Hi
I would like to sign up the the potato starch survey.

I’d like to be considered for the survey

To Nurse,
I live in BNE and have passed that mythical age of 65. Apparently the Federal government do send out tests by mail. I twould pay to have a chat with your GP.

I

I live in Australia.
Can anyone tell me if we have poop testing here?
Thanks

Hello, I would like to sign up for the potato starch study, please. Thanks. Carol

Pleasesign me up for the study

Hi Pia!

If you are counting numbers for seaweed capsules…please add 2 more to your list of desperados.

Kind regards

Ian Hobday
Sunshine Coast Queensland
hobdayz@internode.on.net

Hi there, Have you ever looked into diatomaceous earth and its effect of the gut ? It’s supposed to bind with gram positive bacteria (supposedly bad) and other invaders in the gut and clear it out leaving the gram negative bacteria (supposedly good) behind. I’m very interested in whether and how this actually works and whether indeed all gram positive bacteria are bad. Lots of people swear by it for gut health. Thanks !

Hi there. Thank you for your advice. I get regular exercise and eat healthily but I am still prone to these infections. I want to improve my bicrobiome to help build my resistance. I am loving the healthy gut diet book and researching other ways to hopefully improve my health.

Hello Firefox and Lovemyguts,
Thank you both so much for such illuminating information (sorry for such a slow response. Life with young kids leaves painfully little time for emails!). I’m so pleased to hear help and advice and am already a little obsessed with trying changes such as diet. Stress, as you say, Firefox, is so hard to minimise! I’ll re-read both your posts and add anything I can to the topic. THANK YOU!

Thanks to Firefox7275 for helpful and interesting info.

Hi Clong,

I live in Australia too and have used Chobani Greek yogurt as a starter for 2 batches of homemade yogurt so far. Worked great and tastes good too! I just made mine in glass jars, wrapped them in a tea towel and used the oven with the light on only as an incubator over night (approx 12 hours).

Hi everyone!

I’m a fermenting newbie and am half way through the book (loving it so far). This morning I made the Tumeric Latte (YUM) and have my second batch of home made yoghurt in the fridge. I just used glass jars and the oven to incubate overnight- worked really well! I hav strained the whey from the yoghurt and am using that in my first attempt at Sauerkraut as I came accross a recipe that suggested a use of whey as a ‘starter’ for Sauerkraut- we’ll see how it goes.

Anyone going to get their mircobiome sequenced?

Thank you, Tree Top! I was fortunate to get diagnosed quite early. Rosacea is not curable but it is important to get treated before it progresses, to maximise remission and minimise flares. You have done well to identify your skin issue as inflammatory, and potentially linked to the gut problem.

Best results by far for me was overhauling my entire diet and lifestyle to be more anti-inflammatory/ gut healthy/ immune calming. Massively less alcohol and starchy carbs, massively more oily fish/ non-starchy vegetables/ low sugar fruits/ certain seeds and nuts, better sleep patterns (epic fail on stress management), targeted supplements.

I now believe my triggers (many not identified but def. alcohol, changes in temperature, all but the gentlest skincare) were ‘the straw that broke the camels back’ to a body in a chronic state of inflammation.

Last rosacea flare was February from a minor dental infection (= inflammatory chemicals floating around facial tissues). Vanished within two days of starting oral antibiotics (clarithromycin). Took a multi strain probiotic during and after.

Interestingly antibiotics are not all bad: recently licensed for long term use in rosacea *low dose* oral antibiotic (doxycycline). This is effective due to its anti-inflammatory ‘side effect’, it is too low a dose to kill bacteria (in skin or gut).

But ideally we rosaceans would be looking at what we can do to resolve the underlying cause of the inflammation (eg. identify and treat linked medical conditions, overhaul diet or lifestyle).

Hi Pia,
I have just been reading Michael’s book and I was very interested in the research into seaweed. I have a friend who has been suffering with Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris (PRP) for many years. Numerous doctors appointments and medication have not helped. I was wondering whether a seaweed supplement would be worth trying. I shall get Michael’s book for her for a start! I would interested to know whether you have had any volunteers who have this complaint and whether the seaweed supplement helped them.
Best wishes
Yssie

I had seemingly random late night episodes of urticaria/ angioedema (mainly hands and feet) a few years ago. At the time I was researching histamine intolerance because I was also flushing frequently with rosacea and/ or dry coughing/ mild wheezing. I was horrified that anything aged or fermented was off the menu, plus alcohol … all my very favourite things!

