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Deffo worth following Michael’s diet but bare in mind that without mapping your microbiome you’re steering blind to a large extent

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No its an anti-viral NOT an anti-biotic

Join the fementing friends facebook group and all shall be revealed !

I have to say that the App is extremely disappointing. There’s very little content and I feel a bit misled to be honest

have just been diagnosed with shingles (Very uncomfortable!). Having to take acyclovir (antiviral) for a week does anyone know if this upsets or wipes out gut bacteria?

Have been looking at the description of the app, and whilst I didn’t expect it to be free, thought for £5 that was very little in it that I didn’t already know or was already aware of to make it worth buying. One thing I thought would be useful would be to type in what you have been eating and get some guidance on how well you are doing, though I guess that would need personalising for any medical conditions. Anyone have any experience of it?

I have started taking this as it was developed and tested by Kings College hospital and found to be one probiotic that actually gets where it’s needed alive. I am wondering why Michael doesn’t recommend it – is it because it doesn’t have the right bacteria? I am committed to taking it for 3 months but am wondering if I should change to VSL3 after that time as Michael does recommend that. I am doing all the diet stuff too including fermented vegetables. I would appreciate any thoughts – thanks

It’s just a routine screening, due to family history – there’s nothing “wrong” with me other than my genes! And it went well, nothing found at all. I’m trying to eat as many of the foods in the book as possible, with the exception of sauerkraut at the moment – I’m about to go on holiday (camping), so don’t want to start a batch if I can’t refrigerate it!

Oh dear……… With the past gout attack being painful but short, I was very careful to try and work out what started it. Starting afresh, First – Kefir – in small doses…seemed to be OK. Kombucha (bought in from ‘IloveKombucha’) that seemed to be fine too. Red wine (2 glasses per day ) …OK, then I tried ‘Becks Blue’ – BOOM!!!!!! Not the big toe this time but the HEEL – OMG, 10 days and I just couldn’t shift the pain as it moved into the two inner small toes…… Stopping everything and a 10 day course of Colchicine has only just removed the horrendous pain. So, I’m not keen to PROVE Becks zero is the culprit as it lasts now too long and the pain is bloody horrendous. Bugger, I have both Gingerr Kombucha (own brew) bubbling and Kefir in stock. I’m going back to Kefir for a week..Then I’ll try the Kombucha again and simply leave out the beer.
But you know – there’s other ‘purines’ that could have ADDED to the trigger – Avocado & Prawns. Until I have proved what’s triggering it, I’d rather stay pain-free. Incidentally, I had £350 worth of private blood tests – nothing!!!!!

I have had my Gall Bladder removed and I’m wondering if that’s why I am struggling to lose weight on these diets, I have tried the blood sugar diet and 5:2 but with no real success any suggestions…?

If you are diagnosed with hypercholesterolaemia you likely have been advised to reduce saturates and omega-6 polyunsaturates, and to increase monounsaturates and omega-3 polyunsaturates. It would be very interesting to know which specific plant/ vegetable/ nut/ seed oils you use and how they work in the Clever Guts recipes. 🙂

Macadamia and avocado seems to be popular in the Paleo/ Primal community; here on CG we have discussed the pros and cons of rapeseed (canola) oil. I eat plenty of hazelnuts (filberts) as my North European ancestors did, but have never used the oil.

To address your comment on research in nutrition/ dietetics … depends on the population group, overall diet and fatty acid balance. The Clever Guts Diet has little in common with the standard western diet. It is not specifically targeted to those who need to lose weight, have hypercholesterolaemia or other risk factors for cardiovascular problems.

Over the long term we are encouraged to eat a modified version of the Mediterranean diet. A really wide variety of plants, olive oil, oily fish and other seafood, grass fed dairy if not identified as problematic, and so on.

if anyone has a medical condition that is affected by diet and lifestyle, they absolutely need to run a major change of diet past their medical team, and modify as necessary.

When still practising I would have been delighted if any of my (lifestyle healthcare) clients had brought this diet book to me. I constantly banged on about balance and variety!

The Clever Guts Diet is about identifying and eliminating problem foods in the first phase. Many of the recipes relate to this discrete phase. I suspect common vegetable oils are not used as most have moderate to high percentage of inflammatory and/ or unstable polyunsaturates.

In the second phase CG is about eating a wide variety and balance of wholefoods to improve and maintain beneficial gut flora. Extra virgin olive oil (high in monounsaturates) is a key component, BUT the distinctive flavour does not lend itself to all recipes. In terms of flavour and texture coconut oil is arguably the best substitute for butter.

Pretty same problem here to, emailed the company several times to no avail I’m afraid. I’m really keen to get hold of it as HOWARU protect for my son as iges been suffering with severe chest infections. Any ideas of a distributiter in Europe would be welcomed.

