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My Exact Diet & Supplements for Vitamin A Detox shares with you what I did first and what I do now for a low vitamin A diet. I share my own progress and what other members of my family experienced. And, most importantly, I tell you exactly what I eat each day, which many of you have said would be helpful.
This diet likely takes about 3 years to allow the body to detox vitamin A, and the process has been streamlined a lot since I began. For some people, the diet will take even longer (like me).
As always, please see Dr. Smith’s forum for deeper research and insights, or to have a doctor’s help with mineral analysis and blood testing. Or, tap into Grant Genereux’s blog to read his latest insights and observations. Both forums offer community support where you can ask questions and read dialogue on topics.
Diet & Supplements for Vitamin A Detox: The first thing I did
When I started the vitamin A detox diet, I had to first remove all the supplements I was taking that contained Vitamin A. I also looked for and removed my supplements that contained precursors to Vitamin A or compounds in the same family, such as carotenoids and retinyl esters — from whole food vitamins and organ meats.
With taking out unsuitable supplements, I needed to make sure my body still had what it needed, certain B vitamins, for example, and minerals.
This article outlines which supplements I now take to support my body and the detoxification of Vitamin A.
Supplements I stopped taking
Essential oils: For the first six weeks of the diet, I was working to overcome a histamine intolerance. I had done a lot of 
research to decide my strategy. In addition to doing the low A diet, I took tea tree oil internally with a carrier oil. (This is not generally allowed on the diet. It was something I decided to do on my own.)
When that process was over, and indeed I had overcome MCAS and my histamine intolerance, I stopped using all essential oils, due to their carotenoid content, except the 3 herbs allowed on the diet that have corresponding EOs: rosemary, cloves and mint. I still use clove EO occasionally, as needed, with a carrier oil.
I also stopped taking liver pills, multi-organ pills, vitamin D, glutathione, a B complex, a mineral complex (more recently), iodine, a variety of supplements I used for my histamine intolerance, alpha lipoic acid, a variety of amino acids, probiotics — and B12 shots about 2 years into the diet, when I no longer needed them.
Update: More recently, in the last 6 months, after meeting with Dr. Smith, I also stopped taking: digestive bitters, Vitamins B2, B3 and Serrapeptase (although I might use this again temporarily for injury repair if needed at a future date).
My current supplements for vitamin A detox
As each body is unique, the supplements I list here are definitely not all ones you should consider for yourself. Many of them are standard for most people doing the diet, but there are exceptions and dosages vary.
These are the supplements that I personally have found helpful for my body:
- Vitamin B1 — I buy the NOW brand (here) of this, because it’s clean and inexpensive. (Some on the diet also take B2.) I especially take Vitamin B1, or a higher dose of it, if I eat white rice, white sourdough bread or egg whites, which all deplete it. (Here’s the B1 I give my 4 year old, so for young kids. This vitamin may be helpful for potty training.)
- Zinc — I have recently increased my dosage on this, with seemingly great benefit. It’s helping me to sleep better and have better digestion. (I do not take more all at once, but the same dosage more often.)
- Selenium
- Magnesium
- Molybdenum – I started taking this key mineral only after finally meeting with Dr. Smith and having my testing done. It’s an essential mineral for detoxing copper, which is one big aspect of the diet.
- Activated Charcoal
- Lactoferrin from Dr. Smith for liver health: helps repair bile ducts and liver injury, excrete toxins and encourage epithelial cell growth. Start at a very low dose, as it can flare up old symptoms. (When you buy it, look for the more detailed information on how to take it.)
- SunFiber — For best regularity and possibly improving gut microbiome.
- TRS — This nano-particle zeolite spray helped me detox so much excess estrogen that I was finally able to get off of Calcium d-Glucarate (needed for excess estrogen issues). TRS has also been amazing for detoxing my brain. I won’t go into all of the details here because there isn’t room, but I’ll write more on it at some point. TRS detoxes heavy metals, plastics and all kinds of toxins, super gently but noticeably. (You have to buy it through a distributor, so I became one. You can get it here. You’ll need to click the Shop Now button. I buy the three-pack to save money, and the company recommends doing the spray for 6 months minimum to see various effects from the beginning and then as you continue. Start with 1 spray daily, and work up to 2 in the morning and 3 at night.)
- Sunlamp, to produce Vitamin D for its beneficial detox process (I have the Fiji model from this site.)
- Vitamin K2
- Unique to me for hormone balancing pre-menopause — DIM and Black Cohosh. I got off of Calcium d-Glucarate as soon as I could due to Dr. Smith’s recommendation to not take any calcium-based supplements. My next goal is to get off of DIM.
Lastly, I use my infrared sauna. I use it every other day, or everyday when I can find the time. I find it essential and a huge help in aiding my detox processes.
Two stages of our diet
Below, as I outline what we eat on this diet, you’ll see we’ve done three stages of the diet:
- A low vitamin A and low aldehyde diet.
- We added in medium oxalate and low salicylate, to see what added benefits it would have. I ended up adding salicylates back in completely, but I now maintain a medium oxalate diet and avoid foods like rhubarb, which causes me to have joint pain. (Once I considered oxalates that still existed in our low A diet, I felt it would be good to reduce them to watch for the benefits. I believe more people should seriously consider the toll oxalates are taking on their health, whatever their diet.)
- Current diet: low A, low aldehyde, medium oxalate and low copper.
How my family reacted to a low vitamin A diet
I have outlined my symptoms, but also my family members’, because each of us has had such striking reactions to detoxing Vitamin A. About six weeks into the diet, so much had happened that I found this article was the best way to keep track.
My own reactions and improvements
- Within the first two weeks of going low vitamin A, I saw dramatic improvements: better mental health and the chronic skin rash on my face went away.
- Had nausea daily for at least a week and then off and on in the weeks that followed.
- I started the diet with chronic intermittent blurred vision in my left eye (like a cloud that came and went). This continued to come and go until week 6; then it was gone until I added more oxalates into my diet, without meaning to.
- Shortly after week 2, cystic acne and bladder urgency (I have a history of IC) developed.
- At about 6 weeks, I got a serious kidney infection. I was able to avoid antibiotics by using Allimed and tea tree oil (here’s how). This was a painful experience.
