Robert McFerran 9 – Agriculturist Diet
ARTHRITIS — Searching for THE TRUTH — Searching for THE CURE
THE AGRICULTURIST DIET
The agriculturist diet was the result of over 15,000 years of dietary adaptation probably starting around 20,000 years ago. The ancestors of the first Agriculturists were decidedly hunter-gatherer in their eating habits. As wild game became scarce many of these hunter-gatherers simply migrated to new geographies where game was more plentiful. Those that remained slowly & persistently increased their consumption of agricultural products while reducing their intake of meat.
In many ways the agriculturist diet represents the antithesis of the hunter-gather diet. The relatively high fat, purine & salt content on which Hunter-gatherers thrive spells disaster for Agriculturists. The individual that has inherited an extreme Agriculturist metabolism must learn to severely restrict fat, purine & salt. Those that have tried vegetarian or other ‘light’ diets in the past should not assume they are the same as the agriculturist diet. You will note many differences, especially the exclusion of purine rich beans & lentils.
The vast majority of type II diabetics possess an extreme Agriculturist metabolism. They should take special notice that their demand for supplemental insulin will decrease dramatically when on the Agriculturist diet. Type II diabetics will usually see that they only need 1/3rd or less of their usual daily supplemental insulin intake. They should not continue to use their normal insulin dose as they may experience a dangerously low drop in blood sugar levels.
CORE
SUPPLEMENTAL
AVOID
ELIMINATE MEATS, POULTRY & SEAFOOD All light colored poultry & fish. Chicken & turkey (breast meat). Scrod, cod, sole, turbot, haddock, albacore tuna, catfish, perch, bass, carp, halibut, grouper, mackerel, mahi-mahi, monkfish, red snapper, sea bass, shark & sole.
Meat, fish or poultry should NEVER be eaten at breakfast. Light colored pork. All organ meats (liver, kidney, tongue, tripe, brain, sweet breads, etc.) & all red meats from the following : Beef, lamb, venison, buffalo, bison & elk. Dark meats (thigh & leg) of chicken, turkey, duck, goose, Cornish hen, partridge, pheasant & quail. All crustaceans & dark colored fishes including lobster, scallop, shrimp, crab, conch, squid, octopus, abalone, anchovy, sardine, herring, dark tuna, swordfish, salmon, clam, caviar, crayfish & frog. All commercial ham, bacon & sausage.
These food products are not whole foods since they contain many additives & preservatives including monosodium glutamate, sugar & high levels of salt. VEGETABLES Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, peppers, garlic, horseradish, onions, leeks, scallions, cabbage, broccoli, broccoli raabe, mustard greens, eggplant, brussel sprouts, bean sprouts, zucchini, spaghetti squash, kale, beets, sweet potato & yams.
Fresh salads should be eaten on a daily basis. Potato, carrots, celery, parsnips, celery, , water cress, sea vegetables (including kelp, dulse, alaria & laver), swiss chard & yellow (summer) squash, turnip & rutabaga.
Carrots & celery can be eaten in small quantity. Carrot shavings but not whole carrots can be used in salads. All beans including aduke, azuki, black, broad, cannellini, fava, garbanzo, green, jicama, kidney, lima, navy, northern, pinto red, snap, string & white beans. All lentils & peas. Soybeans & all whole soy products (including tofu). Spinach, asparagus, artichokes, mushrooms & cauliflower.
Although beans have been used as a staple in vegetarian diets their purine content interferes with the Agriculturist metabolism. If beans are eaten they should only be consumed in small quantities with the evening meal. Check the blood type chart & eliminate any vegetables that are inappropriate for your specific blood type. FRUITS Melons including watermelon, cantaloupe, musk melon, casaba, crenshaw, honeydew & spanish melon. Tropical fruit including orange, tangerine, tangelos, grapefruit, lemon, lime, kiwi, kumquat, starfruit, mangoes, pomegranate, papaya & pineapple.
These fruits are most effective in reversing ‘metabolic drift’ experienced during overnight sleep. They are excellent choices for breakfast meals. Apple, pear, plums, nectarines, apricots, peaches, rhubarb, cherries, dates & grapes. Berries including blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, coconut, elderberries & gooseberries.
These fruits should NOT be eaten for breakfast but can be enjoyed any time during the afternoon or evening. Banana.
Bananas may be used sparingly as part of the evening meal. No more than 2 bananas should be consumed weekly. Avocadoes & olives. DAIRY & EGGS None. Eggs.
Eggs should not be eaten for breakfast. Cheeses & yogurt (should be 2% or less in milk fat).
Small amounts of low fat cheeses & yogurt can be used but only in condiment quantities. These foods should not be used on a regular basis. All high fat milk, buttermilk, yogurt & cheeses. Butter.
Non-dairy acidophillus or lactobacillus supplements should be used instead of yogurt to assist in re-populating the colon with beneficial bacteria. GRAINS None
Rice, oats & buckwheat.
While the Agriculturist metabolism is somewhat better suited for grains they should not be overeaten and should not be used as a staple in your diet. Most oats found in groceries are contaminated with wheat. Only use oats if the package labeling specifically states that there is no contamination with other grains. Amaranth, quinoa, kamut, kasha and spelt.
These grain alternatives can be eaten occasionally and in small quantities
Wheat, corn, millet, barley, oats (contaminated with wheat) and rye. NUTS AND SEEDS None.
