From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Subject: Re: VEGETARIAN DIET
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 22:27:06 GMT

In article <l1sn4rp.strnlght@netcom.com> strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:
>Further, there is the empirical evidence from many thousands, if not more
>who have had their health dramatically improved by following the Diamond's
>principles, and the specific testimonials of many whose digestive disorders
>disappeared permanently after following these food combining principles.

A lot of people with diffuse symptoms are going to feel a lot better
if they follow a regimen.  It doesn't mean that every part of that regimen
is actually doing something important.  I have no quarrel with their
recommendations on reducing or eliminating meat, although a diet following
their recommendations to a T seems a little low on protein (maybe, maybe not).
That doesn't mean that everything they're recommending must be taken seriously.

>The Diamond's principles are simple:
>1. Cut out, or cut to a minimum meat and dairy.

Reduce saturated fats.  OK.

>2. Eat unprocessed water-rich foods (i.e. fruits and vegetables) for 
>the bulk of your intake.

That is: get filled up on fiber rich, low calorie carbohydrates.  OK.

>3. Eat fruit only on an empty stomach. That means after arising or 3 hours
>after any other meal.

Which is silly.

>4. Eat melon alone or not at all.

!!!  God, when I think of that last fruit cup I had.  Toxic waste!

>5. Eat only fruits and fruit juices until noon.

???  Well, I hate breakfast too.

>6. At lunch and dinner, have a large salad and only one food from the
>meat category OR a few foods from the carbohydrate category.

In other words, eat a light but filling lunch.

>7. Avoid refined sugars.
>8. Stop smoking
>9. Exercise regularly.

...brush your teeth twice a day and call your mother.  Listen, just
because some of what they say makes sense, doesn't give the whole
package scientific legitimacy.

>The food combining principles are based on extensive scientific research
>on the nature of the digestive process, and the incompatibility of the
>pH balance and enzyme mix in one's saliva and stomach to digest proteins
>vs. carbohydrates.

Not.  The Diamonds are considered crackpots among nutritionists and others
in the scientific community for their opinions about food combining.  These
are not educated people--they're people who are dangerous around a scientific
citation because they can read it but not understand it.  Anyone can compile
a bibliography; that doesn't mean that it supports what they're saying.

>There is also considerable bio-anthropological evidence
>(for example the body's very limited ability to process the uric acid in
>meat, and the adverse consequences of the excess, as compared with the
>enzyme capabilities of true carnivores).

People who have high levels of uric acid in the blood do so because
either they make too much or excrete too little or both.  This is usually
due to an inherited disorder.  It's not all THAT common, and predominates
in men.  Most people, vegetarians or not, effortlessly maintain a proper
level of uric acid.

>I guess this is yet another case of name-calling as a substitute for facts
>in an area Dyer seems not to understand.

Do you guys come out of a cookie cutter or something?  It's creepy.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer