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. 2024 Feb 27;11:1208074. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1208074

Table 1.

Summary of dietary recommendations during rapid recovery and maintenance phases.

Initial rapid recovery/reversal phase Maintenance 5
Include

  • Raw vegetables (unlimited); focus on high intake of leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables, minimum recommended 16 oz. per day 1

  • Fruits (recommended ≤25% total dietary intake/day)

  • Whole, ground flax and chia seeds (minimum 1/2 cup recommended per day initially and increase as tolerated) 2 or 3 tbsp. cold pressed flaxseed oil

  • Water 3

  • Vitamin B12 and D supplementation

  • 1 tsp. salt/day

  • Ezekiel bread (not typically included) allowed for Case 1, due to increased hunger during pregnancy

  • Vegetables (focus on high intake of cruciferous vegetables); recommended 75% raw

  • Fruits (no recommended restriction)

  • Seeds and nuts

  • Whole, ground flax and chia seeds (minimum 1/4 cup/day)

  • Water, recommended 64 oz. or more

  • Intact, whole grains

  • Legumes

  • Vitamin B12 and D supplementation

  • 1 tsp. salt/day
Eliminate

  • All animal products (i.e., meat, dairy, seafood)

  • Added oils 4

  • Processed foods

  • Added sugars

  • Cooked foods

  • Grains

  • Legumes

  • All animal products (i.e., meat, dairy, seafood)

  • Added oils 4

  • Processed foods, added sugars, alcohol (exception noted below)

  • After 6 months of remission, processed vegan foods, foods with sugar or oil, and alcohol are allowed 1-2 times/week (termed ‘recreational eating’), while otherwise continuing the step-down5 or maintenance protocol. This is only allowed when individuals remain asymptomatic.
1

Recommend at least 64 oz green smoothie per day as a way to more easily consume the recommended vegetables.

2

Assess gastrointestinal discomfort; recommended to spread intake throughout the day.

3

If body weight ≥ 120 lbs., recommended 96–128 oz. per day (approx. 1 gallon); if body weight < 120 lbs., recommended water is oz. of body weight (i.e., 80 lbs. = 80 oz. water/day); some patients (i.e., Case 3) may need to individually adjust requirements with their physician.

4

Exception for cold pressed flaxseed oil.

5

When moving from initial rapid recovery phase to maintenance phase, patients are advised to try one new change at a time, waiting 3–5 days in between to ensure there is no re-emergence of symptoms. If symptoms emerge, patients return to the recovery protocol.