AGEs (advanced glycation end products) seems more than a little scary. I have to wonder if all the healthy fats in the mediterranean diet are really so healthy, taking AGEs into account. Does anyone know about this?

I’m a 69 year old woman with a long history of digestive issues. I live in Auckland, New Zealand.
I purchased ‘The Fast Diet’, and immediately put the plan into action. I lost 3kg in two months without watching calories 5 days of the week.

My doctor did a full blood count recently and told me I needed to go on statins, as my cholesterol was 7.2., but I said no… I’d improve my diet. In the last few months, I’ve been researching nutrition online. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I bought and read Michael’s latest book, “The Clever Gluts Diet” and wow! An impressive and extremely worthwhile read.

I think I’ve decided on a combo diet. Starting with an FODMAP diet, then onto a combination of Paleo (unprocessed) and Mediterranean (red wine), while also doing the 5/2 Fast Diet.
I also intend to make my own kefir, yoghurt, possibly sambuca and try my hand at sauerkraut etc.

I would like to take part in the survey.

That is hard to tell without testing it.

Great book, would like to be considered for the survey.

Great thanks I will try it

What is the difference in how each is made/ ingredients/ nutrients?

AFAIK here in the UK we only have “coconut milk” as tinned liquid or dried powder. It is made as per the Wikipedia definition. The refrigerated products are mostly multi ingredient dairy substitutes (“drink” or “yoghurt”) or coconut water.

If the two types you can buy are similar in nutrients, go for the one with the fewest ingredients/ additives

Cod liver oil is so much better than ordinary fish oil, there are an amazing amount of evidence for this but I will not bother writing it up, it’s all in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc0gjgii82A

Please watch it and educate yourself about the pros and cons of cod liver oil/breaks compared to ordinary fish oil.

I had my evening meal with a drink of blackcurrent at about 7pm. I mixed about teaspoon of potatoes starch in the dregs of my drink. It left a funny taste in my mouth.
Went to bed at 10 pm.
Woke up just once in the night.
Best nights sleep for years.
Will be trying the same again tonight.

Amazingl! How much did you take, with what and at what tine of day please?

Take one step at a time.

I would like to be considered for the potato starch survey.
Bought some yesterday and tried it for the first time and had such a good night’s sleep. Best night in years. Thanks

Hi. I am part way through reading The Clever Guts Diet. Is the coconut milk in the pumpkin porridge recipe tinned or from the fridge in a carton? Thanks for any advice/help given.

I agree with GrahamPhillips.

Keto is very low carbohydrate so tends to be very restrictive, and thus poorly balanced nutritonally. No grains, beans or lentils, few fruits or root vegetables, limited dairy, limited range of nuts and seeds. Servings of animal protein and animal fat tend to be large.

The initial elimination phase of Clever Guts is somewhat restrictive and low carb, but is only temporary. The reintroduction and ongoing phases emphasise a really wide variety of different foods and are more moderate carb.

Not really.. Keto is FAR lower in carbs

Has anyone thought that these recommendations seem to be a lot like a keto diet without specifically giving that recommendation? Has anyone tried it? It seems very similar.

Jonesy22: given how many British and EU food giants bought or sold budget processed beef products adulterated*/ enhanced* with thoroughbred horsemeat back in 2013, tracking and testing can be worked around.

*delete as you see fit!

SO MANY variables with foods, drinks, drugs, daily activities, mental or physical health issues all potentially impacting the bladder symptoms.

Right now all I can do is try to monitor for patterns, await results of routine smear and STI screen, have planned bloodwork (full count, vit D, liver function, female hormones).Urine glucose by practice nurse, blood glucose last year at hospital. Low-ish risk for type 2 diabetes: healthy weight/ waist, no family history, non smoker, mid 40s, on and off heavy drinker tho.

