The Budwig diet for diabetes originated in 1951 as a purported preventative and cure for cancer. Biochemist Johanna Budwig theorized that flax seed oil mixed with cottage cheese will form linol-acids that inhibit the formation of oxydase. She thought that oxydase promoted the growth of cancerous tumors and the progression of other diseases such as diabetes. While the diet's efficacy has not been proved by medical studies, it does prohibit high carbohydrate, processed foods which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels in diabetics. Of course, you should talk to your doctor before trying the Budwig diet for any reason.
Transition
Dr. Budwig recommends a transition diet for sick patients who may not be able to tolerate the Budwig diet at first. The transition diet starts out with a glass of sauerkraut juice in the morning. Linomel, a preparation of ground flax seeds and honey mixed with milk, is given to the patient for the first couple of days, followed by unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices. This transition diet helps the patient to tolerate the full Budwig diet.
Breakfast
Breakfast on the Budwig diet consists of Linomel muesli, fruit such as strawberries or apples, and honey as a sweetener. Pour milk over the muesli and top the mixture with raw nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews or pine nuts. A slice of wholemeal bread topped with vegetables such as cucumber, white radish, cheese or other raw vegetables rounds out the meal.
Lunch
Lunch consists of a raw vegetable salad with a flax seed oil dressing. Add a steamed vegetable topped with a flax seed oil margarine and a baked or mashed potato, which serves as the main carbohydrates for this meal. A dessert prepared with raw fruits is covered in cottage cheese and flax seed oil to work healthy oils and protein into the midday meal.
Dinner
The Budwig diet for dinner is very light and contains no meat. Buckwheat and millet cakes or cereal or Linomel and milk or buttermilk are allowed. Millet can also be added to vegetable stock to make an evening soup. Dinner should be served no later than 6 p.m. It does not contain fruits or vegetables, which are served at other meals. Fruit and vegetable juices are served throughout the day.
