Food and drink

Patients on the Marshall Protocol (MP) must avoid all food and drink that:

• contains supplemental vitamin D or high levels of naturally-occurring vitamin D,
• may exacerbate the disease process.

MP patients must avoid supplements and multivitamins containing supplemental folic acid, and try to limit intake of foods containing supplemental folic acid.

A low-carbohydrate, insulin-resistance reducing diet is recommended for MP patients but not required.

The MP does not endorse any particular diet, as food sensitivities are often just another symptom of inflammatory disease and vary widely from patient to patient. Based on current knowledge, it is not considered likely that changes in diet alone will significantly impact the disease process. However, due to the involvement of exogenous vitamin D and carbohydrates in the proliferation of the Th1 pathogens, MP patients must take certain precautions when selecting foods.

A number of cereals are supplemented with vitamin D.

MP patients must avoid foods including the following that contain high levels of naturally-occurring vitamin D:

• seafood, including salmon, tuna, mackerel, oysters, herring, perch, scallops, shrimp, lobster, clams, crab, crayfish, anchovies, caviar (roe), Worcestershire Sauce (contains anchovies), fish sauce (often found in oriental foods)
• egg yolks (whites are not prohibited), ranch salad dressing, mayonnaise
• fatty and/or organ meats, including bacon, any kind of liver, beef tripe, beef kidney, blood pudding, foods fried in pork lard
• some “vegetables” - mushrooms, alfalfa, seaweed, kelp (used an ingredient in certain food processes)
• some seeds - sunflower seeds
• some oils, such as primrose oil (EPO), avocado oil, hemp oil, sunflower oil
• most beers (may contain small amounts of vitamin D from grains used to make it)

A complete list of foods containing natural and supplemental vitamin D is available.

MP patients must avoid foods including the following that contain supplemental vitamin D. MP patients should read the nutritional label and ingredients list on all packaged foods at the time of each purchase and look for the words “vitamin D.”

• dairy products with more than 6% vitamin A
• milk alternatives - soy milk, rice milk
• margarine with more than 6% vitamin A
• drinks - diet drinks, protein drinks, fruit juice
• breakfast cereals
• cereal bars and nutrition bars

For some people they will find that their 25D rises after a few months on the MP. This may be due to a hidden source of D in their food/supplements, combined with the fact that the 25D is no longer rapidly converting to 1,25D as it was before starting the Benicar.

You would be surprised where those hidden sources of D turn up. Some on the MP have found that they had to forgo grain beers, realized they were eating foods with mushrooms in them, taking a “harmless supplement” with D in it, or discovered their yogurt or ice cream was made with D fortified milk … to name a few scenarios.

Joyful, MarshallProtocol.com

Bacteria use folic acid in order to synthesize the nucleic acids that make up their DNA. MP patients should read the nutritional label and ingredients list on all packaged foods at the time of each purchase and look for the words “folic acid.” Note that foods naturally high in folate, a natural source of folic acid, such as leafy green vegetables are permitted.

• white flour
• “enriched” flour products - breads, baked goods, cereals
• processed foods supplemented with folic acid
• most multivitamins
• folic acid supplements
• B-vitamin complexes

• certain additives - aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG), tartrazine (FD&C Yellow #5)
• soy and tofu - contains phytoestrogens, which may block the Vitamin D Receptor in large enough quantities
• food and drink that contains chlorogenic acid, which may block the Vitamin D Receptor in large enough quantities
• grapefruit and possibly starfruit appear to interfere with vitamin D metabolism¹ and should therefore be avoided

Alcohol does not appear to exacerbate the disease process; consumption is left to individual discretion.

MP patients should consume a diet low in simple carbohydrates and full of whole foods. Acceptable foods include the following:

• most vegetables (limit starchy vegetables, such as potatoes)
• low-sugar fruits (such as berries, peaches, and green apples)
• foods that naturally contain folic acid, such as leafy greans
• dairy products with no more than 6% vitamin A and no supplemental vitamin D
• variety of proteins, including that which comes from poultry and most unprocessed meat
• nuts and seeds not listed above
• whole grain products without added vitamin D or folate
• sugar alcohols, such as maltitol and xylitol
• certain artificial sweeteners, such as stevia
• water, but no need to drink excessively
• in the event of calcium deficiency, MP patients may need to consume foods high in calcium
• foods high in fiber

• fasting – Fasting is not part of the MP. It is unknown whether it provides harm or benefit to a person on the treatment.
• food avoidance diets – Some patients have reported sensitivities to certain foods. Avoiding foods containing, for example, lactose or gluten may offer a decrease in symptom severity. Patients who feel this may be relevant to them should consult with a nutritionist.
• salt avoidance – not recommended given that the body seems to naturally regulate sodium levels independently²