Hey everyone,
Lately, I’ve been feeling super bloated and sluggish, especially after meals. I’m not sure if it’s something I’m eating or maybe stress-related? I’ve heard gut health can play a big role in overall energy levels.

Does anyone have tips for reducing bloating or foods to avoid? Also, are probiotics worth a try, or should I focus on something else?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! 😊

Hi Jad,
I am new to this forum. Just wanted to say hi to everyone here.

Thanks

Hi I have had both my gall bladder and appendix removed. How will this affect me doing the cleverguts diet?

“The keto diet does not have to be particularly restricted, and I don’t agree that it is nutritionally poor.”
I have shared some tips on how to take nutritionally rich diet while on keto.
Please visit
https://www.ketoforindia.com/
and share your feedback.

Full fat dairy can raise LDL cholesterol, but it rarely increases the cardiovascular risk significantly, moderation is key. Butter raises total and LDL cholesterol significantly. I recommend limiting intake for those concerned about heart health. Coconut Oil raises both LDL and HDL cholesterol; while it may not raise LDL as much as butter, its overall impact on heart health remains contentious.

I’m not sure exactly when it started and it doesn’t seem to be getting worse, but every once in a while, when I eat cooked green peppers, I’ll vomit about 6 hours later. One time I had green pepper soup and that made my stomach hurt somewhat, in addition to later vomiting. I can eat other forms of spice no problem, it just seems to be bell pepper specifically. I’ve never cared for the taste of them, so I don’t get them often anyway.

I’m also allergic to sugar alcohols, they give me acute dermatitis on my hands and wrists. Especially Stevia, which they put in everything these days and call it “naturally sweetened”.

I appreciate confirmation that I’m not miss-attributing food poisoning to a sensitivity, and that I’m not some unique case.

If you can get into the higher dose range of warfarin (such as 20mg/day) you will find it easier to stay in your therapeutic INR range. I do that by eating 23grams (half a normal serving) of Japanese fermented soybeans, called Natto, two cups of broccoli and four servings of green tea every day. Natto is extremely high in vitamin K. I mix it with a teaspoon of coarse mustard and pecans. Also, if you raise your INR too high one day, for example by having a few beers, you can eat the other half of the package of Natto to adjust your INR back down.

Hi Jenny .
I tried the elimination diet & tho it takes a bit of work , & checking of foods it is definitely worth it . You find out heaps to help your symptoms. It’s really excellent .
Give it a go , it’s very well researched with much detail . I’m still doing it years later .
Good luck
Lulun.

You are asking some very specific questions and its most unlikely that there will have been a clinical trial to provide definitive answers. I would argue that Zoe simply isn’t appropriate for someone in your circumstances but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be done and NO evidence. I’d need to know what bloods you’ve had – and have you undertaken microbiome analysis for example? There is help available but you need specialist help – ZOE’s broad brush approach isn’t aimed at someone like you

I agree with your comments completely. I can’t find anything to answer the question about whether it’s possible to improve your gut biome when you don’t have a colon. I had an ileostomy aged 16 and am now 61 so I know how to manage it, but recently after developing osteoarthritis, I decided to see if I could reduce the inflammation through diet changes. I’ve had a recent bad flare up that has happened after I’ve made a number of suggested changes from Zoe and in the clever guts diet, so I’m feeling pretty fed up at the moment. No one seems to be interested in investigating this.

Hi Chrissie
Its under Get Started – https://cleverguts.com/food-diary/#
All the best,
Ali

Hi Chrissie – Its under Get Started – https://cleverguts.com/food-diary/#
All the best,
Ali

Fasting from 5pm through until 7am. Also avoiding UPFs, white carbs… eating med diet. I still eat dark choc, drink red wine…

