There are a couple of lists on this page by different authors.
Meat, Fish and Poultry (buy organic if possible and wild or grass fed – not made with bread fillers).
- bacon (save fat in fridge for cooking)
- Salami, Kielbasa, bratwurst, pepperoni – read ingredients. Avoid MSG and nitrates.
- pork ribs
- Ground pork, elk, beef etc
- Steaks – whatever cut you like
- venison and wild game
- mackerel
- caviar, fish roe
- trout, salmon
- Sardines, herring, anchovy
- crab, lobster, shrimp, clams, oysters and mussels ( mussels have some carbs so limit)
- Cornish game hens, chicken, duck, turkey
- Organ meat-Brains- beef, lamb, lamb liver, kidney, tongue, sweetbread- some of these are naturally high in carbs, so measure amounts and read labels
Vegetables and fruit – the more variety, the better!
- escarole
- zucchini
- avocado
- beet greens
- olives
- spinach
- asparagus
- mustard greens
- banana peppers
- turnip greens
- parsley
- collards
- lettuce
- watercress
- summer squash
- Chinese cabbage
- chard
- cauliflower
- mushrooms – all types
- chives
- okra
- eggplant
- cucumber
- pickles
- red peppers
- sauerkraut
- blackberries
- jalapeno peppers
spices
- Coriander
- Curry powder
- basil
- paprika
- sage
- cloves
- cinnamon
Nuts & Seeds:
- coconut milk, coconut cream
- sunflower seeds
- Brazil nuts
- coconut meat
- flax seed
- macadamia nuts
- organic tofu (No GMO)
- sesame seeds
- hazelnuts
- peanut better
- pumpkin seeds
- walnuts
- pecans
Eggs & Dairy
- organic egg yolk
- sour cream
- whole egg
- cream cheese
- butter
- Swiss cheese
- cheddar, Limburger, feta
- Camembert, brie
- goat cheese, blue cheese
- Gruyere
Fats & Oils
- butter
- coconut oil (Unrefined is better for you, but I get tired of the coconut flavor so I also keep refined around to make fried foods)
- olive oil – use only cold – on salad etc
Vegetables- this is biggest volume of diet (fat is greatest source of calories). Vegetables have lots of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and things we do not even know we need (But God knows) keep in mind vegetables reduce risk of cancer 30% – the tiny bit of pesticide increases risk about 2% – so it is more important to eat vegetables even if not organic- just wash them.
- Acai berries – frozen
- Artichoke
- Arugula *
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Beets & greens
- Blackberries
- Blueberries (organic)
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli – eat several times per week
- Broccoli rabe
- Brussels sprouts- several times per week
- cabbage – green and red- several times per week
- carrots (be careful -higher carb)
- cauliflower- several times per week
- Celery (organic)
- Chard
- chicory
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Collard Greens (organic)
- Cranberries
- Cucumber with skin (organic)
- Daikon
- Dandelion greens
- Eggplant
- Endive
- Escarole
- Garlic- 2 cloves per day is recommended
- Kale * all types and colors(organic)
- Kiwi (small amount)
- Kohlrabi
- Leeks
- Lemon
- Lettuce- all types except iceberg (organic)
- Limes
- Mizuna
- Mushrooms- all types
- Mustard Greens *
- Okra
- Olives, green & black
- Onions – red, yellow & white – these are higher carb, but good for fighting cancer
- Papaya
- Parsley
- Peppers, Green, red, orange, yellow (Organic)- these are higher carb, so be careful not to have too many
- Pomegranate
- Pumpkin
- Radicchio
- Radish & Leaves
- Raspberries – red or black
- Rhubarbs
- Romaine Lettuce
- Rutabagas
- Scallions
- Spinach * (organic)
- Strawberries (organic)
- Squash – yellow summer & little winter
- Tatsoi *
- Tomatoes, red & yellow – (Organic)
- Turnips & Greens *
- Yams – little lower carb than sweet potatoes
- Watercress
- Wheat grass
- Zucchini with skin
Try for freshest vegetables – sometimes I just freeze extra vegetables or buy frozen
fruits.
