Dr Bearnstein diet

[AnnieC]

Just been googling to find a list of food permitted on the Bernstein diet for diabetics wanted idea for my newly diagnosed T2 husband and me who is prediabetic
All I could find was a list of foods you cannot eat and it seems from that there is not much left apart from meat and hard cheese and presumably green vegetables
We have always eaten plenty of fruit and vegetables can't imagine life without those. We have always believed what they say about eating as many different colours of fruit and veg because all are unique in their makeup of vitamins and minerals so we have always done this
I did read something saying if the diet is done by someone for life as he intended for diabetics to do they may be deficient in certain minerals and vitamins so would have to take them in supplement form also it would be a very difficult diet to
maintain for life

List of food not to eat

Bread

• Other products made with flour

• Cereal, including oatmeal

• Pasta

• Pancakes and waffles

Sweet or Starchy Vegetables

• Potatoes
• Parsnips
• Winter squash
• Beets
• Carrots
• Corn
• Yellow Bell Peppers
• Legumes
• Onions (except in small amounts)
• Raw Tomatoes (except in small amounts)
• Cooked tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce
• Packaged vegetables containing sugars or flour

Fruits or Fruit Juices
All, except, for some people, tomato juice in a Bloody Mary if it doesn't cause blood glucose rise
Dairy Products

• Milk
• Sweetened yogurts
• Most low fat and nonfat yogurts have added carbs
• Cottage cheese, except in small amounts
• Powdered milk substitutes and coffee lighteners
• Evaporated or condensed milk

Other Foods

• Nuts except in small amounts (count the carbs)
• Most processed and prepared foods, snack foods, etc.
• Most condiments, including balsamic vinegar

 

[jack412]

You won't need to go that hard. You eat to your meter.
Cutting some grain and potato is normally enough
Lchf diet
Most get the codefree and strips of amazon uk

www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php

 

[kesun]

I find listing the things you can't rather daunting, too, but it's quite surprising how many things you actually can eat. Dr Bernstein did write a book with quite a lot of positive suggestions and recipes that you might find helpful: http://www.diabetes-solution.net/diabetesdiet.php .
I didn't use that one, though I did find the recipes at the end of Dr B's Diabetes Solution helpful. You could also look for recipes for the Atkins induction phase, which are all compatible as far as I can see.

A lot of people find fruit the hardest to give up. I didn't, but for me it was root vegetables, especially in a Sunday roast. But in the end I see this diet as my best chance of living a longer and healthier life despite my diabetes, and that puts it in perspective for me.

Kate

 

[phoenix]

Exactly Annie,
I always wonder what he's got against yellow peppers . According to the US data base red ones contain 6.03% and yellow ones 6.32%; that extra fraction must be the tipping point !

Personally I eat far more veggies and fruits than would be allowed even if cut out the starches in my diet. Not too keen on his idea of microwaved processed cheese as something good to eat either! I'll stop there. ( Posts about Dr Bernstein tend to cause a lot of acrimony)

 

[smidge]

Follow it or don't follow it - we all have a choice.

Smidge

 

[AnnieC]

Just interested to know how many actually do follow it to the letter cutting out all the food on that list and how difficult do you find it and do you take supplements.Dr B was supposed to have said the diet is easy to keep to as you eat the same food every day. My husband and I have cut out the high starchy stuff like bread pasta and rice and of course the sugar stuff like cakes biscuits puddings etc but I don't think I could go further than that

 

[AnnieC]

Follow it or don't follow it - we all have a choice.

Smidge

Exactly it's all about choice and for me I think that strict would be impossible I am already a skinny minny and not a big meat eater.. mostly just chicken... without all those other foods I think I would disappear altogether lol

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

The best way of eating is one that manages your D while being sustainable for life. If you think that Dr B's diet would be too restrictive then you may fail at it.

It wouldn't suit my way of life, but I can see how others would thrive on it. Horses for courses. Good luck.