Yes it did. I would recommend it…

I have been fasting for 14hrs between 8pm to 10am (sometimes longer as don’t always have breakfast). If i do have breakfast it’s berries and yoghurt. Lunch is a salad or boiled eggs and almonds, dinner is protein ie lean meat/fish and the rest of plate salad/veg. Have lost nearly a stone in 4 weeks. I was an eating machine, never full, but i found cutting out sugar and bread/pasta and, in the main, potatoes my appetite for volume has really reduced which stops me overeating. In fact last night on holiday i had a baked aubergine in tomato sauce starter and my main dish was chicken with greek potatoes (small cubes). I could only eat 2 out of the 13 potatoes. I have NEVER known myself turn potatoes down! Just couldn’t eat them and now used to preferring a healthy full feeling over a stuffed feeling! Have also been reading Micheaels clever guts book and when back home will start the fast 800 already tried the cardomen chicken and the rainbow salad…am talking SUPER delicious healthy food, even my husband, whos is a real foodie, couldn’t stop saying how good they were!!! My other piece of advice is to focus on getting healthy rather than thin (weight loss will follow) but helps to get you in the right mindset (as well as reading and listening to Michaels podcasts to keep your mind focused on your health journey-really helps to keep you motivated!) Hope that helps!

Was totally gutted to hear of Michaels passing, was just getting into his books, podcasts etc….i really hope his great work, and this website gets upheld ….what a special guy who gave so much to the world of health, bringing knowledge in an easily digestible form for all!

Hi Pia, i looked on the site and searched seaweed capsules but nothing came up. Are you still stocking at Panzers for the UK and if not, is there anywhere else i can purchase them?

I have really bad reflux and a hiatus hernia. Has anyone done the clever guts diet with bad reflux did it help?

Remove “bad” carbs. all the white stuff. I normally fast just because I don’t eat breakfast and eat an early dinner since I can’t sleep on even a semi full stomach but this has not served me at all because when I do eat I over do the carbs which are my favorite. Once i get rid of them I can see weightloss. Don’t worry about the exercise in the beggining. Take a walk after work. Concentrate on eating more veg before your meal.

With so much new information, for example from the Zoe Project and Monty Lyman’s The Immune Mind, is there anything known yet about exactly which foods to eat/ avoid to encourage or eradicate the specific microbes that influence overeating and carb cravings? I eat a whole food plant based diet anyway but still struggle with these issues. My guess is that my diet still feeds the “wrong” microbes.

Please let me know where in Europe (not UK) I can order seaweed capsules.
If I order from UK, the Greek customs is high.
In appreciation
Rhea

I get up early every morning, run 4 kilometers, and jump 500 ropes. It is really difficult for me to get up early, and I wanted to give up for a while. But every time I see the calories burned on my BP Doctor TR12 and the little bit of weight loss, I’m happy.

Hi, I am starting out in earnest on an 800/900 calorie-per-day diet, and aiming to extend my fast window from 16 hours (8pm to 12pm) by a couple of hours. I’ve got a lot of kilos to lose, and I know I can do it. But I’d really love to know what was the thing that you ate or did that made the biggest difference to weight loss for you personally? I will happily try anything!

Hi there,
For the past 3 months I have been having strange gut behaviour very similar what an IBS is:
– 1-2 stools a day not really formed or very “pasty” that smell bad (cow/farm)
– It seems I am feeling well 1 day over 2 (like 1 day I am OK, the next one very bloated, the day after ok…)
– I started to have acne more regularly and can’t ged rid off (usually I have 2-3 pimples during periods or if I ate too fatty)
– When I feel weaker/bloated I have weird sensation to legs and arms like joint pains? Is that leaky gut?
– More intolerance to food (can’t even think about eating bread or tomatoes or potatoes without issues)

In overall, I don’t feel especially “bad” as I don’t want to go poop every hours but I know something is wrong. I have IBD (UC) and got a flare in December, I’ve been switched to anti-tnf and everything is OK, no inflammation at all, no side effect so far. Also no parasites or pathogens. NOTE: I started to feel this before the UC flare but stool appearance was still OK at that time (before inflammatory diarrheas kick off of course).

I did a microbiota test in December showing low diversity so I also tried to improve my gut since it started: I sometimes drink water and milk kefir, eating more fermented food in general. I also eat any kind of fiber (starchy, legumes, vegetables, fruits) as I hate restriction. I wonder if my diet of fermented stuff messed things off? It seems sugar containing food is what triggers it so I’d go for SIFO but I know it’s very difficult to know exactly when it’s IBS related.

Any tests that have been showing proof? any similar stories or experiences? I think my gastro won’t be able to help and so I was ready to check medical functional practitioner to find the root if it’s the only solution but it’s long, painful and can cost a lot.

