News for You

✅ Gerson Therapy — Allowed, Limited, and Prohibited Foods (Western Diet)

Natural Flavors of Fruits and Vegetables

In the early stage of the Gerson diet, without salt, fruits and vegetables may taste bland at first.
However, this is not because they lack flavor — rather, long-term high-salt intake has dulled the taste buds.

• Taste Recovery Period: About 1–2 weeks for taste buds to regain sensitivity.

• After recovery: Patients will discover that the natural flavors of fruits and vegetables are unique and delightful.

Core Principles of the Gerson Diet

1. Freshness

• All ingredients must be fresh, preferably harvested or purchased on the same day.

2. Purity

• Must be organic, pesticide-free, chemical fertilizer–free, grown at the place of origin, and certified by a reliable organic body.

3. Most Natural Form

• Avoid processing, refining, artificial flavorings, preservatives, or colorings.

4. No Salt, No Refined Sugar

• No table salt (except in special cases), refined sugar, or high-sodium condiments.

• Flavoring relies on natural ingredients (e.g., herbs, lemon juice).

5. High Nutrient Density & Variety

• Rotate vegetables and fruits of different colors to ensure a wide intake of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

✅ Regularly Allowed Foods

Vegetables

• Asparagus, artichoke, arugula

• Beet greens / beets (cancer patients: max once per week)

• Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale

• Carrots, potatoes, white radish (root only)

• Swiss chard, celery & celeriac

• Lettuce, romaine, chicory lettuce, loose-leaf lettuce

• Endive, watercress, dandelion greens

• Eggplant, loofah, zucchini, green beans

• Sweet potato leaves (no limit)

• Pumpkin, bottle gourd

• Vegetables (except mushrooms, carrot tops, radish tops, mustard greens)

Fruits

• Mango, melon / cantaloupe / honeydew

• Apples, apricots, oranges, peaches, pears, plums

• Cherries, grapefruit, grapes

• Citrus fruits (prohibited for collagen disease patients)

• Unsulfured dried fruits (raisins, dried peaches, dates, figs, apricots, prunes — must be soaked or cooked)

• Lemon (without peel)

Seasonings & Oils

• Organic low-lignan flaxseed oil

• Vinegar (red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar)

• Garlic

• Small amounts of herbs and spices: allspice, anise, bay leaf, coriander, dill, cumin, cardamom, marjoram, rosemary, sage, saffron, tarragon, thyme, sorrel, summer savory, turmeric

Grains

• Oatmeal

• Unsalted, defatted rye bread

• Organic brown rice (doctor’s approval required, must be arsenic-free)

Dairy

• Organic fat-free yogurt (only after week 6 or with physician’s approval)

Drinks

• Freshly pressed vegetable and fruit juices

• Burdock tea

⚠ Occasional Consumption

• Rye bread: 1–2 slices daily (only after completing all prescribed foods)

• Sweeteners: Grade B maple syrup, honey, blackstrap molasses (1–2 tsp/day)

• Organic quinoa

• Organic brown rice (same approval and safety requirements as above)

• Organic lentils (once per week, with approval)

• Sweet potatoes: once per week

• Banana: half a banana per week

• Organic popcorn / corn kernels (only as a festive treat)

🚫 Prohibited Foods

• Mushrooms, carrot tops, radish tops, mustard greens

• Berries, pineapple

• Oranges / citrus (for collagen disease patients)

• Spinach juice (spinach must be cooked before eating)