THE LOW-CARB DIETS (BASIC INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW)

[Claudia Marek]

Both the Strict and Liberal diets work to correct hypoglycemic symptoms. Choose the Strict diet to correct hypoglycemia and lose weight. Choose the Liberal diet to correct hypoglycemia and maintain weight . Where no limits are mentioned, there are no limits set. Do not count carbohydrates, it is unnecessary. Adhere to the diet (no cheats at all) for two months to reverse the symptoms of hypoglycemia.

If cholesterol is a problem, avoid cold cuts (except turkey), cheese, cream, solid margarine, hollandaise sauce, and macadamia nuts. Use egg whites or Egg Beaters instead of whole eggs. Use liquid margarine only. Nuts should be dry roasted only. Trim all visible fat from meats and remove skin from poultry. Use Canola or olive oil.

This information comes from R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. It is not meant to be a medical diagnosis or advice. Please consult your physician before making any changes to your diet or treatment. R. Paul St. Amand M.D. recommends a basic work-up that includes a blood count to rule out anemia or infections that mimic FMS. In addition, include a thyroid test, blood sugar, and liver enzymes.

After two months on the diet as written, those who are not on the weight loss diet may begin to test unlisted foods. A hunt and peck approach will determine which foods and what quantity you can tolerate. Only by using a systematic and careful approach will you be able to devise the diet that is right for you. When you cheat to excess your HG symptoms will return. That is a signal to tighten up on your diet.

FOODS TO AVOID STRICTLY:
Alcohol (Most hypoglycemics can tolerate one drink after 2 months on the diet - individual tolerance levels vary), Baked beans, Refried beans, Black-eyed peas (cow peas), Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), Bananas, Lentils, Lima beans, Potatoes, Corn, Dried fruits (the only exception to this is a small amount of unsweetened dried cranberries as they are extremely low in sugar), Barley, Rice, Pasta (all types), Corn tortillas, Flour tortillas, Tamales, Sweets of any kind, products which contain: Dextrose, Glucose, Hexitol, Maltose, Sucrose, Honey, Fructose, Corn Syrup, Rice Syrup or Starch. CAFFEINE is not allowed for hypoglycemics.

*The STRICT Hypoglycemia Diet*

Choose any foods from the following list:

Meats and Fish:
All meats except cold cuts that contain sugars. All fowl and game. All fish and shellfish.

Dairy Products:
Eggs, any style. Any natural cheese: Bleu, Roquefort, cheddar, cream cheese, Gouda, Swiss and so forth. Cream (heavy and sour), Cottage and ricotta (1/2 cup limit per day). Butter and margarine.

Fruits:
Fresh coconut, Avocado (limit 1/2 per day), Cantaloupe (limit 1/4 per day), Strawberries (limit 6-8 per day), Lime or lemon juice (limit 2 tsp. per day) for flavoring.

Vegetables:
Asparagus, Bean Sprouts, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage (limit 1 cup per day), Cauliflower, Celeriac (Celery) Root, Celery, Chard, Chicory, Chinese cabbage (limit 2 cups per day), Chives, Cucumber, Daikon (long, white radish), Eggplant, Endive, Escarole, Fennel Bulb, Greens (Mustard, Kale, Beet, etc), Jicama, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce (any type), Mushrooms, Okra, Olives, Parsley, Peppers (green, red, yellow, etc.), Pickles (dill, sour, limit one), Pimiento, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Sauerkraut, Scallions (green onions), Spinach, Squash (yellow or summer only), String beans (green or yellow), Snow peas, Soy Beans, Tomatoes, Water Chestnuts, Watercress, Zucchini.

Nuts (12 per day limit):
Almond, Brazil, Butternut, Filbert, Hazel, Hickory, Macadamia, Pecan, Pistachio, Sunflower seeds (small handful), Walnut. NO PEANUTS OR CASHEWS.

Desserts:
Sugar-free Jell-O, Custard or cheesecake (made with cream and artificial sweetener).

Drinks:
Club soda, decaffeinated coffee, weak or decaffeinated tea, caffeine-free diet sodas, Alcohol (Bourbon, cognac, gin, rum, scotch, vodka, dry wine after a month on the diet). (For weight loss, caffeine is allowed if you are not hypoglycemic.)

Condiments and spices:
All spices including seeds (fresh or dried), all imitation flavorings, horseradish, sugar-free sauces such as hollandaise, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup; Da Vinci sugar-free Syrups, sugar-free Pancake Syrup, sugar-free salad dressings; Oil and vinegar (all types); Worcestershire sauce.

Miscellaneous:
All fats; Caviar; Tofu; Pork Rinds.


*The LIBERAL Hypoglycemia Diet*

You may add the following foods to the strict diet:

Fruits:
Limit one piece of fruit every four hours. No fruits except the ones listed, and don't drink fruit juice, except 1 cup of unsweetened orange, grapefruit, or tomato. Apples; Apricots; Blackberries (1/2 cup limit); Blueberries (1/2 cup limit); Boysenberries; Casaba melon (1 wedge limit); Cranberries (fresh or small amount of unsweetened dried cranberries are OK), Grapefruit; Honeydew melon (1 wedge limit); Lemons; Limes; Nectarines; Oranges; Papaya; Peaches; Pears; Plums; Raspberries; Strawberries; Tangerines; Tomato juice; V8 Juice.

Vegetables:
Artichokes; Beets; Carrots; Onions; Peas; Pumpkin; Squash (winter); Turnip. Limits are removed on strict diet vegetables.

Nuts:
Cashews; Peanuts; Soy Nuts, and there is no limit on the liberal diet.

Dairy products:
Whole, non-fat, low-fat milk and buttermilk, unsweetened yogurt and kefir. No-sugar-added ice cream.

Desserts:
Sugarless diet puddings (1/2 cup a day limit), no-sugar desserts such as Atkins.

Breads:
Three slices a day of sugar-free white, whole wheat, sourdough or light rye. No more than two slices at one time.

Miscellaneous:
2 tacos or 2 enchiladas (2 corn tortillas only)
Carob powder
Flour (gluten or soy only)
Gravy made with gluten or soy flour only
One cup popcorn (popped)
Puffed rice, shredded wheat or other sugar-free cereals
Wheat germ
Nut flours (and crusts)
Low-carb bake mixes