Thank you!

Bell peppers are high in the FODMAP diet – limit to 75 gms per serving

its me back , Ive still got the disabling cramps even though i have been on strict FODMAP since 2022. Eventually I found a post that the disabling chemical is not destroyed by pressure cooking so for the few of us that are debilitated by it we are not numerous enough for the scientists to investigate. Its not capscasin for me because i hopefully tasted purified paprika colourant extracted by hplc and still reacted.
Still homecooking and taking my own food to social events.
Goji berries are also from the capsicum family!
For spicy heat black pepper or wasabi are my go to.
Im on Monash Fodmap but capsicum is not a Fodmap.

I’m 49 and have been intolerant to capsicum for as long as I can remember. Paprika hidden in foods also makes me really sick. My body will.go hot and I’ll vomit. Ate some relish yesterday and I’m still.feeling crook. I’ll go a long time without eating it then will stupidly eat something like relish and get really sick.

Just made this and yes, not a dough but a cake mix. Spent ages checking and re checking what I’d done wrong.
Texture sponge like and sweet which would be lovely if I hadn’t added Himalayan salt which made it to salty for me. Will add less next time. Won’t enjoy at breakfast but as a snack when sugar cravings take over. Look forward to trying the other bread recipe and I’ll read reviews 1st.

Hi, I know how you how you feel I have a HH as well, I can be fine for months and then out of the blue I’m feeling terrible, bloated, nausea, burping, sore throat. I also follow the acid watcher diet book by Dr Johnathan Aviv which is really informative, Im also using a medical device called iqoro which seems to have helped a lot. They are also certain exercises that can help have a look on you tube.

Hello everyone. Hope all is well. Just a quick update: I’ve been taking aloe vera capsules for the past few weeks and the results have been really encouraging. The convenience and benefits I’ve experienced have made it a beneficial addition to my daily routine. For anyone looking to understand more about the potential health benefits of aloe vera, particularly in relation to gut health, I came across an informative article recently. It dives deep into these aspects and I found it quite enlightening. Here’s the link for anyone who wants to delve into it: https://www.aloeride.com/news-on-how-to-help-diverticulitis-yourself/. I truly recommend giving it a read!

Hi Abby,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent health challenges, and I truly hope you’re feeling better. Gut health is incredibly important, and I admire your dedication to improving yours. Always remember to consult with your healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes. With that being said, I’d like to provide some general advice on how you might better manage your health situation using natural products.

Regarding fasting, it’s been noted for its various health benefits, including potentially improved gut health. However, given your recent health issues, I’d strongly advise you to discuss this option with your healthcare provider before trying it.

To meet your daily fiber requirements, consider incorporating more high-fiber foods into your meals. This could include foods such as whole grains, legumes, and certain fruits and vegetables. However, during the acute phase of diverticulitis, it’s often recommended to reduce fiber intake to allow your digestive system to rest. Therefore, it’s essential to follow your doctor’s advice closely during this period.

As for natural products, Aloe Vera juice is well-known for its potential benefits in soothing the digestive system, but its efficacy in treating diverticulitis hasn’t been conclusively proven. While it could offer general digestive comfort for some, it’s crucial to consult with your doctor before including it in your regimen.

Flaxseeds and chia seeds are also excellent sources of fiber and can be beneficial for general gut health. However, these seeds may be difficult to digest for some people with diverticulitis, and might not be suitable during a flare-up. You may want to discuss these options with your healthcare provider once your inflammation has subsided.

Probiotics found in foods like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut could help balance the good bacteria in your gut, potentially aiding digestion and preventing future inflammation. However, research on the effects of probiotics on diverticulitis is still ongoing, so it’s best to discuss this with your healthcare provider as well.

In addition to these, hydration and regular physical activity are key to promoting a healthy digestive system. Remember, dietary changes should be gradual to allow your body to adjust, and abrupt changes can sometimes cause discomfort or worsen existing conditions.

Please note that everyone is unique, and what works well for one person might not work for another. Always listen to your body and seek professional advice when needed.

My best wishes to you on your journey to better gut health.

Best regards,

Hi Woodymo. I have had similar issues in the past e.g. eating certain foods (meats, soy sauce, vinegar etc.)/drinking alcohol and struggling with insomnia and a pounding heart late at night. Fortunately, I no longer experience these symptoms. What I have come to learn is that TWO different things can cause me these symptoms.

