Eating a plant-based diet.

Over the years, I have been back and forth with my diet, and have tried just about every WOE (way of eating) that exists, from vegan to carnivore/keto. I have tried intermittent fasting, OMAD, green smoothies, whey protein drinks, raw foodist, and probably more that i can’t quite remember at tho moment.
As long as I am getting plenty of fresh foods, like fruit and veggies and greens, I seem to stay pretty healthy, but never quite reach that place I have been aiming for, of feeling my absolute best all the time.

Recently, I came across an old book about food combining, and it made a lot of sense when I read it, so I have been reading more and learning how and why food combining works.
The basic premise is that proteins require acidic digestive aids and carbohydrates require alkaline digestive aids, so when you eat the two together (as we do at almost every meal), the acid and alkaline cancel each other out, and the food just sits and rots in our stomach because it is not being properly digested.

So, eggs and toast, steak and potatoes, beef stew, fish and chips………. Almost every meal that we eat can combine protein and carbs, unless people are following a keto diet, and only eating something like green veggies or salad (as opposed to starches like potatoes) with their meal.
So, these people are actually doing food combining, just not intentionally, since they live on basically protein; but the jury is still out on whether an all protein diet is healthy in the long run , or not.

Following a plant based WOE seems to fit in with the food combining, and eating animal foods in small amounts now and then, if at all. So, I am working back into plant based, but using the Conscious Combining method this time.
I didn’t mention fruit.
Although it is a carbohydrate, it will digest almost immediately and has its own digestive enzymes (when eaten fresh and raw), so fruit should be eaten for breakfast and then no other food for at least an hour, or the fruit is trapped in the stomach and ferments while other food is digesting. (No apples in the oatmeal, etc)
Carbs digest over several hours, and protein can take up to 8-9 hours if it is a large protein meal, so the next meal should be carbs, and then if you are having animal foods, wait until dinner so they can digest overnight if need be.


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So this is only partially on subject. I am researching an old painting online. The painting was done in 1886. There is an extensive genealogy done for the surname. One guy lived until he was 114, said he had not eatin meat for 40 years…just bread and milk. He died in the late 1800’s…
 
I add sliced banana to my oatmeal several times a week.
Also, do you know how a Mediterranean diet compares to vegan?
 
Muskrat said:
So this is only partially on subject. I am researching an old painting online. The painting was done in 1886. There is an extensive genealogy done for the surname. One guy lived until he was 114, said he had not eatin meat for 40 years…just bread and milk. He died in the late 1800’s…
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Where did the artist live?
 
Babs2u said:
I add sliced banana to my oatmeal several times a week.
Also, do you know how a Mediterranean diet compares to vegan?
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Vegan diets contain no animal-sourced food, so no meat or dairy. However, not all vegan diets are plant-based or even particularly healthy because lot of processed and junk foods are vegan. No butter, but Crisco is ok, for instance.

Mediterranean diets are plant-focused, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, plus some meat, fish and dairy.

Plant-based diets include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Most folks I know who are long-term vegans, plant-based eaters, or vegetarians have some wiggle room in their diet. My calories probably average 90-95% plant-based, but I occasionally eat some fish, dairy and white flour (pretzels or bagels). When a guest in someone's home I do the best I can.

Does that help?
 
This is not directed against any post I've read so far, but many of us who suffer from IBS have tried just about every combination of foods, and about the time a plan seems to be working, things change. I write down every day what I eat. If I do fine one week, then go to my notes and repeat the same menus the next week, I would have different results.
 
@Babs2u …I believe ohio. Only because the surname of the painter is Rice. My third great grandmother was a rice…and she was from ohio. Unfortunately while I know the year of the painting and the partial name I am not sure I have found the painter.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
This is not directed against any post I've read so far, but many of us who suffer from IBS have tried just about every combination of foods, and about the time a plan seems to be working, things change. I write down every day what I eat. If I do fine one week, then go to my notes and repeat the same menus the next week, I would have different results.
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Mack, take notes along with food you eat, if you were stressed or upset on a certain day also. It may help you to avoid certain foods
when your digestive tract is being effected. Lot of note taking at 1st but you may see a pattern and can change it soon as you notice
your body signals.
 
