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The Marshall ProtocolA curative medical treatment for chronic inflammatory disease. Based on the Marshall Pathogenesis. is not a diet; however, people on the Marshall Protocol must be aware of
what types of foods they consume.
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,
• contains ergosterol, a vitamin D precursor that the body can convert to vitamin D
• that are immunomodulatory (can slow down the action of the innate immune system)
MP patients must avoid supplements and multivitamins containing supplemental folic acid, and
try to limit intake of foods containing supplemental folic acid.
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.
MP patients must avoid foods including the following that contain high levels of naturally occurring vitamin D:
• fish, including salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, perch, anchovies, caviar (roe), Worcestershire Sauce (contains anchovies), fish sauce (often found in asian foods), Caesar salad dressing (contains anchovies)
• some shellfish, especially oysters, shrimp, crayfish (lobster, crab, scallops are ok)
• egg yolks (whites are not prohibited), ranch and Caesar 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 (due to ergosterol content, a vitamin D precursor),
alfalfa, seaweed, kelp/alginate (used an ingredient in certain food processes)
• most beers (may contain small amounts of vitamin D from grains used to make it, or from the ergosterol present in the yeast used to brew the beer)
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. Read the nutritional label and ingredients list on all packaged foods at the time of each purchase and look for the words “vitamin D” or see if vitamin D is listed in the nutrition information.
• dairy products with more than 6% vitamin A (more than 6% vitamin A may indicate that vitamin D has been added as well, but is not included on the nutritional information)
• milk alternatives - soy milk, any milk alternative with added vitamin D, including rice, almond, coconut, hemp, hazelnut (canned coconut milk used for cooking in many asian cuisines is rarely supplemented with Vitamin D)
• margarine with more than 6% vitamin A
• fortified drinks - meal-replacement drinks, protein drinks, fruit juice
• vitamin-fortified 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.
• certain additives - aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG), tartrazine (FD&C Yellow#5)
• soy, soy oil and tofu - these contain phytoestrogens, which may block the Vitamin D ReceptorA nuclear receptor located throughout the body that plays a key role in the innate immune response. (VDRThe Vitamin D Receptor. A nuclear receptor located throughout the body that plays a key role in the innate immune response.) in large enough
quantities
• Foods high amounts of omega-3 or omega-6 oils – these oils are immunosuppressive. Seeds (sunflower, sesame, flax,
chia, pumpkin, also known as pepita), seed oils (sunflower, safflower, flaxseed, grapeseed), avocado and avocado oil
• food and drink that contains chlorogenic acidAn antioxidant and phenolic compound which in ways that are not yet fully clear can modulate and/or suppress the immune response, which may block the Vitamin D Receptor in large enough quantities,
such as coffee, tea, fruit skins. Caffeine may also interfere with immunity Caffeine down-regulates antibody production in a mouse model
• grapefruit and possibly starfruit appear to interfere with vitamin D metabolism, should therefore be avoided
• Foods high in potassium, if pain in the kidneys becomes a problem (bananas, dry beans, dried apricots, the skins
of fruits and vegetables, electrolyte replacement drinks)
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 rich in whole foods. Acceptable foods include the following:
Gillyb's update TEXT without LINKS
FOOD AND DRINK MPKB EDIT – 9/9/13 edit by Gilly Food and drink
The Marshall Protocol is not a diet; however, people on the Marshall Protocol must be aware of
what types of foods they consume.
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,
• contains ergosterol, a vitamin D precursor that the body can convert to vitamin D
• that are immunomodulatory (can slow down the action of the innate immune system)
MP patients must avoid supplements and multivitamins containing supplemental folic acid, and
try to limit intake of foods containing supplemental folic acid.
Requirements
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, although a low carbohydrate
diet has some benefits (see the section on carbohydrates). 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 pathogensThe community of bacterial pathogens which cause chronic inflammatory disease - one which almost certainly includes multiple species and bacterial forms., MP patients must take certain precautions when selecting foods. As a
result of popular misconceptions about vitamin D’s role in health, many foods are directly
supplemented with vitamin D, or animal feeds are supplemented with vitamin D to increase the
amount in the animal’s tissues.
A number of cereals are supplemented with vitamin D.