I tried an OTC antihistamine (cetirizine), mast cell stabiliser (quercetin), probiotics (capsules not fermented foods), magnesium citrate tablets. *All with my GP’s knowledge*.

Best results by far was overhauling my entire diet and lifestyle to be more anti-inflammatory/ gut healthy/ immune calming. Massively less alcohol and starchy carbs, massively more oily fish/ non-starchy vegetables/ low sugar fruits/ certain seeds and nuts, better sleep patterns (epic fail on stress management tho).

I now believe the triggers (most never identified so idiopathic) were ‘the straw that broke the camels back’ to a body that was in a chronic state of inflammation. Note that histamine is released by the immune system as a normal part of the inflammatory process.

I can now drink alcohol, eat mature ripened cheeses and aged air dried ham without major issue. Last rosacea flare was from a minor dental infection (= inflammation) last wheezing/ urticaria/ angioedema episode from exposure to a huge amount of dust. So not random/ idiopathic!

If you can get your immune system calmer and gut healthier, you might find you too can reintroduce some no-nos to a reduced histamine diet. The problem with some of these plans is that they can be very restrictive/ lacking in variety so nutrient imbalances are a risk. I increased oily fish (fresh/ canned/ smoked) in my diet because I needed the omega-3s and vitamin D more than I needed to eliminate any histamine.

HTH!

Antibiotics don’t necessarily damage the body – aside from the microbiome – some even have anti inflammatory properties!

For a healthy immune system in winter: be physically active (10,000 steps a day), eat a balanced and varied wholefood diet inc. oily fish and other seafood (omega-3s/ vitamin D/ zinc), get regular lunchtime sun exposure (vitamin D). In the UK this applies May to October only: at this latitude UVB is too weak otherwise, ditto late in the day. Please discuss supplements with a medical professional (risk of overdose).

For respiratory health: do not smoke, limit being in places where people have smoked, be vigilant with asthma monitoring and meds, ventilate the home/ workplace/ car daily *all year round*, keep on top of any damp or mould issues. Damp is often inadequate ventilation: warm air is wetter than cold air so heating is not the solution.

Hi, trying to figure this out too. I’ve suggested my elderly parents start eating live yoghurt regularly, but not sure which brand has most efficacy. Any recommendations, ideas or research would be appreciated.
Thanks.

I’ve just been reading on the Easiyo website that after a few days, the bacteria in yoghurt reduces considerably. Can anyone say yes or no to this? A batch of yoghurt normally lasts me a week therefore, this means that by the end of the week the effectiveness of my yoghurt is reduced.

the Olive oil test would be interesting. I often bring Greek oil home when travelling around Crete , often the locals own . Taste is fantastic.

Hi Melissa Jane
Both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as rheumatoid arthritis, are increasingly being linked to the gut. Although different in diagnosis, both are regarded as autoimmune and both show raised inflammation in blood tests (CRP). The challenge is that the gut is a complex ecosystem, and direct cause and effect links between gut microbes, diet and inflammation pathways are going to take a long time to resolve – although there are many papers now trying to link specific microbes to specific types of disorders. What we do know from our study however is that gut flora changed significantly, and inflammation (plasma CRP) was reduced significantly. At the same time some people in the study who just happened to have psoriasis disorders experienced remarkable improvements, and this will probably be linked to reduced inflammation and gut changes – but exactly how we do not know yet. That is why we are starting this next study with a focus on psoriasis patients, some of whom will also have the arthritic version. So I will be keen to keep everyone updated with the results of this study, which will be held in the Wollongong area of NSW, Australia; that is the only limitation to participation.
But considering that changing your gut flora now using a diversity of food and common sense, is never going to be harmful, then why wait when you can do things like Michael Mosely explains in his book. Another story that is similar from a serious rheumatoid arthritis sufferer in Australia show some astounding results from such changes, although it took him a sever case of gastroenteritis and 8 months of a changed diet to get there. You can see his talk on Ted-X: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G96U17hA-FI&feature=youtu.be
Interestingly, Clint Paddison has an acronym for the BLAME of his disorder: Bacteria / Leaky Gut / Acid / Mucosal Lining / Enzymes. Although there is no proof that any one of these are valid causes or cures for inflammatory diseases – it all points to the root of it all in the gut and lifestyle choices. Because the seaweed extract we used had measureable effect on inflammation and mucosal microbes, as well as the anecdotal improvements for the psoriasis sufferers, and it is like a safe boost of specific dietary fibres targeting those aspects, it could help the approach to change your microbes through food. I don’t think a diet of McDonalds and seaweed capsules is going to cut it, but there is a strong case for this type of seaweed being a part of the solution to get you there faster. I really appreciate the interest and am overwhelmed by the number of sufferers out there who have contacted me. As an innovative start-up we are working hard to bring together access to the capsules for you as soon as possible. Just juggling the balls and $ of scaling to market… so bear with me. Nearly there 🙂