 

[AnnieC]

I find listing the things you can't rather daunting, too, but it's quite surprising how many things you actually can eat. Dr Bernstein did write a book with quite a lot of positive suggestions and recipes that you might find helpful: http://www.diabetes-solution.net/diabetesdiet.php .
I didn't use that one, though I did find the recipes at the end of Dr B's Diabetes Solution helpful. You could also look for recipes for the Atkins induction phase, which are all compatible as far as I can see.

A lot of people find fruit the hardest to give up. I didn't, but for me it was root vegetables, especially in a Sunday roast. But in the end I see this diet as my best chance of living a longer and healthier life despite my diabetes, and that puts it in perspective for me.

Kate

Yes fruit and veg would be hard for me I am 75 prediabetic and I have always been a real vegetable lover...meat I could give up easily if I had to but there are literally no vegetables or fruit that I don't like they must be 3/4 of my normal diet so giving any of those up would be so hard

 

[kesun]

Just interested to know how many actually do follow it to the letter cutting out all the food on that list and how difficult do you find it and do you take supplements.Dr B was supposed to have said the diet is easy to keep to as you eat the same food every day.

I did follow it to the letter at first, apart from the supplements and the Da Vinci syrups, which were hard to find where I used to live, and substituting a glass of dry wine for Dr B's beer. After a while (about a year, I think) of strict compliance, when my bloods had been normal (below 5) for many months, I experimented a bit with other foods and my meter and was able to reintroduce a few: carrots, parsnips and cooked tomato, and I found I could have a small amount of ketchup or chutney most days. Sadly my db is progressive, and one by one I've recently had to give them up again, so I'm now pretty much back to strict compliance. These days I don't include the supplements because I'm too broke or the Da Vinci syrups because having found them I don't like the taste.

It's quite easy for me because like Dr B I'm the sort of person who can happily eat the same thing every day. I only vary things because the rest of my family isn't like me in this respect and because my garden produces different vegetables at different seasons.

Kate

Edit: PS I do also eat nuts, which so far don't spike my BG (though I have to limit cashews to maintain normal bloods).

 

[juryc]

I have recently been diagnosed as hypothyroidism and Plasma Glucose (AT) of 11.2mmol/L (the range being 3.00 - 9.00 mmol/L. The doctor has prescribed 50 micrograms of Levothyroxine daily and told me to lose weight with diet and exercise and attempt to lower my glucose level. Dr told me to increase my fruit and vegetables, I have been eating lots of fruit, have been eating mainly salads (weather so good) am I ok with fruit? I have a wheat intolerance so don't eat brown bread. Reading about Thyroid problems I see this can be a symptom and it only started about 5 years ago. I also read that Earl Grey tea can help digestion problems and have been drinking it for about 2months and find it helps a lot.


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[Avocado Sevenfold]

Yes fruit and veg would be hard for me I am 75 prediabetic and I have always been a real vegetable lover...meat I could give up easily if I had to but there are literally no vegetables or fruit that I don't like they must be 3/4 of my normal diet so giving any of those up would be so hard

I wouldn't give up legumes unless my meter told me. Have given up most sweet fruit though. I hope you are both testing after eating fruit.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

Hi @juryc and welcome to the forum. I don't know the answer, but someone will. Hopefully you have a meter to test your blood glucose levels to show which foods you tolerate well.

 

[Charles Robin]

I follow it mostly, but am not as strict as Dr Bernstein is. I bake with almond flour, so probably have more nuts than he would be comfortable with. I also use small quantities of blueberries when I make almond flour muffins. I eat tons of vegetables, mostly red bell peppers and green leaf salads. If the salad comes with cherry tomatoes, I will usually eat one and donate the rest to my wife. I also enjoy a good courgette! The hardest part originally was giving up oranges and bananas, but after 6 months I don't miss them now.

 

[AnnieC]

I wouldn't give up legumes unless my meter told me. Have given up most sweet fruit though. I hope you are both testing after eating fruit.

