The Greatest (Food) Love Story of All Time

When you think of the greatest love story of all time, you probably think of Mark Antony and Cleopatra or Romeo and Juliet. But if you think about it, some of the greatest soulmates ever met on a plate – like PB&J or cookies and milk. There are some food combinations that blend perfectly together to create a truly delicious concoction.

However, there are other effective pairings that not only please your taste buds, but also have nutritional advantages when consumed together. These nutritional pairings do our bodies greater good when consumed together than when consumed separately. Studies have shown that certain components of food can boost the absorption and value of other components. Who can tell you this? Experience or family or friends? Meta Hunter will also tell you how to pair them up for you.

For example, rice and beans are each “incomplete” vegetarian protein sources – meaning they do not contain all the essential building blocks or amino acids that our bodies need. But like other powerful couples, together they “complete” each other.

A recent report further established this pairing concept when it highlighted the role of avocados as a “nutritional booster.” According to the study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, avocados, when eaten with orange tomato sauce or carrots, can enhance the absorption of the carotenoid precursor form of vitamin A, in addition to boosting the conversion of vitamin A to its active form.

The combination of avocado and carrots isn't the only alliance that can offer health benefits. To get the most nutritional bang for the buck from the foods we consume, try these simple food teams instead of seeking any one alone:

Olive oil and tomato sauce. The basis of this food pair is that fat promotes our body's absorption of lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, watermelon, and other red foods. Next time you make tomato sauce, be sure to add a little olive oil, a heart-healthy fat. In fact, lycopene is more available when tomatoes are cooked, so the sauce is an ideal choice.

Baked potatoes and spinach. Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of produce -- such as bell peppers, citrus, kiwi, berries, potatoes, and broccoli -- and can enhance iron absorption. Our blood cells need iron to function properly, so next time you eat a food source rich in iron, be sure to eat it with a vitamin C-rich food. When it comes to foods that aid in iron absorption, keep an eye out for foods with vitamin C that are also high in calcium, such as calcium-fortified orange juice, since calcium can hinder iron absorption.

Green tea and lemon. The vitamin C in this citrus fruit boosts your body's absorption of catechins, an antioxidant found in green tea. Studies show that antioxidants, especially those found in green tea, can reduce your risk of cancer.

Kale and nuts. Leafy greens are high in vitamin K, a vitamin that is important for strengthening bones and blood clotting. Also known as a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin K's absorption is enhanced when eaten with healthy fats like nuts and avocado. Be sure to try some toasted, unsalted nuts on your kale salad—and why not add a slice or two of avocado for a little extra insurance?

Eggs and cheese. While I usually top my omelets with some veggies, eggs with a little cheese might be it—just what your body needs. The vitamin D in the egg yolk enhances the absorption of the calcium in the cheese. Together, these nutrients help build strong bones.

Rice and Fruit: Rice is easy to heat up, and fruits are easy to evaporate water and dry up when heated, and rice will also absorb water and become moldy or infested with insects.

Bread and Biscuits: Biscuits are dry and have no water, while bread has more water. If the two are put together, the biscuits will become soft and lose their crispness, and the bread will become hard and unpalatable.

The right combination of food is good for our health, and the right health supplements can also make us stronger. Using Meta Hunter to choose the right health supplements is a good way to keep us healthy.