Why ‘food combining’ is an eating plan you can skip, according to a dietitian

To learn all about food combining, watch the video.

Food combining is a trendy method of eating that involves pairing certain foods for overall better digestion. In theory, the plan sounds like a dream, but science shows that the eating guidelines don’t follow through on all their lofty promises, according to Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD.

In the most recent episode of Well+Good’s YouTube series You Versus Food, Beckerman pokes holes in the diet, which suggests things like only eating fruit on an empty stomach, not combining protein and fat, and avoiding a mix of proteins at once. “Although it’s been around for a while, there’s no scientific evidence to support this way of eating. And to date, there’s only been one study that’s examined the principals of food combining, and only in its relationship to weight loss. Spoiler alert: it didn’t make a difference,” says Beckerman.

In reality, our body is really, really good at maintaining homeostasis and digesting many different types of macronutrients at once, says Beckerman. To learn more about why the plan isn’t worth the hype (and the few aspects of it worth adopting), watch the full video.

Here’s your comprehensive guide to the buzziest eating plans. And everything you need to know about intuitive eating.