[UConnJulie]

Meats that are okay for me = chicken, turkey, pork, fish, shellfish
* I am allergic to beef ... I am afraid to eat other meats like lamb, buffalo, elk, etc. since I don't know if they would give me the same reaction that beef does. Ham is a no-no right now because of the way it is preserved.

Butter = not allowed. Nor is any goat's milk or cow's milk product. No casein, so some non-dairy products are also out (some vegan cheeses use casein). All other fat sources okay like oils, avocados, olives (as long as not packed in vinegar).

Nuts = avoid peanuts and pistachios as they tend to have a high level of mold. All others are okay like walnuts, pecans, macadamias, almonds, and hazelnuts/filberts.

No sugars at all ... so no honey, maple syrup, agave, HFCS, white table sugar, or any products containing any of the above. Stevia is okay. Artificial sweeteners are not okay. (I miss my diet coke!)

Veggies = all okay except mushrooms; make sure they are not over-ripe (which would then have increased mold and yeast). No dried veggies like sun-dried tomatos.

Fruits = stick to hard fruits like apples and pears; citrus is okay; soft fruits or over-ripe fruits I need to avoid. No dried fruits (mold/yeast again).

Condiments = fresh herbs are fine; NO vinegar. Citrus fruit juices are fine for sauces, marinades, dressings (lemon, lime, orange). Avoid dried herbs/spices when possible. (I've purchased new bottles of the things I use the most.)

Grains = no wheat, barley, rye. No gluten. Things like quinoa, buckwheat, and rice are fine. Stick with whole grain instead of white.

So, see ... there are lots of things I CAN eat!!


Etana, a functional medicine doctor is one who looks for underlying causes of disease and focuses on health promotion. The focus is more on biological systems instead of organs themselves. My doc is a regular MD, an internist. But she also has an interest in treating her patients from a functional medicine perspective. She is a big proponent of diet and exercise instead of just writing prescriptions and really seems to know her stuff. She is not big on herbal remedies or homeopathic remedies, but on supporting individual biology with nutrition (supplements if necessary). I did not seek her out because she was a FM doc, but rather I had heard several good things about her from various sources (RNs that I work with, several patients, and friends) but when I originally tried to see her a few years back, her practice was not accepting new patients. She had recently reopened her practice and here I am!