What is food synergy and how does it work?

*When you combine a healthy fat like olive oil with cooked tomatoes you increase the bioavailability of the the main antioxidant in tomatoes called lycopene.

*When you add vitamin C-rich foods such as lemon to spinach you increase the absorption rate of non-heme plant iron found in leafy greens.

*When you add fat such as ghee to vegetables it can help you to absorb some of the fat-soluble vitamins like A, K, E and even D in some cases.

Payal Sharma, senior dietician, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital elucidated that food synergy is a concept that suggests that certain nutrients and compounds found in whole foods may work together to provide greater health benefits when consumed together than when isolated or consumed individually. “It’s the idea that the combination of various elements in a food item can have a more significant positive impact on health than those elements on their own,” said Sharma.

For example, eating a salad with leafy greens, tomatoes, and olive oil can provide more health benefits than consuming each of these ingredients separately. “The fibre in the greens, lycopene in tomatoes, and healthy fats in olive oil may work together to enhance nutrient absorption and provide a more significant antioxidant effect,” explained Sharma.

Here’s what to keep in mind for optimum health (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Food synergy emphasises the importance of a balanced diet that includes a variety of whole foods, as it’s believed that the interactions between different nutrients and bioactive compounds can contribute to better overall health and disease prevention.

“However, it’s essential to note that the concept of food synergy is still an area of ongoing research, and its specific mechanisms and effects can vary depending on the foods and nutrients involved,” said Sharma.

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