Our ancestors didn't eat refined, GMO, or fast foods. Until approximately 100 years ago, humans still ate the same foods they always had, based on the seasons and availability. We ate what was found in our backyards. We foraged, picked, and hunted. Furthermore, the soil was richer back then and supplied plants with the minerals we needed to maintain optimal health by eating them. Today's soil is deprived of nutrients, and plants are less nutritious than ever. Do you know that wheat (the kind our forefathers ate) doesn't exist anymore? Today's wheat is genetically modified and harmful. What makes us think we can eat these "new foods" and maintain health and wellness? We can't, not without our health suffering.

If you'd like to see a complete list of unhealthy foods, click here.

So, What Is a Genetically Appropriate Diet?

First things first, no diet should have zero flexibility. 

A genetically appropriate diet is a nutrition plan for wellness and weight management that contains the nutrients your body needs, including sea plants, to stay healthy and well, which is essential when living with herpes to avoid breakouts.

The following foods are suitable for the entire family. I include it here as a means of helping you to choose foods that are genetically appropriate for optimal health and wellness.

Food items highlighted in ORANGE are phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are estrogen stand-ins that help to correct sex hormone imbalances that may occur during menopause. Soy, flax oil, cereal bran, yams, and legumes adjust every kind of hormonal imbalance in the body.

If you are at risk for, have had, or are being treated for cancer, do not eat many foods containing phytoestrogens or take phytoestrogen supplements without consulting your doctor first.

The following lists of foods are not complete lists or condition-specific. And while they are all genetically appropriate foods, some may not suit your needs. For example, if you have problems with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, you will want to avoid onions. If you have Histamine Intolerance, you'll want to avoid foods that trigger histamines. If you are sensitive to oxalates or salicylates, you'll want to avoid items that contain these natural plant chemicals. Additionally, when you live with Herpes Simplex Virus, eating too many foods containing arginine (a protein) may bring on a breakout. However, unless you're allergic, there's no reason why you can't enjoy all of these foods at least some of the time. 

To learn more about histamine, oxalates, and salicylates, please see Guarding Against Deficiencies & Toxicities.

Vegetables 

• Alfalfa
• Artichoke
• Asparagus
• Barley grass
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage (only if raw)
• Carrot
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Chicory
• Chives
• Collard greens
• Cucumber
• Daikon
• Dandelion
• Dill
• Dulce
• Eggplant
• Endive
• Fermented veggies
• Garlic
• Green beans
• Green peas (fresh from the pod)
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Kombu
• Leek
• Lettuce
• Maitake, Shitake (and other mushrooms)
• Mustard greens
• Nightshades, such as tomatoes and peppers (contain lectins that cause inflammation)
• Nori
• Okra
• Onions
• Parsnips
• Peppers
• Pumpkin
• Reishi
• Rhubarb
• Rutabaga
• Sea salt
• Sea Vegetables – Red seaweeds (from South America and India) and sea moss can inhibit herpes infections. They can be placed in salads and stews or taken as supplements.
• Spinach (raw only)
• Spirulina
• Sprouts
• Squashes
• Tamari
• Umeboshi
• Wakame (seaweed)
• Water chestnut
• Watercress
• Wheatgrass
• Wild greens
• Zucchini 

Other vegetables containing phytonutrients: Yellow string beans, sweet potato, soy, and yams

Note: Thin-skinned vegetables should be organic.

Best Herbs, Spices & Seasonings

• All herbs
• Green juices (made from powders)
• Veggie juices (made from fresh veggies)
• Horseradish
• Flowers (edible)
• Curry
• Chlorella (sea algae)
• Chili pepper
• Cinnamon
• Tamari
• Ginger

Best Fruits

• Apples
• Apple cider
• Apricots
• Avocado
• Bananas (not too ripe)
• Berries (nearly all)
• Cantaloupe
• Cherries
• Coconut (fresh)
• Currants
• Dates
• Dried fruit (except for cranberries, plums, and prunes, which contain benzoic acid)
• Figs
• Fruit juices (fresh)
• Grapes
• Grapefruit
• Guavas
• Kumquats
• Lemon
• Limes
• Mangoes
• Melons (watermelon, muskmelon, honeydew)
• Nectarines
• Oranges
• Papayas
• Peaches
• Pears
• Persimmons 
• Pineapple
• Pomegranates
• Quinces
• Raisins
• Strawberries
• Tangerines
• Tomatoes
• Tropical fruits

Other fruits containing phytonutrients: Plums, pears, and raspberries.

NOTE: Thin-skinned fruits should be organic.

Best Proteins & Dairy (including some grains)

• Organic non-pasteurized milk (slightly acidic)
• Acidophilus
• Buttermilk
• Nuts (almonds and chestnuts)
• Seeds (millet, buckwheat, flax, pumpkin, sunflower, sprouted seeds, squash).
• Tempeh (fermented)
• Tofu (fermented)
• Hemp and whey protein powders.
• Wild salmon (moderately acidic but a great source of omega oils)
• Chicken breast is slightly acidic.
• Organic plain yogurt is somewhat acidic.
• Egg whites and regular cottage cheese are both moderately acidic.

NOTE: All meat and dairy products should come from organically raised sources. 

Other Proteins Containing Phytonutrients 

• Sesame seeds
• Wheat (whole)
• Barley
• Rye  
• Rye bran
• Peanuts
• Lentils (from pods)
• Beans
• Red meat
• Dairy (made from animal sources)

Nearly all proteins are acidic, but we need them to rebuild our body’s muscles and tissues. So, no skimping on protein.

Better Sugars

• Honey (slightly acidic)
• Green stevia (plant-based, alkaline, with no glycemic effect). Stevia is safe for those living with Diabetes.
• Real maple syrup (slightly acidic)
• Dried sugar cane juice (slightly acidic)
• Turbinado (raw sugar, somewhat acidic)
• Brown rice syrup (slightly acidic)

Best Fats

• Flaxseed oil (alkaline)
• Raw coconut oil (alkaline)
• Borage oil (alkaline
• Sesame oil (slightly alkaline)
• Olive oil (somewhat alkaline to neutral)
• Butter (slightly acidic)
• Ghee (the fat from butter)

Other “Good For You” Items

• Apple cider vinegar
• Baking soda
• Mineral water
• Evian, Fiji, Hawaiian bottled water
• Alkalinized water
• Ozonated water

The Best Foods Grocery List PDF

NOTE: The foods listed above are not condition-specific. For condition-specific nutritional suggestions, please click here.