You can also buy lots of seaweed from the excellent Cornish Seaweed Company – as flakes etc that you can add to your cooking, or larger bits too for specific recipes.

https://www.cornishseaweed.co.uk/

Tried both changes, but bladder symptoms continue to come and go. I have considered it could be the start of interstitial cystitis, which could fit with my history of overactive sympathetic nervous system (NHS dermatologist: PP rosacea/ excessive sweating/ anxiety). But I have few night issues with bladder so not classic for interstitial.

Then it occurred to me that the amitriptyline might be treating the overactive nervous system – inc. bladder – as well as the mental health stuff … Mi afternoon flare might be as blood levels drop?

I wondered if something I was eating/ drinking/ taking/ doing after rising was irritating the bladder. The only ‘new’ was the celecoxib, but multiple other changes (eg. increased soft drinks, which are acidic and loaded with sweeteners).

Practice nurse dip stick tested a urine sample taken mid flare, but clear of infection. Saw GP later same day, we agreed a week off the celecoxib and/ or course of trimethoprim.

Thanks for your continued interest, Graham Phillips.

Have history of UTIs but not for many years. This episode started ~6 weeks ago. Classic UTI in triggers and symptoms. Hoping to avoid antibiotics I treated with copious cranberry drink and/ or lemon squash (hate water!). Symptoms on and off. At three weeks prescribed nitrofurantoin, symptoms still on and off but noticed pattern of mid afternoon flare.

Hmm why would you get a symptom flare mid afternoon? Are you drinking plenty plenty? Could it be related to something else? Just a thought but do you ever check you blood/urine sugars?

I thought this guidance would be on this website (as per the Clever Guts Diet book) but I can’t hunt it down.
I live in the UK and going off TV food documentaries would expect the larger supermarkets, selling their own brand of cooking oils, would police their sources and even lab test the product before putting their own name on the label. Their reputation rests on it. If I bought a bottle of Sainsbury’s or Tesco’s wine which was below standard then I wouldn’t go down that road again and I’d tell my friends. Cheers.

Oops sorry. Trying to avoid ‘oversharing’ results in total lack of clarity!

Flare in cystitis/ urinary tract symptoms mid afternoon. Hoping it’s just an extended irritation/ inflammation after the original UTI and not truly chronic, it has eased somewhat.

Will certainly discuss again with my GP or at a wellbeing check (in two weeks) if worsening or not resolved. Just had smear and STI screen, due bloodwork at the wellbeing check so most bases covered.

Hi Firefox: are you talking about a flare of gastric symptoms or musculo-skeletal symptoms? one option might be to split the dose – of amitriptyline take 75mg at night and 25mg at noon. Another option is to add in (say) 10mg at noon and increase gradually . The maximum daily dose is 150mg but many people can’t tolerate it.Suggest discuss with your GP?

PS: What are you doing to strengthen your core? That can be far more effective than pain-killers or pain-modulators ?

Hi Firefox – one option would be to split the dose of amitriptyline rather than take 100mg as a single dose. An alternative
is to take a second dose around noon (start with 10mg and work up). All other things being equal the max daily dose is 150mg – but many people struggle to tolerate the max dose- its very individual . Are you taking other meds and is the flare gut symptoms or other symptoms ? Suggest consult your GP before making any changes tho

Great, thanks, watching now.

Edit: that was great. What a fantastic woman 🙂

Just caught Dr Pia Winberg and her seaweed research lab on BBC Television’s ‘Coast Australia’ series 2, Southern New South Wales episode. First 15 minutes if you are watching online. 🙂

When you say flare are you talking gut symptoms or musculoskeletal? FYI the max dose of amitryptiline is 150mg (but many people can’t tolerate that dose) there’s no reason why you couldn’t split the dose you are taking and see if that gives you better pain relief over the 24h. Another option is to add small increments of 10mg for the second dose and see if it helps. Risk of daytime drowsiness and beware interactions with other prescribed medicines. Suggest discuss with your GP.?

Just had a lightbulb moment!

Maybe the mid afternoon flare isn’t aggravated by what I eat/ drink/ take at breakfast … but rather the symptoms are relieved overnight by my amitriptyline. I take 100mg at night for insomnia and depression.; much lower doses are used for nerve pain IIRC.