Am interested in joining the sleep trial

Thank you Viola and Paintrocks48, much appreciated. I’m going to have to learn to love black coffee to get through to the 11-12ish breakfast/lunch!

Hi Fizzy Lizzy,
I’ve been making kefir for a few weeks now and like you am hooked! I live in Australia but will be on holiday for 5 weeks in Aug/Sep. I want to freeze my kefir grains while I’m away but when I google for info I get many different sites with varying information. Some say to dry it, others to rinse with water, others to use dry milk powder…so I’m confused. Any ideas?

Since reading the pre/probiotic email update this morning, I have been going round in circles trying to find HOWARU Adult Protect and HOWARU Restore because of the published study concerning the link with respiratory problems. The links to the company itself only seem to be useful for industry professionals and I have been unable to find any products I can order, either here in the Netherlands or anywhere else in Europe for that matter. I’d be so grateful if anyone can help me find these specific supplements (as opposed to probiotics in general). Thanks!

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I’m not especially convinced about HowarU Taker a look at Symprove (aimed specifically at irritable and inflammatory bowel) and OptibBac (broader range of probiotics)

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I don’t think that you do actually want more serotonin in your gut as its role here is to speed up the transit of your food. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19361459
This is why SSRI’s can give you diarrhea. Surely you don’t want to give yourself disasterpants?
Gut serotonin cannot pass the blood brain barrier to affect your mood so you need to get the brain to make it (or keep it around longer).
You can do this by providing the building blocks by eating tryptophan rich foods (carbs, turkey, supplements) and Vit B (thyamine and folic acid) and then get enough sunlight, sleep and exercise you are going to be doing something positive to help.
http://nutritionwonderland.com/2009/06/understanding-bodies-serotonin-connection-between-food-and-mood/

If you have mixed starch with kefir it could be the kefir keeping you awake. Too much kefir can cause anxiety and sleeplessness.

For family reasons this is a particular interest of mine. I picked up the potential benefits of kefir whilst I studied the BSD course and my daughter’s regime now incorporates that. There is also some mention to it in Clever Guts Diet. If anyone has an interest in this you may be interested in this article
“ASD is yet another neurodevelopmental disorder in which the role of microbiota is key and another neurodevelopmental disorder at the forefront of neuroscience and child psychiatry research. ASD encompasses neurodevelopmental disorders that are defined by behavioral observations, in particular dysfunctions in social interaction and communication skills.53 The underlying causes of ASD are not yet elucidated, but it is understood that both genetic and environmental factors play a role.53 A recent review paper considering the role of gut microbiota in the etiology of ASD found that many studies have indeed identified the microbiota composition in ASD subjects to differ from those in healthy controls.67 For instance, Clostridium bacteria has been found consistently to be significantly elevated in those with ASD.68–70 On the other hand, there are some conflicting trends found with regard to some other strains of gut microbiota findings. For instance, Bacteroidetes have been found both to be higher71 and lower72 in ASD subjects. Other possible markers suggesting a role for gut microbiota have been found in a study that reported higher fecal bacteria fermentation product, higher ammonia conhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4370913/centrations, and higher short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in 23 children with ASD as compared to the 9 controls.73 Further evidence of the role of the microbiota in ASD is presented by the observation that interventions with antibiotics and probiotics have led to an improvement of behavior and communication in ASD subjects.74 Looking forward, interventions that target the microbial balance may be effective in the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4370913/ (I think we are now encouraged to talk about autisms, rather than autism or ASD, suits me since I spent years saying this is a spectrum not a continuum).
My own daughter is now in her thirties, she is Down syndrome as well as severely autistic. I am hopeful this will be useful, good signs. I am going to try the potato starch as well. Sleep is of course a crucial factor in care (for both parent and child). I had cause to read a few years ago studies that purported to show that parents ‘often misrecord’ their children’s sleep patterns – actually 27% got them pretty much right, which seemed to me a normal distribution, but even if they do misrecord so what? What matters is getting more, and better, sleep.

I am optimistic about these developments. I know the stresses and it is important not to give false hope. Yet, and yet – small progresses give hope that confidence can be built on.

My family came from Skye and I recall as a child gathering seaweed (dulse) on the shore, you could nibble it but it was better prepared.It could also get boring. I note in this excellent book the references yet the focus is on Asia and Australia. The written history of collecting and using seaweed, by no means just for eating, goes back in Scotland to the 7th century. These plants have longevity!

see http://www.hebrideanseaweed.co.uk/history.html

The app says only black coffee.

What qualifications do they hold in nutrition or dietetics? Does their registration body permit them to advise on nutrition/ diet?

No one food (inc. soy) should be eaten overly often. Dairy substitutes tend to be low nutrient (vitamins and minerals added) and used to make other processed or gut unfriendly foods palatable.