- Interestingly, my kidney infection was a staph infection, not e-coli, which it usually is. The count was >100K. So a major staph infection in my kidneys, bladder and urethra. I find this interesting because staph infections are usually on the skin. Another skin link to Vitamin A detoxification. (Oxalates may also play a role in this infection, as I believe I initially went pretty low oxalate all at once on the diet, without realizing it, which can cause kidney problems).
- Other symptoms included painful urination and blood in the urine.
- Allimed is garlic-based, so not allowed on the diet, and it was only preventing the infection from getting worse, not resolving it.
- My doctor had me take 2 rounds of different antibiotics, which I hadn’t done in about 30 years. I accepted her suggestion because the infection was dangerous. Neither antibiotic helped as much as the Allimed.
- So then I put myself on high dose colloidal silver (here’s how). That worked! By three weeks in, the issue was completely resolved. Colloidal silver is our go-to remedy for many applicable conditions.
Child 1
- Skin breaking out within the first week, followed by depression week 2. Both of these normalized.
- She now lives abroad and maintains a pretty low vitamin A diet, trying to be mindful of copper and nightshades as well. She also intentionally supplements with some of the basics discussed above.
Child 2
- History of yellow skin on head and flaky behind the ears: Both got worse week 2. Then all got better! (Later, probably my fault in reintroducing certain foods (?), his flaky behind one ear got worse again.)
- Nausea and vomiting at breakfast time during the first week of the diet. (History of appendicitis and gall bladder/liver issues.) Took gentian for liver, gall bladder and digestion support and ginger tincture.
- Currently does really well when taking Dr. Smith’s mineral supplement, Keystone Minerals, with improved skin health.
Child 3
- History of hyperactivity and pessimism: Both of these symptoms worsened intermittently. Then, as I’ll talk more about below, we saw major improvements in both of these areas!
Husband
- Boils, one on his bum and one as a stye on his eye that lasted at least 3 weeks. Our ND said this was likely vitamin A detoxing. Amazing. I used homeopathics to help them rupture and resolve as quickly as possible. The one on the bum responded really well to homeopathics. The one on the eye just needed longer and took a full 3 weeks to run its course.
Boils
Actually, most of us got boils!
- 4 out of the 5 of us got some kind of a boil! Very strange and surprising to us. I also got one on my inner eye lid like my husband. One of our kids got one on his bum, and one on a leg. Our N.D. told us this was vitamin A pushing itself out. I haven’t met anyone else on the diet who’s had this happen, so it’s hard to say. Amazing that we all got this symptom.
- Have any of you had this symptom on the diet?? Please comment below, if so.
Diet after over 2-1/2 to 3 years on the diet
Our setback — aldehydes
My one BIG mistake on this diet was reintroducing aldehydes, without meaning to. I totally forgot about them in the midst of having a super busy life.
Basically, we were feeling so well that I added in kombucha, then a little more kombucha, then chocolate chips (also a source of copper) on our overnight oats. We were also eating oat yogurt and other fermented foods. We seemed fine, but then gradually rashes started developing. This oversight was a big mistake that slowed our progress and increased mild symptoms, mostly skin related.
I started having a red scaly rash around my eyes. My youngest son got a red blistery rash around his nose. And our oldest son had a rash behind his ears.
I went back to the basics of the diet to see what I was doing wrong and realized my mistake.
So the big change we made after 2 years on the diet was to “go back to the beginning”, and make our diet simpler again.
I removed all fermented foods, chocolate and most lectins from our diet. And, BINGO, they were the problem.
Diet at 4 years on a low vitamin A diet
We now watch copper intake a lot more and make sure we have a low copper diet.
This adjustment happened especially after meeting with Dr. Smith in person and getting our lab results. We were also able to accurately adjust our mineral levels.
As a result of our appointments, I personally removed from my diet: buckwheat, cream and butter.
I have completely eliminated dairy and see a definite benefit.
After meeting with Dr. Smith, we also eliminated all fish we were eating, as he saw elevated mercury levels in our labs that he believes are a direct result of eating fish, and he believes those numbers will go down by eliminating it.
We also realized from our labs and symptoms that our iron levels were way too high. We got rid of our cast iron pans, gave blood, and it also helped me to realize that our sourdough bread was fortified with iron!
The last great change we’ve made is finding a better sourdough bread. I found that most breads, including locally made artisanal sourdough, even organic ones, use flour that’s fortified with iron. We found a few brands that do not. I am able to enjoy sourdough bread again. (With our new child, I am very busy and haven’t preferred to make my own, but am increasingly inclined to.)
Health progress over the last 4 years
Here I can celebrate, and you can read, the accomplishments I’ve made thus far on the low A diet. Some of these health gains I only hoped, or never thought, were possible:
- The immediate progress I made on this diet was to overcome both depression and MCAS, or histamine overload. My depression was gone within two days of eating a low vitamin A diet, and the MCAS in two weeks, at which time I broadened my diet and began eating higher histamine foods again, like beef.
- Within just a couple of months of starting the diet, I was able to reintroduce grains, after being Paleo for about 10 years. This felt amazing! I now eat oats as a staple, twice daily. I benefit both from their nutrition and their fiber.
- Within a year of starting the diet, I was taken off thyroid meds by my in-town doctor. My Hashimoto’s was in remission. Since that time, I have continued to be in remission. I have never needed my thyroid meds since. My energy levels are good, and I’m at my optimum weight.
- Good improved sleep and perfect bowel movements (no more constipation ever) — both of these challenged me off and on for years, especially after having children.
- Amazingly, I need very little digestive support these days. I thought I would always take digestive bitters, but I haven’t used them for months. A wonderful gain for me and a testimony to how much the diet recovers gut health as it restores liver health. I now occasionally use apple cider vinegar to support my digestion, when needed. But usually, nothing!
- Despite my intolerance to fruit, I can now eat small amounts occasionally, when the weather’s hot (which is when I detox best). While I don’t make a habit of eating fruit often, and I only eat a little, it is a joy to be able to eat homegrown fruits (like fresh figs in the summer) again, which I only hoped might happen “someday”.