Avoid foods containing naturally-occurring 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 asian foods), Caesar salad dressing (contains
anchovies)
• egg yolks (whites are not prohibited), ranch and Caesar 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 (due to ergosterol content, a vitamin D precursor), alfalfa, seaweed, kelp
(used an ingredient in certain food processes),
• most beers (may contain small amounts of vitamin D from grains used to make it, or from
the ergosterol present in the yeast used to brew the beer)
A complete list of foods containing natural and supplemental vitamin D is available.
Avoid foods containing supplemental vitamin D
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.“ or see if vitamin D is listed in the nutrition information.
• dairy products with more than 6% vitamin A (more than 6% vitamin A may indicate that
vitamin D has been added as well, but is not included on the nutritional information)
• milk alternatives - soy milk, any milk alternative with added vitamin D, including rice,
almond, coconut, hemp, hazelnut
• margarine with more than 6% vitamin A
• fortified drinks - meal-replacement drinks, protein drinks, fruit juice
• vitamin-fortified breakfast cereals
• cereal bars and nutrition bars
Some people 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 olmesartanMedication taken regularly by patients on the Marshall Protocol for its ability to activate the Vitamin D Receptor. Also known by the trade name 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
Avoid foods containing supplemental folic acid
Bacteria use folic acid 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.
• “enriched “ white or whole wheat flour
• products made from “enriched” flours - breads, baked goods, cereals
• processed foods supplemented with folic acid
• most multivitamins
• folic acid supplements
• B-vitamin complexes
Avoid foods and substances which may exacerbate the disease process, are
immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory
• certain additives - aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG), tartrazine (FD&C Yellow
#5)
• soy, soy oil and tofu - contains phytoestrogens, which may block the Vitamin D
Receptor (VDR) in large enough quantities
• Foods high amounts of omega-3 or omega-6 oils – these oils are immunosuppressive.
Seeds (sunflower, sesame, flax, chia, pumpkin, also known as pepita), seed oils
(sunflower, safflower, flaxseed, grapeseed), avocado and avocado oil
• food and drink that contains chlorogenic acid, which may block the Vitamin D Receptor
in large enough quantities, such as coffee, tea, fruit skins
• grapefruit and possibly starfruit appear to interfere with vitamin D metabolism1
should therefore be avoided
• Foods high in potassium, if pain in the kidneys becomes a problem (bananas, dry beans,
dried apricots, the skins of fruits and vegetables, electrolyte replacement drinks)
Alcohol does not appear to exacerbate the disease process; consumption is left to individual
discretion. Alcohol can carry a large carbohydrate load, in the form of added sugars or
flavorings.
Recommendations
MP patients should consume a diet low in simple carbohydrates and rich in whole foods. Avoid
highly processed foods, due to the likely presence of undesirable additives, including unlisted
vitamin D. 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 greens
• dairy products that have had minimal processing, or with no more than 6% vitamin A and no
supplemental vitamin D
• a variety of proteins, including that which comes from poultry and most unprocessed meat.
Avoid meat fats and poultry skin
• nuts and seeds not listed above (for example: almonds, walnuts, pine, pecan, pistaschio,
macadamia, hazelnut)
• whole grain products without added vitamin D or folate
• certain artificial sweeteners, such as stevia and sugar alcohols, such as maltitol and xylitol. For some
people, sugar alcohols can cause stomach upset, so use sparingly at first.
• water, generously but not excessively. 8 – 12 oz glasses per day.
• in the event of calcium deficiency, MP patients may need to consume foods high in
calcium
• foods high in fiber, to encourage regularity
Other
• 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 a
nutritionist.
• salt avoidance – not recommended given that the body seems to naturally regulate
sodium levels independently. Salt is also critical for kidney health. Sodium is used by the kidneys to
excrete potassium.
Keywords: foods, drinks, summary, foods to avoid
References
1
Maskalyk J Grapefruit juice: potential drug interactions. CMAJ. 2002;167:279-80.
2
McCarron DA, Geerling JC, Kazaks AG, Stern JS Can dietary sodium intake be modified by
public policy? Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009;4:1878-82.
2
(for more see the Times article Salt, we misjudged