I have no idea what happened this am when I did a post and somehow when I clicked it merged the current question with a previous answer. Because I did not understand what happened, I did not delete because I did not want to permanantly delete th old info either so, here, I will try again:

Someone asked me to post on certain foods that are "no no"s to try and understand why and for how long. So here it goes.

Mushrooms-These are a fungus and although CM uses mushrooms regularly for medicinal reasons, it has been my experience accross the board that musrooms increase fungus-not in a good way. So, depsite the fact that sometimes they may effect a wanted physiological effect, I feel that the flip side of that effect, increasing the fungus is not desirable and theror I do not use it in my practice. For this reason, I also do not subscribe to the use of blue cheese and other extemely aged cheeses. My children do not eat mushrooms or strongly aged cheeses either BTW, if this gives you an idea of what I think.

Soy-Soy has two camps-the fans and the non-fans. I am in the non-fan camp. First, for those in the throws of IC, their symptoms will climb exponentially with any amount of soy. It is just a huge no no. Later when you have earned your hard earned healthy balance, it is ok in very limited amounts, as in, the minor amount of soy sauce in Asisan cooking a couple of times per month kind of thing. Why? Well, soy on a regular basis will disrupt the endocrine system and the digestive tract and when those things occur everything else will become imbalanced. There are many different ways in which to view this from a CM perspective or a WM perspective, but, I have seen it accross the board with Asian patients and non-Asian patients so ethnicity has nothing to do with it either. I highly recommend agains the regular use of this food. I have had many people coming to me with IC in the first palce after having become vegetarian and consuming large amounts of soy.

Sugar-There is not much good to say about sugar. Sugar causes inflammation. It just does. And, more and more research is finding this to be true. In CM we say it causes Dampness. It is sticky heavy and gives lots of food for those little microbes inside of you longing for survival. If you did not nothing else for your health but simply cuit out sugar and alcohol you would be ahead of the game by alot. There are too many other options in terms of making healthy treats with natural sugars-such as fruit, maple syrup, agave, etc... to choose from than to intoxicate your body with sugar. This is true when you are in the IC and when you are balanced from it. I never ever consume it so I know it is possible to lead a happy life without it. I dont miss it one bit.

Alocohol-all of the above in the sugar category is true for alcohol except that alcohol is even worse as alcohol it self really intoxicates the liver and causes a lot of damage to your cells, not to mention that it ages you tremendously (as does sugar) so if for no other reason than vanity, one should reconsider whether or not they really want that drink. I have not had a drink for about 20 years maybe more, I cannot even remember at this point. But, I can tell you life is surely a lot more wonderful completely sober and your organs are much happier and better balanced. 

Dairy alternatives-Dairy get a really bad wrap (rap?). It is a shame becuase I do not think it is really the dairy, I think it is the antibiotics used in the dairy and the pasteurization process that causes all of these problems. So, if you combine raw dairy with some organic non raw dairy such as yoghurt-you should experience a huge difference. And, if you have not yet, it should absolutely come, as your intestines should be able to digest this very healthy food in my opinion. In the mean time if you cannot ingest these things without ill effects, and your body is ready for it, you could substitute with almond yoghurt and almond mil both unsweetned. However, almond products must only be consumed when your body is ready for them as the high amounts of b vitamins in the almonds can create food for the inflammation in your body and up your symptoms. LAter when balanced including almond products as well as most other nuts is a healthful thing to include in your diet.

Coconut-Coconut has become a huge fad foos in my opinion. And like many things is misunderstood. Coconut is an antifungal. So, if one ingests it over time regualrly, it will cause a huge imbalance to your system-much like if you ingested an antibiotic everyday. Not a good idea. So, here and there fine-regularly not fine. for those having IC, it is a big problem in terms of pain-it is an unforgiving food much like soy. This is another food my kids know not to eat without my permission so I can keep an eye on how much they consume.

Vitamins-esp E. Vitamins are withheld in my stpes and stages diet by controlling the foods that I have people add in because vitamins are unable to differenitate between you and your inflammation. So, when you consume them if you have an inflammatory process going on in the body, they will nto do for you what ehy will do for someone who is comign from a non-inflammatory state of being. Thus the vitamins themselves and the foods containing high amounts of certain vitamins must be carefully included in the body over time. it is not a to do or not to do issue but rather an issue of what, in whom, and when issue. It is all about timing. Vitamin E specifically is a very healthy vitamin however, it is very difficult to source from anthing but soy. So, in vitamin products or in skin and hari prodcuts when you see that E is an ingredient, it is almost always coming from a soy derivative whihc means what? PAIN. So, this must be avoided at all costs through treatment until such time you are so strong you will no longer be effected by it. 

Flax Seeds-Flax seeds are a healthy food. But, in the beginning of treatment and until the body is well balanced they will add too much heavy moisture and congest the body. As this happens, they will increase the inflammation and pain or symptoms in general. As the body is cleaner, lighter and healthier, they may be added, but, this is very late stage treatment.

OK, this was a lot to do twice today. If there are more questions left over in this category, please post a response and I will answer.

Dr.M