- blackberries
- blueberries
- cranberries
- raspberries
PANTRY
Oils – do not fry with or heat these oils- heat damages them- I keep a few of these
- Avocado oil
- Flax oil
- Hemp Oil
- Olive oil – extra virgin
- Walnut oil
Cooking oils- these are OK at higher temps.
- clarified butter/ghee
- butter from grass fed cows (fridge)
- lard, chicken fat
- Coconut oil – if add a pinch of salt, it does not have coconut flavor. should have 3-5 T per day
Vegetable oils are high in omega 6, which causes inflammation- so minimize their use.
CANNED Fish – Anchovies, Halibut, Herring (kipper snacks), Salmon, Sardines Trout, Tuna (I always get tuna in oil)
Sea Vegetables/algae (I just take a certified organic Spirulina and kelp every day – should try to be more adventurous)
Nuts & seeds- do not have too many of these, or your carbs will be too high
- Almonds *
- walnuts
- hazelnuts
- cashews – higher in carbs
- brazil nuts
- pistachios
- sunflower seeds
- pumpkin seeds
- sesame seeds
- chia seeds
- flax seed- I grind and put 1 T in smoothie
Sweeteners: count each packet as 1 carb and have no more than 3 in a day. Some studies show that artificial sweeteners interfere with good gut bacteria and some seem to cause insulin to rise like sugar – so use all sparingly
- Whole leaf stevia – I buy this online and put in my smoothie.
- Truvia – mixture of Erythritol and stevia
- Sweetleaf Stevia- be sure powdered stevia does not have maltodextrin or dextrose. It is tricky to follow recipes, because some stevia has inulin (no problem) and some is pure. Read the side of the package to see how much= tsp of sugar
- xylitol might be Ok In very small amounts – there are xylitol gums that prevent tooth decay
Other staples:
- Organic full fat coconut milk – canned
- organic unsweetened nut milk (almond, hazelnut) – but it is very easy to make your own. Just soak almonds 6 -24 hours and put in blender with water and a little flavored stevia.
- Almond flour
- coconut flour
- coconut unsweetened
- Stevia leaves
- Sunflower butter
- Almond butter
- unsweetened dark chocolate – see recipes can have 1.5 oz daily
- dark chocolate with 85 percent cocoa
- Coconut aminos (a little like soy sauce – I mix with soy sauce)
- Herbs and spices without added sugar or salt (Cinnamon, Tumeric, ginger, coriander etc)
- Sea salt (iodized)
- Tomato paste or
- Wasabi (paste may have gluten to read label)
- cocoa powder – a bit higher in carb
- baking soda
- spices – avoid combination spices and garlic salt – have garlic powder & salt separately
Beverages
- 1 glass red wine per day- Pinot noir is high in resveratrol
- water
- club soda
- coffee
- tea – black, green, white, red, oolong, matcha, herbal
- alcohol- no more than 1 drink for women and 2 for men. Gluten free beer, vodka or gin, wine that is not sweet
- hot cocoa made with little cocoa, stevia, cream & coconut oil
Following list from a website that analyzed most nutrient dense and lowest insulin impact. Best at top by HIS standard. It is not necessarily the lowest carb, so read labels: If you do not like organ meat (I don’t), you can order desiccated organ meat online