1. Acetic acid (or acetate). Acetic acid can be found in foods like vinegar and some fermented foods. Fun fact: upon consumption, alcohol is converted to acetic acid (in large amounts). Acetic acid is also produced by specific gut bacteria in response to certain foods we eat. Acetic acid has been shown to alter the levels of the excitatory neurotransmitters glutamate, glutamine and GABA in the brain. This may cause you to experience symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, palpitations etc. I have experienced these symptoms first-hand when taking a probiotic for months. This single strain probiotic contained an acetic acid-producing bacteria called B. lactis HN019. If you are taking any probiotics or eating fermented foods, please consider checking if they contain acetic acid in large amounts or acetic acid-producing bacteria.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.00025/full https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa72/aa72.htm#:~:text=First%2C%20ADH%20metabolizes%20alcohol%20to,for%20easy%20elimination%20(2).

2. Foods such as the ones listed above (meats, soy sauce, vinegar etc.) that contain high levels of biogenic amines such as histamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, and spermidine. Long story short, like acetic acid, these amines can also cause excitatory symptoms (or ‘histamine intolerance’) in certain individuals. However, biogenic amines are NOT inherently ‘bad’ and thus should not be cut from your diet. The real issue for many is they are not breaking down and clearing these biogenic amines like a normal person would. For me, the reason I was retaining biogenic amines is because I was molybdenum deficient. Molybdenum is an essential mineral that acts as a cofactor for many important bodily processes such as detoxification. Molybdenum is CRUCIAL for the production of sulfate. And sulfate is CRUCIAL for the detoxification process ‘sulfation’ (or sulfonation). It is this detoxification process ‘sulfation’ that removes biogenic amines from the body. I decided to try a molybdenum supplement (500mcg) and within just three or four days my late night symptoms had completely resolved. I now take 150mcg molybdenum daily and have not had issues with food since.

In summary: If taking probiotics, consider stopping them for a period of time. Also consider taking a molybdenum supplement.

I seem to be extremely late to this post lol, but I hope your gut journey is going well! Short answer it really depends on the person.

I think it’s great you’re avoiding dairy and soy. That seems to trigger a lot of symptoms in people. Another huge thing I would say is to make sure your protein has clean ingredients. You don’t want a bunch of artificial crap. That’s no good for anyone! I’m using a bloat-free protein I found on Facebook called TumLove which has been great so far. I linked it to this post if you want to check it out.

Anyways, I hope all is well! :))

Protein:
https://tumlove.com/products/tumlove-low-fodmap-gut-friendly-protein-powder-chocolate

For anyone looking for Australian microbiome testing, check out Microba. I haven’t tried them yet but am about to. I’m impressed by what I’ve read so far about the type of test used, and interpretation and support offered.
Type in:
insight.microba.com

For anyone looking for Australian microbiome testing, check out Microba. I haven’t tried them yet but am about to. I’m impressed by what I’ve read so far about the type of test used, and interpretation and support offered.

I’m looking to buy a SCOBY. Where do I get one from?

Yes. This forum appears to have died a death. We provide this service via InVivo. Take a look at ProLongevity for more info. You need more than a test. You need someone to interpret it and explain what to do

I’m new to this forum and interested in microbiome testing. Any recommendations please I’m noticing a lot of these posts seem quite old and wondering if any recent updates on recommended companies to go with.
Thank you

Dear Pia, I wrote you from Italy I read about you and seaweed supplements on the book of dr Mosley. I hope it will be helpful for my son, psoriasis…do you ship also to Italy? Thank you so much

These probiotics from Bioglan are good. It has 20 strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacterium
https://bioglan.com.au/products/bioglan-platinum-probiotic-100b-30s