Yes we do and most fruit in small portions seems to be ok when eaten as part of a meal. But when I ate a Sharon fruit...persimmon.. on it's own and my BG was 8.5 after 2 hours looking in the Carbs and Cals book it is really high in calories so presumably thats sugar so don't eat those anymore

 

[Dillinger]

I eat the following on the 'forbidden list'

List of food not to eat

Sweet or Starchy Vegetables

• Parsnips (occasionally and only small ones roasted)
• Winter squash (occasionally)
• Carrots (in moderation)
• Yellow Bell Peppers (in moderation)
• Onions (except in small amounts)
• Raw Tomatoes (except in small amounts)
• Cooked tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce

Fruits or Fruit Juices

Occasionally blueberries.

Dairy Products

• Milk (I have milk in coffee 4/5 times a day)

Other Foods

• Nuts except in small amounts (count the carbs) - Macadamias are good as are walnuts and almonds.
• Most condiments (I use condiments in moderation - mustard, horseradish etc.,)

Best

Dillinger

 

[AnnieC]

I did follow it to the letter at first, apart from the supplements and the Da Vinci syrups, which were hard to find where I used to live, and substituting a glass of dry wine for Dr B's beer. After a while (about a year, I think) of strict compliance, when my bloods had been normal (below 5) for many months, I experimented a bit with other foods and my meter and was able to reintroduce a few: carrots, parsnips and cooked tomato, and I found I could have a small amount of ketchup or chutney most days. Sadly my db is progressive, and one by one I've recently had to give them up again, so I'm now pretty much back to strict compliance. These days I don't include the supplements because I'm too broke or the Da Vinci syrups because having found them I don't like the taste.

It's quite easy for me because like Dr B I'm the sort of person who can happily eat the same thing every day. I only vary things because the rest of my family isn't like me in this respect and because my garden produces different vegetables at different seasons.

Kate

Not easy for me because I have always been a live to eat person I just love all kinds of food.. except fast food and takeaways.. for me good food is one of life's biggest pleasures and I have never been overweight so never had to diet That is why having to restrict stuff is really hard for me now

 

[juryc]

Hi @juryc and welcome to the forum. I don't know the answer, but someone will. Hopefully you have a meter to test your blood glucose levels to show which foods you tolerate well.

Avocado Sevenfold. No I don't have a meter, doctor just advised I increase exercise, I am active but only exercise (Zumba) once a week, look after twin 4 year old grandchildren twice a week from lunch to bath time which is non stop activity, and also advised dietary changes said weight loss will be difficult as diagnosed under active thyroid at same time. I was referred to diabetic nurse at practise who said try lifestyle changes and return in two months for revue, before diagnosed as diabetic and if I can lower glucose level will refer me to a dietician.


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[noblehead]

Not easy for me because I have always been a live to eat person I just love all kinds of food.. except fast food and takeaways.. for me good food is one of life's biggest pleasures and I have never been overweight so never had to diet That is why having to restrict stuff is really hard for me now

Agree Annie, food is one of life's little pleasures and it shouldn't be a daily grind.

The Bernstein diet is far too strict for most people and totally unnecessary and that is why very few stick with it in the long term, but like most diets I suppose you could adapt it in some ways to suit your own tastes.

 

[kesun]

Not easy for me because I have always been a live to eat person I just love all kinds of food.. except fast food and takeaways.. for me good food is one of life's biggest pleasures and I have never been overweight so never had to diet That is why having to restrict stuff is really hard for me now

Well, I would say I still eat good food, including lots of vegetables and no processed or fast food. But yes, I'm an eat to live person and I don't enjoy thinking about what to eat, so it's easier for me.

I like Dr B because he's one of us, his approach is scientific and his diet fits what my meter tells me I need to achieve good control. I also like the way he doesn't follow other HCPs in saying that because we're diabetic we should set our BG standards at a different level from non-diabetics. It was a revelation to me to read that diabetes needn't mean complications, deterioration and early death, and that the way to avoid these things is in my own control.

Having said all that, if my meter showed I could eat more foods on his banned list I'd eat them. If I were in your position I'd try sticking to what he doesn't restrict for say a week, then re-introduce all the foods I loved one at a time: chances are many of them would be completely fine, and many more would be fine in small quantities (for example, I use one small onion for a bolognese sauce for my family of six, which gives enough flavour and doesn't raise my BG, although I can't manage onion rings or onion soup). And then you'd know exactly what works for you.

Kate