- My mental health is at its best. I feel joyful and with an inclination toward goodness and kindness. (In the past, I struggled with exhaustion, which manifested at times with feeling critical, grumpy, depressed or with mood swings.) What a joy it is to be filled with goodwill. When we regain our physical health, we sometimes realize how much mental health is affected by gut and liver problems!
- I am stronger physically. With more energy, even in the winter months, I have been able to build muscle year round, instead of just each summer. Again, what a joy.
- I am hungrier but thinner. I used to eat a very small lunch well after noon, at 1, or even as late as 4 o’clock, because I just wasn’t hungry after breakfast until then. I now often wake up early, eat an early breakfast, and then I’m hungry for lunch at noon. I often need and enjoy an afternoon snack and end my day, an hour or so after dinner, with a bowl of savory oatmeal. I have no weight to lose, but I’m not too skinny either. I feel great, and food digests so well.
I’ll need to keep brainstorming, “What else”, as I’m sure there are things I take for granted, but those are the things that come to mind in this sitting.
Our properly fixed diet
After re-removing aldehydes, this was a snapshot of our daily diet (and this would be a fine example to follow):
- Breakfast: The main things we eat for breakfast are a large portion of meat (as patties) and oatmeal. Sometimes I fully cook the porridge. Other times, I pour hot water over raw oats, let them sit covered for about 30 minutes, and then eat them, like warm soaked muesli.
- Re the big serving of meat, usually grass-finished beef burgers (oftentimes 1/2 pound burgers for
my sons and husband), but sometimes other meats like organic turkey thigh, wild red meat (my husband hunts) or occasionally clean chicken and apple sausages or Applegate Farms’ turkey breakfast sausages. We also eat my VAD waffle recipes: Gluten-free, Egg-free Waffles, Rice and Beans Waffles and Oatmeal and Beans Waffles and several other low A baked goods, more so on Sunday mornings. - For hot drinks, we daily enjoy: Roasted Dandelion Root Tea (this one, no extra ingredients like chicory), Barley Tea and Asparagus Tea. Dr. Smith personally okayed all of these during our recent appointment.
- Re the big serving of meat, usually grass-finished beef burgers (oftentimes 1/2 pound burgers for
- Lunch: Usually leftovers from dinners or breakfasts. Sometimes I buy Niman Ranch deli meats, like Roast Beef or Pastrami. We also eat a lot of peeled cucumbers, peeled apples and berries with lunch and for snacks. And perhaps oddly, I love refried beans on sourdough bread, so my daughter and I often enjoy this little feast together for lunch with some meat on the side. Hummus sometimes, similarly.
- Dinner: All different cuts of beef: stew meat, short ribs, steaks, ground beef, prepared in various ways. Chicken thighs and whole chickens. (Both meats we eat in stews, soups, stir fries, wraps, in salads, with pasta etc.) Veggies: We eat parsnips, asparagus, cucumbers, green beans, romaine lettuce, iceberg and peeled zucchini (all organic). White rice, white rice noodles, Jovial brand soaked brown rice pastas, sprouted brown rice, baked potatoes, boiled cassava root, Cassava Fries and cooked Green Bananas. Beans: in salads, in stews, and recently I found dehydrated organic broken beans, that I rehydrate with broth or water to make easy refried beans. I sometimes make hulled barley for the family, but it slows down my digestion, so I personally avoid it. Sourdough bread.
An outline and list of our diet for vitamin A detox
These are the options (in list form) from which we eat in an average day:
BREAKFAST
We always eat a big breakfast. We eat a big portion of meat first and follow it with a delicious carb dish:
- big thick juicy grass-finished ground beef patties or organic turkey thigh patties
- oatmeal — toppings: berries or banana slices, maple sugar or syrup, oat or sustainably sourced almond milk, a small amount of heavy cream or butter for the boys; I now eat my oatmeal savory many mornings, with no sweetener, or with just a bit of honey, but not much. I use oat milk, bean milk or nut milk and good white sea salt. It’s actually wonderful, and I enjoy it more than when I used to use sweetener on it. I find it more satisfying! A great lesson.
- Bean and Oat Waffles or Rice and Beans Waffles — toppings: berries, maple syrup, butter for the boys. I go without syrup, so I cut my waffle into sections and eat it like toast. I put nut or pumpkin seed butter on top, or refried beans.
- Sourdough toast
- Roasted Dandelion Root Tea (this one, no extra ingredients like chicory), Barley Tea or Asparagus Tea
LUNCH
We keep lunches really simple, so I only cook 2 meals a day, and the kids learn to fend for themselves some of the time:
- leftovers
- more fresh meat patties
- lettuce, cucumbers, peeled apples
- sourdough bread
- refried beans (made from instant organic beans)
- baked goods, leftover rice
- berries or occasional smoothies
DINNER
I usually make a nice dinner, but sometimes it’s also pretty simple, depending on how much time and energy I have. For example, my family loves green salads, and I often make one, but sometimes I just peel and slice cucumbers to provide a fresh veggie. I never let making meals increase my stress levels.
That priority comes first: Low stress cooking and eating is an important key to wellness.
— MEAT OPTIONS
We eat lots of stews, soups and burgers and then fill in with other options:
- beef or wild red meat/game — I make short ribs, fried up stew meat, stew, soup, pasta with ground meat, stir fries, tamales and more
- chicken thighs or whole roasted chicken
- ground turkey thigh made into meatballs or hash (like this one but without the onions and sage; you could sub in another VAD diet veggie, plus rosemary)
— CARB OPTIONS
We eat lots of sourdough bread, oats, rice, beans and pasta:
- beans — types of beans according to the Eat Right for Your Blood Type insights to reduce gas (This and many other tips come from Dr. Smith. If you support his work by becoming a member, he also has more information on which probiotics to use for your unique body that might help to reduce gas, bloating and help you digest beans better.)
- white rice, rice noodles and white rice flour (ideally in lesser ratio to beans to protect B1 stores)
- brown rice pasta (We eat a variety of shapes. I find this digests really well, and I do well with it, but I don’t do as well with white rice products, although my family does.)