Hello,
I, like many people, am allergic to Penicillin. (Anaphylactic shock potential). I cannot eat blue cheese and if I eat anything mouldy by accident, I have a reaction – sometimes pains in arms, hives etc. I cannot drink wine from France and South Africa due to the much higher levels of Sulphites used in the process (NB – I love French wine but it doesn’t love me; wine from everywhere else is fine and no problem with Champagne). Top tip while I’m here, if you think that you can’t drink wine because it ‘gives me a hangover’, do some experimenting; you might find that wine from Australia is fine, but French will hurt your head.
Anyway, I’ve avoided anything that I am unsure of eating for years because of this mould issue. Years ago, I was advised not to take Acidophilus and steer clear of ‘probiotic products’. I think this was because the nutritionist did not have the background knowledge to advise on these substances and so preferred to exclude them from my recommended food list. I am really wanting to improve my gut biome, having read D Mosley’s book. Can anyone advise me as to whether I should avoid anything specific when wanting to improve gut bacteria, when I have this Penicillin/mould problem please? Thank you.

CHOLESTEROL AND THE BODY Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in the body and in foods. It is vital for many functions in the body. Cholesterol is important for the structure of cell membranes, the making of hormones, and the maintenance of bones and muscles. The body produces cholesterol. https://www.healthmassive.com/ But we also need to consume it from foods such as eggs, meat, milk, cheese, and some other foods. There is a normal range of cholesterol levels in our blood that indicates what level of cholesterol we should have.

I love these soil-based probiotics. They have 6 strains of bacteria and 50-100 million CFU. https://www.codeage.com/products/sbo-probiotic

I have added to a 5 year old post but had better try a fresh one. I have read Clever Guts cover to cover and am about to try following the advice.
I can’t find the Diary mentioned in the book, said to be under Resources. 5 years ago, a post said it didn’t seem to be there. Surely it must have been added by now but maybe I am not techy enough to find it. Also I can’t see the result of the Olive Oil research.
Can someone help me please.

5 years later and I too have bought the book and have come to the site looking for the Diary said to be under Resources. Am I being thick? Surely after 5 years, it must have been added but I can’t find it.
If you did, please let me know where to find it. There doesn’t seem to be an update on Olive oils either.

Hello Woodymo
Sorry to hear about how you feel with your disease. You know youe diagnosis and you just need to foolow doctor’s instructions. Also you may visit psycologist because it may be kinda of psychosomatics.

Take care!

Hi am new here. Does anyone else suffer from digestive issues, i.e. I can’t go out for a meal in the evening without suffering later in the night i.e. 2 or 3am with a pounding heart and bloating, made worse if I have a glass of wine. I have to sit bolt upright and try and sleep that way!! I’ve suffered this all my life. I was diagnosed with hiatus hernia, mild gastritis and IBS. It’s getting to the point where I refuse invitations! I could handle it in my 20s/30s etc but I’m 69 now and it’s depressing me. Sorry for the long post.

My daughter in law gets sick and flushed if she eats uncooked capsicum. She can’t tolerate any version of chilli spice and capsicum are a type of chilli pepper albeit very mild. She had lots of tests to identify what the problem was and it took years. Nothing to do with blood type.

Hi,
I too suffered from thrush for many years. In addition I had symptoms of IBS. I tried all sorts of solutions but it was only when a nutritionist guided me through an exclusion diet ( keep notes as you reintroduce foods) that I discovered I was reacting to dairy products. Further analysis over many months identified that it was lactose (I can eat butter and a bit of hard cheese). The magic part was on a lactose free diet my thrush disappeared. I was thrush free for over 10 years and only suffer occasionally since the menopause if I eat something I shouldn’t.
I am now taking a small amount of live apple cider vinegar in water before breakfast. This has transformed my slightly dodgy gut bacteria to give me a much healthier gut (I won’t go into details but it is miraculous for me). My gut is now more forgiving of the odd slip up of eating something I shouldn’t. So it is possible to get rid of persistent thrush. Good luck.

Does anyone have any personal experience or know of a book or research that provides evidence for a strict diet protocol and intermittent fasting alleviating symptoms of autoimmune conditions, and possibly specifically Sjogren’s syndrome? Of the many autoimmune conditions, those that I find most written about are multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Finding useful, positive information about Sjogren’s is a real challenge. Almost all information on line is largely that there is no treatment, no help and a dismal future.

Another Arbequina extra virgin olive oil you can find in the UK and you can buy online is Reinos de Taifas, I have been buying it for a few years and the service is very good:

https://reinosdetaifas.co.uk/product-category/arbequina-single-variety/

Enjoy it!