https://optimisingnutrition.com/2015/04/06/optimal-foods-for-blood-sugar-regulation-and-nutritoinal-ketosis/
food | ND | % insulinogenic | insulin load (g/100g) | calories/100g | MCA |
beef brains | 7 | 22% | 8 | 151 | 1.27 |
lamb brains | 7 | 27% | 10 | 154 | 1.12 |
lamb liver | 21 | 48% | 20 | 168 | 1.1 |
lamb kidney | 23 | 52% | 15 | 112 | 1.09 |
beef tongue | 0 | 16% | 11 | 284 | 1.09 |
sweetbread | -2 | 12% | 9 | 318 | 1.07 |
bacon | -2 | 11% | 11 | 417 | 1.05 |
salami | 2 | 18% | 17 | 378 | 1.05 |
kielbasa | -1 | 15% | 12 | 325 | 1.03 |
bratwurst | 0 | 16% | 13 | 333 | 1.03 |
liver sausage | -3 | 13% | 10 | 331 | 1.02 |
turkey liver | 18 | 47% | 21 | 189 | 1.02 |
pepperoni | 0 | 13% | 16 | 504 | 1.02 |
pork ribs | 1 | 18% | 16 | 361 | 1.01 |
ground turkey | 7 | 30% | 19 | 258 | 0.98 |
park sausage | 3 | 25% | 13 | 217 | 0.98 |
chicken liver pate | 8 | 34% | 17 | 201 | 0.97 |
turkey bacon | -1 | 19% | 11 | 226 | 0.97 |
pork sausage | 1 | 20% | 16 | 325 | 0.97 |
meatballs | -1 | 19% | 14 | 286 | 0.95 |
T-bone steak | 4 | 26% | 19 | 294 | 0.94 |
chicken liver | 18 | 50% | 20 | 172 | 0.94 |
knackwurst | -4 | 16% | 12 | 307 | 0.92 |
beef sausage | -2 | 18% | 15 | 332 | 0.92 |
bologna | -7 | 11% | 9 | 310 | 0.91 |
liver pate | -3 | 16% | 13 | 319 | 0.91 |
turkey | 1 | 20% | 21 | 414 | 0.89 |
beef kidney | 18 | 52% | 20 | 157 | 0.88 |
roast beef | 9 | 38% | 21 | 219 | 0.86 |
duck | -3 | 18% | 15 | 337 | 0.86 |
blood sausage | -5 | 14% | 13 | 379 | 0.85 |
frankfurter | -5 | 17% | 12 | 290 | 0.85 |
lamb rib | -2 | 19% | 17 | 361 | 0.84 |
seafood | |||||
food | ND | % insulinogenic | insulin load (g/100g) | calories/100g | MCA |
mackerel | 6 | 14% | 10 | 305 | 1.35 |
caviar | 15 | 33% | 23 | 264 | 1.21 |
fish roe | 22 | 47% | 18 | 143 | 1.17 |
cisco | 10 | 29% | 13 | 177 | 1.17 |
trout | 19 | 45% | 18 | 168 | 1.09 |
salmon | 23 | 52% | 20 | 156 | 1.07 |
sardines | 11 | 36% | 16 | 185 | 1 |
herring | 11 | 36% | 19 | 217 | 1 |
anchovy | 16 | 44% | 22 | 210 | 0.98 |
sardine | 11 | 37% | 19 | 208 | 1 |
sturgeon | 15 | 49% | 16 | 135 | 0.87 |
FRIDGE- Vegetables and Fruit
vegetables and fruit | |||||
nutrient density | combines all | ||||
food | ND | % insulinogenic | insulin load (g/100g) | calories/100g | MCA |
broccoli | 25 | 36% | 3 | 22 | 1.66 |
endive | 16 | 23% | 1 | 17 | 1.65 |
chicory greens | 15 | 23% | 2 | 23 | 1.6 |
alfalfa | 10 | 19% | 1 | 23 | 1.52 |
coriander | 16 | 30% | 2 | 23 | 1.5 |
escarole | 12 | 24% | 1 | 19 | 1.45 |
zucchini | 19 | 40% | 2 | 17 | 1.33 |
avocado | -2 | 8% | 3 | 160 | 1.3 |
beet greens | 14 | 35% | 2 | 22 | 1.28 |
curry powder | 4 | 13% | 14 | 325 | 1.28 |
olives | -7 | 3% | 1 | 145 | 1.24 |
spinach | 22 | 49% | 4 | 23 | 1.23 |
basil | 20 | 47% | 3 | 23 | 1.16 |
paprika | 9 | 27% | 26 | 282 | 1.14 |
asparagus | 19 | 50% | 3 | 22 | 1.08 |
mustard greens | 9 | 36% | 3 | 27 | 1.05 |