StarSong said:
Vegan diets contain no animal-sourced food, so no meat or dairy. However, not all vegan diets are plant-based or even particularly healthy because lot of processed and junk foods are vegan. No butter, but Crisco is ok, for instance.

Mediterranean diets are plant-focused, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, plus some meat, fish and dairy.

Plant-based diets include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Most folks I know who are long-term vegans, plant-based eaters, or vegetarians have some wiggle room in their diet. My calories probably average 90-95% plant-based, but I occasionally eat some fish, dairy and white flour (pretzels or bagels). When a guest in someone's home I do the best I can.

Does that help?
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Yes. Thank you. I guess I was primarily thinking about the results on health. Maybe a good Mediaterrean with a little fish or chicken would come close.
 
IrishEyes said:
Mack, take notes along with food you eat, if you were stressed or upset on a certain day also. It may help you to avoid certain foods
when your digestive tract is being effected. Lot of note taking at 1st but you may see a pattern and can change it soon as you notice
your body signals.
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Emotions strongly impact what happens. I do have significant problems with anxiety, and yes that makes a difference. (I'm agreeing with you.) Unfortunately, anxiety attacks arise suddenly and without prediction.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
This is not directed against any post I've read so far, but many of us who suffer from IBS have tried just about every combination of foods, and about the time a plan seems to be working, things change. I write down every day what I eat. If I do fine one week, then go to my notes and repeat the same menus the next week, I would have different results.
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This is where (possibly) the food combining could come into play, @MACKTEXAS . If you look at the information I have posted about how foods are digested differently (above), you can see that carbs and protein foods should not be eaten together, or they can rot or ferment in the stomach and cause gas, pain, or other distress.
You might try eating them separately and leaving at last 2 hours between carb foods and protein foods, and having the protein foods later in the day after you have had fruit or starchy foods.
 
I never heard of trophology (food combining) diets before. I asked chatgpt and it has a poor opinion of it:

short answer: trophology, or “food combining,” is mostly considered pseudoscience.

What it is​

  • Trophology (from Greek “trophē” = nourishment) is usually used to describe “food combining diets.”
  • The central claim is that mixing certain foods (like protein + starch) in the same meal causes poor digestion, fermentation in the gut, and health problems.
  • Popular versions often say fruit should only be eaten alone, proteins and carbs shouldn’t be eaten together, etc.

What science says​

  • Digestive physiology doesn’t support it.
    Your stomach secretes acid and enzymes that can break down proteins, fats, and carbs at the same time. That’s literally how mixed meals are normally digested.
  • Fermentation concerns are exaggerated. Some fermentation does happen in the gut, but it’s normal and part of a healthy microbiome.
  • No credible studies show that strict “food combining” improves digestion, nutrient absorption, weight loss, or overall health compared to just eating a balanced diet.

What is supported​

  • Meal composition matters, but in different ways:
    • Protein + carbs together can help stabilize blood sugar and improve satiety.
    • Fat slows digestion, which can help with steady nutrient absorption.
    • Fiber-rich foods help regulate digestion and feed healthy gut bacteria.
  • Some combinations enhance nutrient absorption — for example:
    • Vitamin C + iron-rich plant foods = better iron absorption.
    • Fat + fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) = better absorption.
So: trophology as a rigid “food combining” system is nonsense, but some nutrient interactions are real and well-studied — they just don’t line up with the rules promoted in that system.
 
Happyflowerlady said:
This is where (possibly) the food combining could come into play, @MACKTEXAS . If you look at the information I have posted about how foods are digested differently (above), you can see that carbs and protein foods should not be eaten together, or they can rot or ferment in the stomach and cause gas, pain, or other distress.
You might try eating them separately and leaving at last 2 hours between carb foods and protein foods, and having the protein foods later in the day after you have had fruit or starchy foods.
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I did look at your information and appreciate you taking the time to post it. Thanks.
 

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