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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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 are mainly comprised of whole grains, fruits and vegetables and no meat fish or dairy.

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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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.
 
Happyflowerlady said:
I have been an omnivore all of my life, although I have always enjoyed eating vegetables and salads. The idea of just eating a vegan diet never seemed like it could be a healthy one.
However, most of the inflammatory foods that we eat (inflammation=pain) are from animal foods or highly processed foods (think sugar, white flour, and grease).
Greens, fruits, and veggies are very anti-inflammatory foods, and most can be eaten raw to preserve all of the natural enzymes.

Earlier this month, I got to go with my daughter for a week when she had to work in Orlando, Florida. We had a great time, and she took me out to some new and awesome restaurants down there, plus lots of delicious seafood.
The result was that by the time we came back home that Sunday night, my arthritis and gout were so awful that I could barely hobble along, and they almost had to carry me into the house.
WAY too much inflammatory foods that week !
I went to the store, got fresh pineapple, papaya and mango, and that was all that I ate on Monday. While recuperating, I started reading Dr. Michael Gregor’s book, called “How Not to Die”, which is all about a plant-based diet.

I decided that it was worth giving this a try, and the last two weeks that is what I have been doing. In only a few days, the gout and arthritis pain had subsided, I felt better, and am now enjoying what I am eating.
While I am not totally 100% plant-based yet, I am at least 80-90%, and just having a little milk in my morning coffee, or a bit of yogurt, or some feta cheese in my salad.

Surprisingly, I don’t miss eating meat at all, and I am really enjoying the foods that I am eating.
Next week is my doctor visit for the 6-month blood tests, and I am anxious to see if it has made any difference in how my blood work looks.
It is probably too soon to show much of any improvement, but at least it will give me a base for how the next one turns out because by another 6 months, it should definitely be showing improvement, if it is going to do that.
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I've been a vegan for 42 years... For me, this lifestyle works. However , I don't preach about it or try to convince others about it being right for them..as I have long come to realize that food is a personal choice...

.
 
VeggieMan said:
I've been a vegan for 42 years... For me, this lifestyle works. However , I don't preach about it or try to convince others about it being right for them..as I have long come to realize that food is a personal choice...

.
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I appreciate the fact that you don’t preach but please share some of your experiences and knowledge.

I’m particularly curious to find out if you rely on vegetable based meat substitutes and also what a few of your TNT recipes and daily meals look like.
 
I've been a vegan for 42 years.This lifestyle works for me but have come to realize over the years that food is a very personal choice for people. I don't try to convince others that my lifestyle is good for them. As I've come to realize, giving unsolicited advice about what people eat or shouldn't eat is just asking for problems!
 
Aunt Bea said:
I appreciate the fact that you don’t preach but please share some of your experiences and knowledge.

I’m particularly curious to find out if you rely on vegetable based meat substitutes and also what a few of your TNT recipes and daily meals look like.
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Yes, Morningstar Farms vegetarian meat substitutes had been part of my life for many years ..
Each day is similar to this below..
Breakfast extra thick oatmeal and fresh fruit, vegetarian sausages, whole wheat toast
Lunch
Whole wheat pasta and a meatless marinara sauce
Dinner
A Morningstar Farms veggie option like theyr burgers or chicken and vegetables like carrots, corn, broccoli..


Dessert
Dairy free ice cream or sherbet .
 
VeggieMan said:
Yes, Morningstar Farms vegetarian meat substitutes had been part of my life for many years ..
Each day is similar to this below..
Breakfast extra thick oatmeal and fresh fruit, vegetarian sausages, whole wheat toast
Lunch
Whole wheat pasta and a meatless marinara sauce
Dinner
A Morningstar Farms veggie option like theyr burgers or chicken and vegetables like carrots, corn, broccoli..


Dessert
Dairy free ice cream or sherbet .
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Yes, but once in a while I have a piece of cheese cake or carrot cake when I go out for dinner with friends...
Shhhhhhhh...let's keep that quiet😂
 
@VeggieMan, welcome to this thread!

Nearly 12 years ago I abruptly went from an omnivore to a strict vegan, then moved to plant-based. I sometimes have a little fish or dairy — notably on vacations, over the holidays, and when in someone else's home. I stay in my target range of an overall rate of 90-95% PB diet. 100% was too punishing.

On the rare occasion when someone snarks, "That's not vegan, you know," I reply my diet works for me; I've signed no vegan contracts.

I eat a lot of vegetables, fruit and some whole grains (including barley, rolled oats, millet and quinoa).
 
StarSong said:
@VeggieMan, welcome to this thread!

Nearly 12 years ago I abruptly went from an omnivore to a strict vegan, then moved to plant-based. I sometimes have a little fish or dairy — notably on vacations, over the holidays, and when in someone else's home. I stay in my target range of an overall rate of 90-95% PB diet. 100% was too punishing.

On the rare occasion when someone snarks, "That's not vegan, you know," I reply my diet works for me; I've signed no vegan contracts.

I eat a lot of vegetables, fruit and some whole grains (including barley, rolled oats, millet and quinoa).
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I'm impressed...your tops in my books ..I love that line, "I've signed no vegan contracts."..
At Thanksgiving, I usually get asked but what do you eat?
So I answer by saying imagine a huge table with a turkey, stuffing, tons of vegetables some healthy casseroles, bread, salad..now imagine that table without the turkey...
Actually, a few years ago, a company started making vegetarian turkeys..I slipped a couple of slices to my carnivore friends...they loved it....but then when I told them what they just ate... I wish I could have filmed those reactions😂
 
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