banana pepper | 8 | 36% | 3 | 27 | 1.01 |
sage | 6 | 26% | 26 | 315 | 1 |
turnip greens | 13 | 44% | 4 | 29 | 0.97 |
cloves | 10 | 35% | 35 | 274 | 0.96 |
parsley | 15 | 48% | 5 | 36 | 0.96 |
collards | 7 | 37% | 4 | 33 | 0.95 |
lettuce | 16 | 50% | 2 | 15 | 0.95 |
watercress | 26 | 65% | 2 | 11 | 0.94 |
summer squash | 12 | 45% | 2 | 19 | 0.93 |
Chinese cabbage | 18 | 54% | 2 | 12 | 0.91 |
chard | 16 | 51% | 3 | 19 | 0.91 |
cauliflower | 15 | 50% | 4 | 25 | 0.91 |
portabella mushrooms | 18 | 55% | 5 | 29 | 0.89 |
chives | 13 | 48% | 4 | 30 | 0.88 |
okra | 14 | 50% | 3 | 22 | 0.88 |
eggplant | 4 | 35% | 3 | 25 | 0.87 |
cucumber | 7 | 39% | 1 | 12 | 0.86 |
pickles | 7 | 39% | 1 | 12 | 0.86 |
red peppers | 7 | 40% | 3 | 31 | 0.86 |
arugula | 10 | 45% | 3 | 25 | 0.84 |
sauerkraut | 5 | 39% | 2 | 19 | 0.83 |
blackberries | -2 | 27% | 3 | 43 | 0.83 |
poppy seeds | -2 | 17% | 23 | 525 | 0.82 |
jalapeno peppers | 4 | 37% | 3 | 27 | 0.81 |
- EGGS & DAIRY
eggs and dairy food ND % insulinogenic insulin load (g/100g) calories/100g MCA egg yolk 9 18% 12 275 1.34 cream 0 6% 5 340 1.32 sour cream 1 13% 6 198 1.25 whole egg 11 30% 10 143 1.22 cream cheese 1 11% 10 350 1.19 butter -1 2% 3 718 1.14 Swiss cheese 6 22% 22 393 1.08 cheddar cheese 5 20% 20 410 1.08 limburger cheese 1 19% 15 327 1 feta cheese 2 22% 15 264 0.99 camembert 1 21% 16 300 0.97 brie 0 19% 16 334 0.93 goat cheese -1 21% 14 264 0.9 blue cheese 0 21% 19 353 0.9 gruyere cheese 1 22% 23 413 0.87 Monterey cheese -1 20% 19 373 0.86 edam cheese 1 23% 21 357 0.85 gouda cheese 1 24% 21 356 0.85 muenster cheese -1 21% 19 368 0.85 mozzarella 7 34% 26 304 0.84 Colby -1 21% 20 394 0.82 ricotta -1 27% 12 174 0.81
NUTS & SEEDS
nuts, seeds and legumes | |||||
food | ND | % insulinogenic | insulin load (g/100g) | calories/100g | MCA |
coconut milk | -5 | 8% | 5 | 230 | 1.09 |
coconut cream | -6 | 8% | 7 | 330 | 1.01 |
sunflower seeds | 1 | 15% | 22 | 546 | 0.99 |
brazil nuts | -1 | 9% | 16 | 659 | 0.98 |
coconut meat | -5 | 10% | 9 | 354 | 0.98 |
flax seed | -2 | 11% | 16 | 534 | 0.97 |
macadamia nuts | -2 | 6% | 12 | 718 | 0.97 |
tofu | 7 | 34% | 8 | 83 | 0.95 |
sesame seeds | -3 | 10% | 17 | 631 | 0.92 |
hazelnuts | -3 | 10% | 17 | 629 | 0.88 |
peanut butter | 0 | 17% | 27 | 593 | 0.88 |
pumpkin seeds | 1 | 19% | 29 | 559 | 0.86 |
walnuts | -3 | 13% | 22 | 619 | 0.83 |
pecans | -6 | 6% | 12 | 691 | 0.83 |
- crème fraiche
- high fat cheese like brie
- high fat cream (heavy cream 36% fat)
- avocados
- olives
- bacon
- mayo – it is great in homemade salad dressings, in tuna & egg salad, on bacon & tomato wrapped in iceberg lettuce etc, but it is generally made with vegetable oil of some type.
Horseradish
Mustard
Pickles
Sauerkraut
Sundried tomatoes are especially important for men to prevent prostate cancer.
Cheese – is a little controversial because cheese has casein and some people have milk allergies. All milk products have quite a bit of glutamate high fat cheeses have less milk protein. I keep an assortment of full fat cheeses.