- Millet and Brown Rice Ramen by Lotus Foods — These are good if you can tolerate millet. I make a rich meat stock and serve the noodles in the stock with various meats on top, mung bean sprouts and sometimes cooked veggies in the stock.
- oats
- hulled barley — I cook it in the Instant Pot on the Manual setting for 23 minutes. Ratio is 1:3, grain to water. I use this as a side dish or add it to soups. My family loves it in soups.
- masa and hominy — This is our latest discovery, and we just love it. Here’s a recipe for Chickpea Polenta with Masa that tells more about what masa is and why it’s so much gentler than corn.
- Oat Bread
- Rice Bread
- Clean sourdough bread with no iron or other fortifications added to the flour
— VEGGIE OPTIONS
You may or may not tolerate all of these:
- parsnips (lots of fiber)
- peeled potatoes
- peeled zucchini
- green lettuces (We eat romaine, butter and iceberg, all organic.)
- peeled cucumbers
- green beans
- asparagus
- water chestnuts
- celery
- mung bean sprouts
- white carrots
I eliminated artichokes and mushrooms from this list. There is some question about the level of inulin in artichokes, and Dr. Smith has said mushrooms are a forest sponge for toxins.
— SNACKS AND CONDIMENTS
- berries
- peeled apples
- grapes
- Bean Milk
- oat milk (Malk brand)
- occasional nut milk, but not often due to PUFAs; I love the Three Trees almond milk that’s unflavored (not the vanilla)
- odds and ends baking/cooking ingredients: psyllium husk powder, salt, baking soda, coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, refined coconut oil, refined avocado oil, refined olive oil, apple cider vinegar, tapioca flour, occasional egg whites, balsamic or rice vinegar, very occasional Dijon mustard, coconut aminos, ginger root and ginger powder, dried rosemary, dried dill, dried mint, certain nut and seeds, including chestnuts
— DESSERTS AND TREATS
Too much sweetener or fat isn’t recommended, but I do love to bake and feed my boys treats, snacks and plenty of carbs.
- This muffin recipe is a great one for occasional treats.
- This is a great cake recipe.
- HERE are all the vitamin A detox diet recipes I’ve created and published so far.
The emotional side of being on this restricted diet
My husband and the boys hit 3 years on the diet in September, 2022. I hit 4 years this April, 2023.
My goal with this section is to be really honest. While there are some admirable souls who can eat REALLY SIMPLY on this diet and be content, I know a lot of you want to know what it’s like to be on this diet with kids who are a little picky … or with your own personal limitations.
Compromises
For the first 2+ years on the diet, the compromises I made were so my boys would be happy but still make progress. They definitely have pushed back and “fought” me at multiple junctures, wanting more foods or wanting to be done with restricted diets in general.
As a mom, I don’t actually like restricting their diet. But I also see that while I have them in our home (my 19 year old is off to college now), this is my one/last chance to get them as healthy as possible. So, I give them pep talks as often as is needed and remind them of the progress we have made, and the progress we have yet to make — symptoms I’d like for them to no longer have.
No diet can be completely free of vitamin A or the compounds that limit its detoxification. So our goal is to minimize these foods as much as possible while still enjoying life and food.
If you are that rare person that can do a super restricted diet without any compromises, that’s better.
Which foods
Our compromises the first 2 years on the diet were simply: Applegate Farms hot dogs, Niman Ranch deli meat (certain ones), lots of berries, dates and raisins, generous amounts of maple sugar on their oatmeal, tapioca or rice puddings, and a decent amount of butter or cream on occasions — like homemade ice cream occasionally.
None of these compromises seemed to make any difference at all to their bodies. I personally am more sensitive. I did and do include very little sweetener in my diet, if any. I ate no fruit and still limit carbs like tapioca. As mentioned, I now eat no butter or cream.
After about 3 years on the diet, we pulled out foods that were high in oxalates or salicylates.
Low oxalate and low salicylate
Somewhat recently, we also decided to go medium-low oxalate and low salicylate to see how the combined diet would help some of our remaining symptoms. We saw results within the first weeks: skin, mood, lungs and joints.
- Re my lungs, I’ve had a pre-existing condition there since I was 18. Within the first few days on this diet, I saw healing in my lungs…!
- Joints: Some improvement in my big toe, that’s swollen and a little painful (low key gout). Big improvement in my wrist and right hand/arm where the radiation from my old lap top caused some problems.
- Son 1: Low ox. and low sal. did not affect my son’s acne or rash behind his ear, but the things I’ve learned since that do affect these symptoms are: lectins and proper mineral supplementation.
- Son 2: Long term (many months) face rash better in a few days and gone within a week! Less moody, kinder, better balanced energy (less ADHD type behavior).
In short, we saw major benefits from the low ox. low sal. diet. As mentioned elsewhere, I am still medium oxalate myself, but we have done our salicylate detox.
How I do this diet emotionally (pep talk)
Yes, it’s no fun to eliminate foods high in oxalates, vitamin A, copper etc, but we each must weigh our health goals and remaining symptoms to see if it’s worth it. For me, it’s worth the sacrifices. I love being healthier and pain-free.
Contentment
My daughter told me recently that she thinks I have the gift of contentment. I am very grateful for her sweet observation, and think she must be right.
I am blessed to be able to be very grateful for whatever I’m eating. A big juicy burger from local pasture-raised beef cooked medium rare with good salt is always delicious for me — even if I eat two a day, seven days a week.
I have observed MANY of my clients switch to this mindset as well. We simply focus on enjoying what we can have, and don’t live in a place of focusing on what we can no longer have.
Brief grieving for foods we miss, yes, but we don’t stay there.
There is too much to be grateful for … and all good quality foods can be savored and loved.
Food addictions
Frankly, what’s really happening is that most of us are addicted to foods and hedonism.
I certainly was, about 20 years ago, and up until 15 years ago. It took me 3 years to overcome my addiction to sugar; even when I wasn’t eating it, I craved it. But eventually that day came! And I no longer love sweets.
If you care enough about getting well, you will be willing to make this transition, too.
Determination to pursue what’s true
Take one day at a time, look for community support, find alternatives to old favorites; have a plan for when you’re in social settings that sets you up to succeed, and be determined to get well.