Hazelnuts look to be a good match in terms of fatty acids (high omega-9, fairly low omega-6).

Eaten regularly by prehistoric North Europeans.

If you are doing the 16:8 for weight-loss and health benefits, then I’d say no to the milk as it’s only adding calories.
I’m also on 16:8 and take my coffee black anyway. Good luck!

Depends how different and how contradictory the results really are. You would need to compare and contrast the methodology each service use, how each interprets those results, and what specific population(s) they compare the results to.

AFAIK the Gut Projects don’t do that much interpretation or links to health conditions. The field is still young, there is much research yet to be done. The Gut Projects are all about contributing your data, becoming a part of current and future studies.

Are you in the UK? Yes, it’s potato starch, not potato flour. You don’t say where you’ve tried to buy it – I had no difficulty at all in obtaining mine from my local independent health food shop, although as she’d run out, she had to order it in. Have you tried that, or only online?

I’ve sent a message (via Contact Us) to ask if the Contact Us can be moved to a more prominent place and in larger letters.

Hi 1303.

Thanks for the various responses. I also didnt see the contact us button and am re-reading the book so that I know what the questions that I have are. I have done a bit of addtional reading on line etc so some things seem clearer to me now…

Was just curious is the potatoe starch actually potatoe starch and not flour as I cant seem to find it thus far ( except a brand that is American) and of course is it still working?

Thanks!

Thanks. Didn’t think of that. Perhaps because it’s not obvious in tiny letters at the bottom of the page.

I would suggest that the forums are there precisely for the purpose of cosy chats and swapping ideas. Why not try the direct approach through the Contact Us button?

Kinesiologists seems to be interested in gait and movement. Applied kinesiologists seems to be involved with a variety of other things. Which did you see?

Hi

I had an appointment with a kinesiologist and they told me about the potential dangers of soy.

Having ready Mr Mosley’s book, I have been considering microbime testing via stool samples. However, I have noted (via the Internet) some cases where stool samples (as nearly the same as possible) have been sent to two organisations (eg British Gut and uBiome) and had gicven two very different and contradictory results. Can I therefore be sure of a trustworthy result?

Hi Pia

I too am very interested in getting hold of your seaweed capsules for my husband who suffers with psoriasis on his hands, legs and feet. He has been prescribed various ghastly pills which make his hair thin, and which he hates pumping into his body every day. His love of sailing has now become a battle of pain against pleasure which is sad to see 🙁

I tried using the Contact page on the Phyco Food website, but haven’t had any response, so maybe it never arrived??

I would be most grateful for any information about where and when they will be available in the UK, or failing that where one can get them shipped from please?

Many thanks
Miranda

I find it extraordinarily disappointing that so many of the recipes have coconut oil/fat in them. Any dietitian will tell you that it will increase the “bad” cholesterol. Recent research from USA backs this up. Its not a new finding.

Lots of good stuff in this book but I suspect they have tried to appease a trendy minority for sales purposes. Shame

What type of medical professional? I would be very suspicious of one that warned you about GMOs. You seem to be putting their advice on a par with people from the internet.

Thanks Skinnykins! interesting website.

Have a listen to this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08xxfz5

Please include us two guinea pigs in your sleep research pre-biotic fibre developed by Reading University. Thank you.
Received kefir grains yesterday, very exciting!

Keep the cabbage submerged in the liquid and it will be fine, if everything was clean to start with. How long depends on how sour/tangy you want it and also on how hot it is. Test it after 4-5 days if it’s quite warm and see what you think. Leave it longer if you want a stronger taste. Every batch will turn out a bit different.

There seems to NO feedback or response from Michael or his science/medical advisers to any of the questions put forward by members. This is disappointing.
I asked a technical question about GI and GL on one of these forums – I’m still waiting…
I joined this site to get answers to questions raised, not just to have cosy chats and swapping ideas with other members – nice and sometimes informative though that may be.
It seems that Michael & Co. have written some books and started a website with forums – after that the members are on their own.

My 22 year old son has intermittent stomach problems which can be very painful. He insists on taking a pre-workout sports supplement before going to the gym to do weight training. I am sure that this supplement contributes/or is the sole reason for his problems. I have tried to get him to stop without success.

The ingredients are: Energizing Muscle Fuel: 3204 mg Beta Alanine, Creatine Monohydrate, Citric Acid Blood Flow Amplifier: 1300 mg L-Citrulline Malate, L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG) Extreme Mental Focus: 147 mg Caffeine, Oleuropein Aglycone (From Olive Leaf Extract) Other Ingredients Silicon Dioxide, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, And FD&C Yellow #5.

Does anyone have any experience in this field?
Thanks
Sue