Claudia Roden has written various books about Mediterranean cuisine, none of her recipes have ever let me down.

Thanks again for your input.

Yes I was prescribed the nitrofurantoin first (end of week three). Urine test negative for UTI but still symptomatic hence the trimethoprim script (end of week five). Just being treated by the GP at present.

The celecoxib – and before that naproxen – were for neck/ shoulder/ upper back knotting and pain (six month history). Likely a combination of age related degeneration in the cervical spine and poor posture. I have been referred for physiotherapy so hope to be off all analgesics by the end of the year.

Nitrofurantoin is preferred for two reasons: 1) Less resistance and 2) Narrower spectrum (kills more of the bad bugs and less of the good bugs). Sounds like you are taking quite a lot of meds? What does the consultant say??

That’s useful info GutsyChickpea. I haven’t looked into Collagen supplements but I know that cutting out nightshades has helped a lot. I found that the variety of veg in my diet increased dramatically when I went nightshade free because I tried so many different things as alternatives. Really got me out of a dietary rut!
I would advise anyone going nightshade free to look up Nomato Sauce recipes and to always have a good supply in the freezer.

Thanks for your reply GrahamPhillips.

Facial rash improved substantially by Tuesday, right around the time the cystitis recurred! Now on second course of antibiotics (nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim). 🙁

Hi Ding,

Cutting out nightshades is part of the anti-inflammatory diet, prescribed for those with autoinflammatory diseases. The whole family contains a variety of glycoalkaloids which inhibiting cholinesterase. This can increase intestinal permeability, causing your immune cells to flow into your gut where they find alien bacteria, panic and cause an immune response and inflammation. I assume everyone here is already onboard with the idea that an inflamed gut can seriously effect your mental health.

However some people are also particularly sensitive to cholinesterase Inhibitors, and can see a significant drop in dopamine and a spike in acetylcholine. This can lead to increased anxiety, loss of energy and a heightened stress response.

Mike Mosleys diet is very well researched and looks to build you up to a hale and healthy gut. However as he says himself, different people are starting with guts in different conditions and the whole system is extraordinarily complicated!

First off it’s probably worth testing if the nightshades were the real culprit. Cut out potatoes, and replace them with other forms of resistance starch such as oats or cooked, cooled and reheated (briefly) rice. Monitor if you are feeling better. If not look at what other changes you made at the same time as adding the potatoes, did you remove anything? Then add a different night shade (tomatoes, peppers) to this meal and measure the effect. This should give you a better indication of whether it’s nightshades or something else.

Either way adding collagen should help improve the lining of your gut. If nightshades are generally a problem remove them and focus on finding other veg to replace them (still try and hit that 30 species a week!), and you can sporadically try them again over time to see if they affect you less as your gut heals. If not, you may be sensitive to CIs.

Amazon have a ton of collagen (it’s actually not too expensive as the serving sizes are so small) and its entirely tasteless and odorless. Or you can follow the broth recipe in the book and boil up some bones if you have the time.

Hope this helps, please keep us updated!

Thanks for the replies – I didn’t get a notification until just now… ??
I’ll check out the recommendations, I remember enjoying Barry Sears ‘Zone’ diet book many years ago…..

By the way there are loads of healthy recipes FREE on the BlueZones website …

Lee: your query prompted me to dust off a few recipe books, and order a couple more!

‘Eivissa The Ibiza Cookbook’ (written by Anne Sijmonsbergen) is a good match. Plenty of vegetables, fish and seafood, beans and lentils, some potato. Olive oil of course, and her cornerstone flavours: sea salt, black pepper, lemon and vinegar.

Regarding VitD – almost the entire UK population is deficient, especially in the period from September to end of April when there is simply insufficient of the necessary bandwidth of UV light available – so much so that GPs are encouraged to “treat” and not bother testing in most cases. The approporiate dose for 97% of the population to give reasonable VitD levels is 400iu . Dietary supplements are not regulated and as such are notoriously variable in quality and content. (As the Trust Me team found when they investigated) so ask your local pharmacist to recommend a suitable product. Our pet recommendations are Dlux (made by Better U) or Fultium D (the OTC version is half the prescription strength i.e. it is 400iu)

NB: Its almost impossible go gain sufficient VitD from diet alone.