Pursue truth: Is this diet what your body needs? Then do it. Is vitamin A a toxin? Then eliminate it. Too much copper in your body? Take the steps that allow it to detox.
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Alex says
Hello Megan,
Love this post! Very timely as well, as I got into more of the toxic A or its derivatives unknowingly. So comforting to have a knowledgeable guide in this journey.
I have a couple of questions about the lactoferrin supplement, if you do not mind.
1. Do you feel lactoferrin made a big impact on removing vA via bile dumping? If so, was the difference substantial and noticable? And if so, how long did it take to notice the difference? Basically, was lactoferrin a substantial player in this detox?
2. In cases of chronic constipation, could lactoferrin make the constipation worse and actually hold on to the A and recirculate in the blood? It is best to take SunFiber a few weeks prior to starting lactoferrin to regulate the bowels first?
3. I understand VAD is a long term, cumulative plan, but what would you say was the main supplement that made the most difference in turning the detox around, in addition to the diet?
Very grateful for all you do!!
Thank you.
Alex
Megan says
Hi Alex, I’m so glad the post is helpful. 1. Personally, I can not measure the difference lactoferrin has made. While some supplements I’m sure have helped, this one, I truly do not know. I am going on faith a bit and trusting Dr. Smith because he espouses it so highly. 2. I think Lactoferrin could make any symptom worse if it’s added in too quickly, based on Dr. Smith’s words. It couldn’t hurt to start SunFiber first and try to establish some regularity. I really think diet plays into constipation a lot, too: in my experience figuring out how much of which grains you can eat without it causing a problem. For me, I can not eat too much rice and very little at breakfast. For a client of mine, she has a similar response to oats etc. And then, be sure to add Lactoferrin in only tiny amounts at first, so it doesn’t cause a blip. 3. Honestly, TRS. I felt kind of stuck at one point. I think it was about a year ago. I started the spray, and things just opened up again. I’ve mentioned before that I’m really sensitive to everything, even benefits. When I started the spray, it helped detox stuff from my brain; I could tell. It also helped my bowels and sleep. The bowel and sleep benefits were not long term; I’ve had to keep up with really intentional choices in other areas as well to maintain those gains, but it got me over a hump with those two. This is a good question of yours, and it’s actually fun for me to think about it. My other favorites are zinc, and how I’ve recently started taking it 2 to 3 times daily, instead of just in the morning. And Serrapeptase, which has helped to break up old tissue (including in my lungs), get rid of excess build-up and amazingly supports digestion, allows me to digest beans better. Lastly, possibly the TTFD form of B1, but I can’t be sure because I switched to it when I increased my zinc dosage. Depending on your unique body, the supplement favorites could be different for you, of course. So happy to help, and thanks for all your comments! 🙂
Megan says
Oh, and if it wasn’t already obvious from what I’ve written in the past, gentian. I love this tincture SO much. It supports digestion amazingly. And I believe liver health, but I have never asked Dr. Smith about this, so it’s only based on what I’ve read and experienced.
Alex says
Thanks, Megan. Appreciate the super quick response.
Megan says
You bet. I thought of one other thing: I do think the lactoferrin has helped my husband. He was taking iron and having anemia issues. Dr. Smith said the lactoferrin would work that out over time as the liver healed. Sure enough, my husband is off of iron pills now. He weaned off of the iron pills as he gradually increased lactoferrin. So it was perhaps more noticeable for his body’s needs.
Alex says
Ok! This is actually super helpful! Thank you!
One more question about aldehydes: is xylitol considered an artificial sweetener?
Also, there are no lentils or yellow split peas or garbanzo bean flour in this post. Is that because of lectins and digestibility issues?
Thank you.
Megan says
Hi Alex, Xylitol is considered an artificial sweetener, depending on who you ask, and because it’s a sugar alcohol, my guess is that it’s high in aldehydes. Re the beans, I list beans in general under Carbs and in the context of the waffles (or soups) I make, but I probably could have highlighted more how I use them each day. I didn’t mention the bean flours, true. We do eat garbanzo bean flour often. Sometimes I make our morning waffles with whole pureed beans and sometimes with bean flour. Lentils and split peas don’t agree with my husband as well, so currently we eat less of them. But I am a fan in general, if they digest well. So yes, digestibility issues (and lectins, possibly for my son). 🙂
Alex says
Thanks, Megan! Some of us do poorly on certain carbs, which makes it challenging to prepare a meal that agrees with everyone in our family. I go by the “common denominator” – what everyone can eat without issues most days. When I have more time, usually on weekends, I offer a couple of side dishes to have options to those of us that can have more of a variety. My daughter and I are more limited in what we can eat (digestibility and lectins), while my husband can have more choices.
Megan says
That sounds perfect for keeping it manageable. 🙂
Alex says
Hello Megan,
I see a chiropractor who practices kinesiology. According to him, some food digestibility issues have to do with an individual’s increased need for lysine. I am naturally low and need the radio of lysine to argenine to be greater. Nuts, seeds, lentils and other legumes are richer in arginine than lysine and that may create GI discomfort for some of us. What is your take on this? Is taking a daily lysine supplement (500mg) in any conflict with VAD? I couldn’t find anything on Grant’s blog about this topic.
Here is a link to a chart with lysine-to-argenine ratios: https://www.traditionaloven.com/tutorials/l-lysine_rich_foods.html
The chiropractor recommended a lysine supplement to be taken daily. I found this one, with no fillers: https://www.amazon.com/Metabolic-Maintenance-L-Lysine-500-Capsules/dp/B000NBVPK0/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2UYBI6RLCD9MM&keywords=lysine+no+fillers&qid=1675198144&sprefix=lysine+no+fillers+%2Caps%2C350&sr=8-8
Would love your input on this.
Thanks.
Alex
Megan says
Hi Alex, good question. I just looked briefly on LYL and found a spot where Dr. Smith talks about the benefits for some people of having a diet higher in lysine than arginine! 🙂 He mentions doing this with low vitamin A foods and that it works well with the meat and bean diet model. I looked at your chart and see some good foods: Brazil nuts, carob, lentils, black beans (while some other beans and nuts don’t work), but I don’t remember your other dietary restrictions, so I don’t see why you couldn’t supplement with lysine. Please ask in the group to be sure, if you want to, but it seems like it would be fine. I’m happy for you that you have this new lead!, and I hope you see some good progress from it. I’d love to hear how it goes!
