olive oil, eggs + avocado
Fats enhance absorption of these vitamins.
Calcium
Leafy greens + fermented foods (e.g., kale + yogurt)
Fermented foods improve calcium uptake.
Zinc
Pumpkin seeds + garlic
Sulfur compounds in garlic boost zinc absorption.
Magnesium
Dark chocolate + bananas
Vitamin B6 in bananas helps magnesium utilization.
 
3. Cooking Methods
Roasting, steaming, soups, broths, and quick wilting are the best cooking methods for bioavailable nutrients. Cutting and chopping food is also an important part of increasing the absorption of nutrients during digestion. Cutting releases enzymes which begin to liberate nutrients even before they make it to your mouth.
 
Maximizing nutrient absorption is about more than just eating healthy foods—it’s about eating them in ways that optimize bioavailability. A balance of raw and cooked foods, strategic pairings, and mindful cooking methods can enhance digestion and nutrient uptake. By focusing on proper food combinations you can ensure your body is deeply nourished. 
  
P.S. Body sculpting is super fun and rewarding.  One of my favorite books on it is Figure Secrets.