You can now understand that the dietetic problem is not solved, as the average person imagines, through simply knowing which foods are best and the kind of foods the mucusless diet consists of. In the previous lesson, you were taught knowledge unknown to all others—what happens and what must happen in the human body if the sick person eats only the "best foods" or takes a long fast. Later, you will learn how this stirring up and eliminating of mucus by "good foods" and fasting can and must be controlled by yourself, the treating physician, or dietician.
You may now see of what little value and how injurious it may become for the average health-seeker to stuff their stomach daily with terrible mixtures of "good food," "raw food combinations" (in the belief that raw food alone will do it), without any plan or system—without any regard for the disease and their mental or physical condition.
In spite of my antipathy towards "faddists," I will submit a selection of tables prepared by one of the most advanced experts of physiological chemistry—Ragnar Berg, of the special laboratory for food research at Dr. Lahmann's sanitarium of Germany.
Editor's Note by Prof. Spira on the Berg Table : The original Ragnar Berg table can be problematic and quite confusing for first-time readers, and many modern-day mucusless diet practitioners have wanted to see new, revised editions of the book that omit this chapter or improve it in some way. Ultimately, the purpose of the Berg table was to show that Ehret was not alone in believing that acid-forming foods were injurious to the body. The problem is that many of the items in the original table that are actually very much acid- and mucus-forming are listed as acid-binding.
Ehret does try to explain that the tables should be taken with a grain of salt . In the material that precedes the Berg table in the original text, Ehret explains, "The majority of foods he [Berg] calls 'acid-forming' is what I call 'mucus-forming,' and what he calls 'acid-binding,' that is, non-acid food, is almost exactly what I call 'mucusless'." The key phrases are 'the majority' and 'almost exactly'. Then he explains, "The mere fact that some foods given in the list are 'acid-binding' does not necessarily mean that I endorse their use. This list is given as a comparison only and should be studied for what it is worth. Please understand that I am not endorsing Berg's theories."
Yet, most readers tend to assume that the table is meant to be a "mucusless vs. mucus-forming foods chart." The chapter is more of an attempt to illustrate his alkaline vs. acid-forming food theories using the work of his peers. Most of what Ehret has published stands the test of time. Yet, the writings that do not tend to do so represent his attempts to dialog with his contemporaries, of whom he is greatly more advanced.
For the purposes of this twenty-first century educational edition of the Mucusless Diet , I've taken a great editorial liberty to provide a clearly defined list of acid-forming (pus- and mucus-forming) and acid-binding (mucusless) foods, as I have come to know them. I have also added new categories for acid-forming stimulants that are not necessarily mucus-forming, but are still injurious to the body and should be avoided or transitioned away from. One of the most useful aspects of the Berg table was its list of fruits and vegetables. I've included almost all of the food items from the original list, along with many other items in common use today.
Keep in mind that this is not a list of "what foods I recommend" on the mucusless diet, but an objective list of mucus- or acid-forming vs. non-acid forming foods. I do not recommend all of the items that are technically mucus-free, and there are some mucus-forming items that may be an important part of your transition. Many of the starchy vegetables or fatty fruits in this list may be used while on the transition diet. I also include a section for vegetables that are all, or relatively, starchless. Although they may contain a little starch, some of them have been identified to be great vegetables to use during the transition. Also, later in the book, Ehret will explain how cooking some starchy vegetables "improves" their cleansing abilities. Some vegetables that are quite starchy when raw become relatively mucusless when slightly cooked. Pus-forming and very mucus-forming foods listed below are the ones that should really be avoided from the beginning, if possible. But moderately or slightly mucus-forming items may be used effectively during the transition. This is not an exhaustive list of foods, but the most common ones are addressed. Ultimately, Ehret’s TRANSITION DIET will show you how to use less harmful mucus-forming foods to get away from the worst ones. All of these issues will be explored in forthcoming chapters.