Alex says
Thanks for checking and getting back so quickly. Appreciate you and all you do.
Megan says
Happy to help, you’re welcome! 🙂
Sarabeth Matilsky says
Thanks so much for sharing your family‘s journey! It is super helpful and useful to hear what is working for others, because even when symptoms are totally different, family patterns are so interesting… You are reminding me about the aldehydes, and I am wondering if you could remind me even further: which are the main sources of aldehydes in a low vitamin a diet, that might be worth reducing or removing for a time?
Megan says
Hi Sarabeth, I’m glad it’s helpful! Well, the low A diet should actually inherently be low in aldehydes. It was my bad for re-introducing those foods. Also the diet has evolved, so some foods that used to be on the Yes list were discovered to be problematic and moved to the No list. That was part of our problem. We used to drink small amounts of kombucha, and it even seemed to be helpful. So gradually I increased to drinking a full 6 ounces of it daily. That was too much. A little was okay, but may not have been actually beneficial at all on on a deeper level, due to alcohol content, for example. Examples of aldehyde foods, in addition to kombucha, are alcohol, artificial sweeteners, yogurt and kefir etc, fermented veggies, bottled, canned or jarred fruits and veggies: this includes applesauce, overly ripe fruit, blackcurrant juice, smoked foods and non-food: cigarettes. Best to you!
Brad shadoian says
Do you do consults.
Megan says
Hi Brad, yes. You can email me at [email protected]
Laura says
Hi Megan! Thanks so much for this insightful info and for sharing your journey so that others, like me, can learn and benefit from it! Do you have any tips and tricks for navigating social settings and for traveling with lots of dietary restrictions? I find that having my dietary restrictions can be very limiting when traveling and in social gatherings. Thanks!
Megan says
Hi Laura, yes, lol, I have so many tips and tricks because of living it and traveling quite a bit. 🙂 But, we are each so unique, so they may not all resonate with you. For one, when you can, eat before you go meet other people. Although this may be a bit of a kill joy, I learned years ago not to eat for other people; our health is too important. Order soda water (plain bubbly Perrier type), plain burger or steak, with just lettuce if it’s an option, or plain chicken as a last resort (grilled etc). Sometimes you can fudge a little with things like sauteed mushrooms of if you tolerate potatoes, roasted or baked potato. Oatmeal is great to order out for breakfast, with heavy cream or butter. Order mint tea. If you’re not intolerant to gluten, you may get to a point when you can tolerate occasional white bread from a good French bakery. If so, try to meet people at French bakeries or French restaurants lol, in which case, sourdough breads and croissants can be safe (very individual). (I know not all cities have these.) Travel with snacks like sprouted pumpkin seeds, a veggie peeler + apples and cucumbers, dry oats (you can always ask for boiling water) …
Laura says
This is all great info! I am getting more and more comfortable with just sitting down with a glass of water while others eat, it’s not always the best option but sometimes it’s the only one. Also eating beforehand, and sometimes packing my own food depending on the situation. When you wrote ”I learned years ago not to eat for other people; our health is too important” it really resonated with me. I think it is so important to focus on the bigger picture of feeling well. Hearing this helps me to feel less alone. Thanks so much and I love all your updates!
Megan says
Great, Laura! Thanks for sharing, and so happy I could help. Best!!
Heidi says
Can you tell me more about your vitamin d sun lamp? Do you think it helped in your vitamin A detox? Is this something that Dr Smith recommends? Where I live we get some long cloudy winter days, does it help with mood and immunity?
Megan says
Hi Heidi, yes, it is something that Dr. Smith recommends. And I got the model he prefers, it being more similar to the sun’s rays. Yes, I do think it helps with mood, for sure! I can’t measure the immunity issue, but I do think so, yes. Re, did it help with my vitamin A detox, I’m sure that it did logically, based on our need for vitamin D and how much better I feel and detox when I get enough, but I do not have a specific memory or moment that I link to in my mind, as far as it helping a symptom related to detoxing A. Overall, I wouldn’t be without it. We have a detox sauna as well, and if I could only have one, I’d have the lamp for sure. Mood and a better feeling of well-being are the most noticeable benefits.
Heidi says
How do you use the vitamin d lamp? 5 minutes every other day? Do you only use it when you don’t get much sunlight? (Fall, winter, spring)
Megan says
Yes, only in non-summer months. I use it about 3 days a week. If someone is fair, they can start with just 3 minutes. I find it’s very good to rub oil on first; I like and use castor oil. Because it’s a bit boring standing in front of the light, I tend to rub the oil on while I’m “sunning”. I learned this from my time using tanning beds; the body absorbs the rays better with oil, and it’s gentler to one’s skin. I worked up to about 7 minutes last spring. But I’m about to start again this fall, and yes, I’ll start with 5 minutes every other day. 🙂
Heidi says
Is the lamp that Dr Smith recommends the red Sperti?
Thanks!
Megan says
Mine is red, and it’s the Fiji model (that yes, he recommends).
Heidi says
Have you ever heard of an Ion foot detox? What do you think about it, do you think it would help in the detoxing? Is this something that Dr Smith recommends?
Megan says
Hi Heidi, it isn’t a method he’s talking about at this point, so I don’t feel comfortable commenting on its potential. Sorry! He uses other methods, such as sauna or other sweating, vitamin D exposure, pooping at least 2 times daily, binders (like activated charcoal), magnesium baths and proper mineral supplementation, sometimes apple cider vinegar water, and then most recently his own version of (very low dose) chlorine dioxide.
Alex says
Hello Megan,
I would love to explore further the low dose chlorine dioxide. I do not see this supplement offered on Dr. Smith’s website. Is that only available to patients? Have you tried it and if so, what has your experience been on this supplement?
Always appreciate your feedback. Thank you.
