Where did the foods we eat every day actually come from and what stories do they carry?

In this fascinating and far-reaching conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with prolific author Nathaniel Altman about the origins, evolution, and healing potential of plant foods across human history.

Nathaniel and Victoria also reminisce about their early days at the Theosophical Society in America in the early 1970s, a formative time that helped shape their shared interest in spirituality, consciousness, and compassionate living. We touch on the influence of spiritual teacher Geoffrey Hodson, whose work Nathaniel has helped reintroduce to modern audiences.

Nathaniel explores how ancient food traditions, global migration, and cultural exchange have shaped the plant-based foods we know today. The conversation also nods to an earlier Main Street Vegan Podcast episode featuring Dr. David J. A. Jenkins, creator of the Portfolio Diet, connecting historical food wisdom with modern clinical approaches to lowering LDL cholesterol and improving heart health.

This episode is a rich reminder that food is more than nourishment it is history, medicine and a thread connecting body, mind, and spirit.

✨ In This Episode

The origins of the world’s oldest plant foods
Surprising stories behind everyday ingredients
What phytochemicals are and why they matter
Foods linked to disease prevention and longevity
The global roots of modern plant-based diets
The spiritual influences that shaped Nathaniel’s work
Connections between traditional diets and modern health science

👤 About Our Guest

Nathaniel Altman is a Brooklyn-based writer and the author of more than twenty books on diet, alternative healing, metaphysics and relationships. His extensive body of work includes titles on vegetarianism, natural health and holistic living, reflecting a lifelong interest in the connection between food, healing, and human consciousness. His latest project, The Genealogy of Plant Foods, explores the origins and cultural journeys of the foods we eat.

🔗 Connect with Nathaniel

Website: https://foodgenealogy.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathaniel.altman.9/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanielaltmanauthor/

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