The high fat and purine content of nuts and seeds make them inappropriate for the Agriculturist metabolism. They should only be eaten in small quantities (one handful) in the afternoon or evening. None. All nuts and seeds including cashew, walnut, chestnut, hazelnut, almond, brazil nuts, pistachio, hickory, litchi, macadamia, pecan, pignola (pine nuts), poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and tahini. Peanut. FATS Flaxseed, borage and primrose oil.
These oils should not be used for cooking (see Supplements section). Safflower, canola, sesame and sunflower oils. Olive oil and butter.
Small amounts of olive oil (preferably extra virgin and/or cold pressed) and butter can be occasionally used with the evening meal. Lard, corn, cottonseed and peanut oil as well as all margarines. BEVERAGES Spring, artesian or deep well water. Lemon or lime slices may be added to water if desired.
Sample different spring waters available in your area. Taste varies with different waters from different sources. Once you become accustomed to high quality spring water you’ll be surprised at the taste difference with other types of water. Spring waters do not contain fluorine, an element added to tap water to battle tooth decay. Use fluoridated toothpaste instead. Filtered drinking water and low sodium mineral or sparkling waters. Caffeinated coffee and tea. Freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.
Caffeinated drinks may be used in the morning and early afternoon. They serve a therapeutic use in assisting the agriculturist metabolism. Most individuals find they can easily wean off of all caffeine after two or three months on the agriculturist diet. Distilled water, tap water and sparkling waters. Caffeine-free tea and decaffeinated coffee.
Distilled waters lack trace minerals and are often contaminated with metals from the distillation process. Many find they are sensitive to the bacteria-killing chlorine found in most tap waters. Soft drinks. MISCELLANEOUS Mineral and sea salt.
Salt should be minimally processed and a dirty white or gray color. Bright white sea salt should be avoided since it lacks naturally occurring trace minerals. Foods should be salted to taste. Garlic, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, horseradish.
Check the ingredients of all condiments for possible food allergens. Other herbs should be tested on an individual basis. Black and white pepper. None.
Typical Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for Agriculturists
- Breakfast: Coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice and melon.
- Mid-morning Snack: Coffee, with orange or tangerine.
- Lunch: Fresh salad consisting of acceptable vegetables.
- Mid-afternoon Snack: One of the acceptable afternoon fruits.
- Dinner: Steamed white fish with lemon. Steamed zucchini and rice.
Agriculturists should NEVER overeat. It is almost a paradox that the less an Agriculturist eats the better that they feel. This is one reason why Agriculturists do very well on water or juice fasts.
Agriculturists should test caffeine drinks (coffee and tea) for a food allergy reaction following the elimination diet. If no reaction occurs they may find that it has therapeutic benefit, especially during the first few months after embarking on the agriculturist diet. No more than two to three cups of coffee per day should be consumed. Most find it is easy to reduce their coffee consumption or stop completely within 4 months of starting the diet.
Steaming and stir-frying are preferred methods of cooking. A minimal amount of salt should be used.
Agriculturists should make a point to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. This is especially critical in hot weather. Abstinence from meat/poultry/fish and eggs is beneficial during periods of extreme heat.
November 2002
DietNet Note :
There seem to be some Agriculturists who need a higher calorie diet while not being able to tolerate the heavy proteins. This group is not suited to the Mixed diet as even that is too heavy. Let’s call them Mixed Agriculturist. It seems that this group need to add small amounts of nuts, legumes and grains to the base Agriculturist diet. The foods from both the Agriculturist Supplemental and Avoid lists seem to work OK. Please note that is my observation only, and has not been endorsed by Bob McFerran. If you feel you need to test this out for yourself, please do so very carefully, noting how you feel with each addition.
RECOMMENDED VITAMIN/MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS
Supplements should never be taken until after the individual’s acid/alkaline BioProfile has been well defined over a minimal period of 30 days. In the event these supplements cannot be tolerated, they should not be taken.
All minerals should be “chelated”. Iodine will likely not be found in chelated form. Kelp is commonly the supplemental form for iodine. Insofar as the dosages listed above are concerned, the “elemental” quantity specified on the bottle’s label and not the chelated amount constitute a “Full Dose”. Hence if (for example) the label lists that each tablet contains 100 mgs of zinc chelate which in turn contains 10 mgs of elemental zinc, one tablet will satisfy the requirements listed here. If an intolerable niacin “flushing” reaction occurs, then the dosage of niacin only is to be reduced to 10 mgs per full dose. Flushing is defined as similar to transient sunburn. It is noteworthy that the probability of occurrence of a “flushing” reaction at 25 mgs of Niacin per full dose is extremely low.
A full dose may be taken after breakfast and again after lunch.
These dosages are appropriate for an individual whose weight ranges from 120 to 200 pounds. Individuals weighing less than 120 pounds should take only half the dosages listed here, while individuals weighing more than 200 pounds should take 1.5 times the dosages listed here.
A full dose of vitamins is defined as follows:
Vitamin Full Dose Mineral Full Dose A (fish liver oil) 10,000 lUs Potassium 200 mgs D 400 lUs Magnesium 100mgs C 500 mgs Iron 15mgs B1 10 mgs Copper 1 mg B2 10mgs Manganese 5mgs B6 10mgs Chromium 100mcg Niacin 25 mgs Para Amino Benzoic Acid 100 mgs Folic Acid 200 mcg Biotin 150mcg