Megan says
Hi Alex, I have mixed reviews on it, as yes, I’ve used it. It provides me with more energy, which feels amazing. But, it can also make the body dump bile too fast, which means it spills into the blood and wreaks havoc. This happened to me, because I increased to the max dose recommended, because I felt so good, and now I am recovering from undesirable skin symptoms. If you want to know more, let’s email. I don’t think it’s ideal for most people, because of what happened to me, which is why he doesn’t offer it broadly. I talked with him this morning and learned it would have been better to stay on the lowest dose long term to reap slow benefits. I am happy to share details privately. 🙂 But, for anyone else reading this, I would add that it’s not the miracle step in the process. It can be an aid, but either way, the diet is slow and steady for a few years, and I had made huge strides without it.
Carrie says
Hi Megan, I’m curious if you may have found a waffle-iron and pancake griddle you’d recommend? It’s hard to find these fairly toxin-free. Also, where do you purchase your thigh meat that you mention making into ground patties? Thanks!
Megan says
Hi Carrie, happy to help. Not perfect at all, but the best waffle iron we like so far is this one: https://amzn.to/3ELJrCx Not that the surface material is anything great, but it’s holding up really well, and there are no good alternatives that we have found. I have looked lol, and we have tried out so many over the years. For pancakes and other purposes, we like the All-Clad cookware, and this is their least expensive option that can work as a griddle: https://amzn.to/3OndDac It’s a 12″ shallow pan. Lastly, we use a carbon steel crepe pan for pancakes. I need to check the brand we have, but it’s similar to this, but bigger in diameter and I think higher quality: https://amzn.to/3tQrPzf Re thigh meat, I buy it from 2 local markets here in Oregon: Market of Choice or Natural Grocers. I’m not sure that both of them are certified organic. I think the one from Natural Grocers is, and the one from MoC is Deistel brand (and it’s not as good). Neither of them is awesome, but both are okay, as far as animal husbandry. But they are “good enough” for now because of needing some variety in our diets and being accessible.
Sally says
Hi Megan,
Wow! Your most recent Sunday email, where you outlined your daily diet and mineral/supplement routine, was hugely helpful! I read it once and then read it again to take down questions. Here are some thoughts that came to mind as I continue on in my second year detoxing vitamin A and loving my liver:
You still take a B1 supplement. What, specifically, does B1 help with? How would one know if it might be helpful?
I’ve heard negative reports about TRS, but I sure liked your testimony re help with brain function, plastic/metals/estrogen detoxing. How would I know if taking it might be a good thing for me?
How does the infrared sauna help? I have one, but haven’t used it in over a year…
Do you have a sourdough bread recipe you’d be willing to share? I see that Whole Foods has a clean one in their bakery. Can you recommend a brand you enjoy when it’s not homemade?
Can you share your morning meat patty recipe(s)?
Do you have a source recommendation and/or recipe for your turkey thigh patties?
Product recommendation for nut/pumpkin seed butter? Those sound yummy!
Favorite stew/soup recipes?
How do you like to serve hominy?
I am super grateful for your advice, suggestions, and recommendations!
Blessings,
Sally
Megan says
Hi Sally, so glad the updates and article are helpful! I take B1 because I know that aldehydes, white rice, egg whites and white bread (in our case, sourdough) deplete it. Many health conditions trace to B1 deficiencies, especially in nations where a lot of white rice, for example, is eaten. An Mg deficiency also aggravates a B1 deficiency. Many many symptoms suggest a B1 deficiency, including low energy, UT symptoms, fast or irregular heartbeat, MCAS or histamine issues, blurry vision, edema, muscle or joint soreness, weight loss and more. In short, it’s important, and Dr. Smith emphasizes its importance because he believes that many VA toxicity symptoms are linked to a B1 deficiency. Macadamia nuts are the best food source of B1. But the NOW brand supplement is so affordable and easy. Other good food sources are oats, beans, beef and asparagus.
Re TRS, I’d be curious to hear any negative feedback, as I can’t imagine what it would be. I have my whole family on it. Today’s world is so toxic, and we all have heavy metals that need detoxing. I think it’s ideal for most people.
Re the sauna, it aids detox and gets things moving to detox. Specifically for me, I feel more energy and better detox when I use it (so skin issues from bile dumping clear up! in my case), and I even feel my GI tract move every time I’m in it. I get internal detoxing on a cellular level, and then the sweating it causes (which doesn’t happen the first time back for many, can take some time) is another important vehicle for detoxing. So 3-fold detox: cellular (cells releasing toxins — you can take activated charcoal with plenty of water or Mg water at the same time), GI detox (stimulates the bowels) and sweat detox.
I don’t follow a recipe when I make my own sourdough. I just combine the starter, good flour, water and sea salt to get the right texture, knead, let is sit in a warm place etc and then bake. For store bought, yes! I like Izzio brand, and they also have a website. I find it at Market of Choice. Or Bread of Heaven: https://www.ovenfreshdelivery.com/ The key is to look at the flour in the ingredients list, and make sure it’s not fortified with reduced iron, B9 etc. Most of them are; oy!
Re our meat patties, we go SO low maintenance on these: no recipe, just sea salt. We use the best quality local pasture-raised beef, and form big thick patties. We cook them on medium-high heat for the first side, which gives them a charred outside and a medium rare inside. They’re fabulous, but there’s not much to them. So the biggest trick is learning to like beef for breakfast. 🙂 For our turkey patties we do the same thing, though. I don’t mix in herbs. We fry them in a little fat with sea salt; that’s it. If you want more pizzazz, here’s the Beef and Apple Breakfast Sausage Patties we make: https://eatbeautiful.net/paleo-aip-beef-apple-breakfast-sausages/
For turkey thigh meat, we buy whatever’s the best that Natural Grocers sells. I’m sorry, I can’t remember the brand right now. Honestly, I think this one could be better. We do it about once a week. I prefer Applegate Farms and Niman Ranch for how the animals are fed and treated, as far as non-local meat.
Here’s the pecan butter I just ordered: https://amzn.to/414ZLpP This is the pumpkin seed butter I buy: https://amzn.to/44ANAEo
Re stews, these short ribs: https://eatbeautiful.net/easiest-paleo-beef-short-ribs-keto-aip/ You could add hominy, peeled white carrots or peeled zucchini, or a side of sauteed asparagus, and serve with rice, peeled potatoes or masa polenta etc. And then I recommend my cookbook (digital or hard copy) for many VAD soups and stews. A few changes to the diet have been made since it was published, but not many, and you can always ask me if you’re not sure on an ingredient.