Be aware that which foods (eg. flour, boxed cereals, dairy) are fortified with which vitamins or minerals vary by country.

Those of us in the UK and similar latitudes should consider vitamin D, which we get primarily from oily fish and UVB sunlight *late Spring to early Autumn only*. Our experts recommend eating up to four servings of oily fish each week, short exposure to midday sunlight in season, vitamin D3 supplements for specific ‘at risk’ groups.

So for safety’s sake please discuss supplements with a healthcare professional who is familiar with your diagnoses, drug regimen, activity level, you in general (age, gender, weight, smoking status, alcohol intake, etc). So doctor, pharmacist, registered dietician, practice nurse …

As you get into Clever Guts your needs will probably change so re-assess your supplements regularly. Less is more: increase the dose of prebiotic powders slowly, drop vitamins or minerals as you add in nutrient dense wholefoods.

By supplements I mean vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, probiotic capsules, prebiotic powders, anything to boost fitness results or sports performance. Products that have been processed or concentrated for convenience or to be more effective, products that supplement a balanced diet not replace it.

If a product is potent enough to treat a health problem or reduce symptoms it is potent enough to have side effects, to interact with prescribed or pharmacy drugs, maybe even harm your health.

Hi EatingMadness,

With the problems you are experiencing just now, even having thoughts about what would help others the most says a lot of positive things about your personality and your outlook on life. Today we can only do what we can and it is often very little.

I will share one of the ways of looking at life which I have found helpful. I am blessed with a fantastic view of the North Sea. When I look at all that water, with all its’ beauty and today ‘s millpond like stillness, but often with powerful, potentially destructive crashing waves, I sometimes consider this. Every drop of water, in that sea, has evaporated and become part of a cloud, who knows how many times over. It has then fallen back down to earth as tiny rain drops and eventually become part of a sea or ocean again.

Every decision or action we take towards reclaiming our health is like a single drop of rain. Individually they are tiny, but when we finally start to have the right information, the right thoughts and begin to make the right changes, gradually and over time they can add up to bigger differences than we could ever have believed possible. We all need to stop beating ourselves up for what we ought to have done and just try to make those rain drop sized changes we do have the energy for, or the will power to do or whatever else it is we have today. Even if it is just the thought to say, I will make at least one better food choice tomorrow.

May those small changes bring bigger benefits soon.

AARA

GrahamSPhillips – I’m not familiar with how much the other tests you mention show. I’m following the advice of my nutritionist and so far it’s going as she expects.

AARA – I have considered writing a book, but certainly don’t have the energy for it at the moment. I’m not sure what would help others the most.

Hi,

I’m new to here. What is the best extra virgin olive oil brand to purchase in Australia. I am aware that many are counterfeited or adulterated. Thanks

Hi Eating Madness: I looked at the sample report from diagnostic solutions – they seem to pick up on pathogens and various levels but by no means (from what I can tell) do they provide a complete mapping or diversity like american gut or ubiome or maymygut. I’m wondering therefore what is the basis of your exclusion diet? From the admittedly limited information you’ve shared, I’m a little concerned that you only have 25% of the facts? I hope this is helpful
Graham

Thank you Eating Madness I will look into this company

Regards pussycat

Hi Eating Madness,
Thanks for the update. When your back to full health your case is going to make a great case study for someone. If and when you are up to it have you considered keeping a journal/diary, doing a blog, or may be just keeping this forum updated on your progress from time to time. Do not want to put any stress or pressure on you, that is in anyway going to slow your progress.

If we are ever going to get the NHS to work towards becoming a keep folk healthy service, rather than a treat you when your ill service the evidence to change the current mainstream thinking is going to need to come from people who have adopted a non bio medicine approach to regaining their health.

Anyone else up for the challenge?

Hope you are all improving day by day.

AARA