For hominy, I most often stir it into impromptu soups and stews. It works great in the Instant Pot, because it softens even more with that extra cooking.
Happy to help, and thank you for asking in this comments section!! I had a feeling it was going to be a long answer. xo!
, Sally Avery says
Hi Megan,
Thank you so much for your thorough and thoughtful reply.
On a few occasions, I’ve seen you mention French cafes as places you will go for a restaurant treat. May I ask why French cafes specifically? Also, what do you order at these cafes that allow you to stay within your VAD goals?
Thank you!
Sally
Megan says
Yes, sure, a happy topic for me lol. France in general, and French cooking, use butter and no vegetable oil; they believe to the core in real food. We do have one French restaurant in town that a few years ago started compromising with these issues (always to make more money and cut costs), but overall, they are a safer bet than any other restaurants, unless you know the owners of a farm to table restaurant, and they actually care about sourcing over profit, which is rare. As my husband and I were in the restaurant business for 8 years, we saw all of this firsthand, and it’s very disappointing how bad even gourmet restaurant food really is. At French cafes, we always order croissants. This is for a few reasons: If my health is good and my diet is faithful, I can tolerate a little butter, no problem, especially if we’re in a sunny climate. Secondly, croissants are a sourdough, a truly fermented dough. So even though they’re the best pastry and give so much pleasure, they are also gentle and use Ancestral baking techniques. Drinks-wise, I usually do not get anything exciting because decaf coffee doesn’t agree with me, most teas aren’t Yes foods, although occasionally I’ll get mint tea, and of course, all the non-dairy milks are fortified with vitamins etc. So real croissants are basically just well-sourced white flour, soured dough and butter. I know not everyone on the diet can tolerate these, so I am grateful I can have this occasional treat.
Sally Avery says
Hi Megan,
Thank you for your reply. I love knowing that croissants may be an option for an occasional treat!
On another note, May I ask what mg dosage you recommend for the NOW B1 supplement? Also, I’d like to try TRS, do I buy that from you directly?
Thanks!
Sally
Megan says
Hi Sally, the dosage I do for B1 is 100 to 200 mg with each meal that I eat white sourdough bread, white rice or egg whites (only breakfast and lunch, not dinner, as it could keep you awake). Usually 200 mg. I buy the 100 mg tablets. (This is a supplement that some people experiment with very high doses of, because it’s water soluble, so excess just washes out of us, and it’s shown some promise with conditions like Parkinson’s at high doses.) Re TRS, great. You order through this link: https://meganstevens.mycoseva.com Then you’ll need to click the Shop Now button. I choose the 3 pack of glass bottles, as it saves money, but you could also start with just one bottle if you prefer. Best!
Sally says
Megan,
Thank you for the reply. I’m so pleased to know that buttery croissants may be a special occasion treat option for me.
Two more questions came to mind after I looked back over my notes. 1) What mg dosage do you recommend for the NOW B1 supplement?, and 2) I’d like to try TRS. Am I able to order that from you directly?
Thank you!
Sally
Chloë says
Hi Megan,
What do you eat on the bread? Only the beans and hummus? Or als things like berry jam?
Thanks,
Chloë
Megan says
Hi Chloe, yes, all of the above, or nut butter and sea salt. I do avoid too much sweetener, and personally, I can’t eat much fruit because it’s my food intolerance, but yes, in theory, you certainly could. On the diet, it’s best to cultivate a taste for savory foods and limit sweets, is something to keep in mind. 🙂
Robin says
I just started a truly stricter version of low histamine diet and have now added in the VAD since three days ago. My question is that today I’m having a lot of histamine flushing, prickling sensation and itching. Is this normal to have symptoms flare initially. I’m using DAO before meals, histaminum hydrochloride pellets when needed as well as quercitin, B6c, Vit C, curcumin and ginger tea. I frequently wake up middle of night with heat riding from my core, then sweating and heart palpitations – often cannot return to sleep either no matter what I take naturally. This is a depressing diet to say the least but I’ve suffered for so many years with fibro/lupus and adrenal fatigue; also have MTHFR gene.
Megan says
Hi Robin, sounds like you have a lot of conditions playing in, and ideally you would work with Dr. Smith, who can tell you about your symptoms. He’s amazing, and I highly recommend him. He can do labs and won’t be guessing about this all as he guides you. If you choose to wait for an appointment, you can join the forum in the meantime where more people with similar conditions can help you possibly sort through more of the intricacies. Here’s Dr. Smith’s website if you’d like to consider working with him or the forum: https://nutritiondetective.com/ Personally, my symptoms did not flare initially; they only improved with the diet and supplements. Also, the diet does not include (and I did not use while doing the diet) some of the supplements you’re using, so certainly they could be causing part or all of your problem. They are not allowed on the diet because they complicate the detox process: quercetin, vitamin B6, Vitamin C (works against detox) and curcumin. I would reconsider all of those in your shoes. Also, are you using activated charcoal, which helps to absorb toxins as the exit the body, and magnesium?, which keeps toxins moving out.
Ria says
I have that yellow skin on my scalp – my hairdresser showed me. That area is crusty and itchy at times as well. Is that fungal? S dermatitis? My mother told me I was born with cradle cap. Any advice as to eliminating it? I appreciate any suggestions. ????????
Megan says
Hi Ria, going on this diet allows the body to recover in many various ways, even those ways we don’t fully understant. Are you doing the diet already? Lectins may be a factor, and many skin related issues are indeed vitamin A related. In retrospect, I don’t think it’s fungal, personally.
Sarah says
Hi Megan! To reduce the iron content you mentioned in bread, is there a sourdough brand you recommend? Thank you!! I
Megan says
Hi Sarah, yes, I like the Izzio brand. You can buy it online, or we’ve found it at the Market of Choices, if you have those in your area. Online, I think it’s more with shipping etc, so you’ll have to see if it’s affordable. It’s the sourdough we eat right now.