A few years I had to have a high anterior bowel resection. My query is around how does the affect the gut biome after a proportion of the bowel has been removed. Does this adversely change your health and weight control?

Hello

I have had IBS for 5 years. 5 months ago I was diagnosed with spontaneous, idiopathic chronic urticaria. This is basically hives (unknown) and results in over production of histamine. I am convinced that it is a gut issue and not “unexplained”

I am trying to work out how to combine a low histamine diet with the Clever Guts diet? For example all fermented food is high in histamine but recommend in this book.

It is a horrid disorder that is painful, itchy and upsetting. I am sure that it is linked to the gut but need to follow the right diet. Any help?

Thanks

For several years I had to take antibiotics on a regular basis for infection in my salivary glands. Although this problem is now sorted I regularly get upper respiratory infections during the winter which always require further antibiotics. I want to strengthen my immune system and repair any long term damage caused by the antibiotics. Any advice would be very gratefully received

Hi my symptoms don’t sound as bad as GERD or GORD but I had frequent indigestion that stopped me sleeping unless I drank Gaviscon and had to avoid several foods including onions, garlic, coleslaw, beans and pulses.
I started drinking kefir every day about 2 months ago & to my huge surprise and delight I find that I can now eat any of these foods even last thing at night and my digestion has hugely improved. My husband has hemorrhoids which were often debilitating and has found that since drinking kefir every day they are much less troublesome.
I thoroughly recommend trying this as it seems to be such a natural and cheap thing to try. I bought my kefir grains from e bay for about £3 and find it very easy to ferment them daily. They are so valued by us that we even bring them on holiday in a 100ml bottle as the thought of returning to bad digestion would make it not worth going without them!
The only cost to make your own is the milk. Best health thing we’ve ever tried. I really hope they can help you.
I enjoy my kefir liquidised with a banana & squirt of lemon juice.

I find fruit and veg. difficult to eat but my husband eats a good mix of everything that we can buy on the markets. Most of our meals are cooked from scratch but I have fads …….

Yes if you stick to recommended serving sizes (30g dried fruit in the UK), and don’t have too often because they are very high in sugar.

Dr Mosley recommends reducing all sugar and sweeteners, and focusing on veg not fruit. It is notable that there are only two ‘treat’ recipes and suggested snacks are savoury (eg. veg sticks/ nuts).

HTH!

Articles linking quality, source, flavour, health benefits:

http://www.californiaoliveranch.com/2015/01/19/what-are-polyphenols-extra-virgin-olive-oils-powerful-antioxidant/

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/olive-oil

I know my luck
I bought the yogurt maker.
Then I went on ebay and bought 1 satchet of Bulgarian yogurt Starter culture, cost £1.44.
Made yogurt then kept some back for the next batch I made. Worked perfect this morning.
I would probably buy a box of 5 next time costing £4. So every 2/3 months start fresh to get the culture going from scratch again. More good gut bacteria x
If you want a nosy go to ebay and put this number in ~
112415265904
Have look and read the item description good luck huni x

Thanks June, typical! !
I’ll take a look, thanks for the info.

Yes I bought it. Straight forward easy to use. I paid £21 off Amazon for it as it was free post & pack.
Now Lakeland have cut price on their website typical. Just my luck Lol x £10.99

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/3440/Lakeland-Electric-1L-Yogurt-Maker?gclid=CjwKEAjwjunJBRDzl6iCpoKS4G0SJACJAx-VCSK4OK5j5XWo3wiS0WHggyO7XvmTjJYKU30xUA6tcxoC9t3w_wcB&src=gfeed&ef_id=V@l1WQAAANGHJCZs:20170609174805:s

Sorry ,just realised you said the Lakeland one. Is it easy to use?

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2016/feb/09/six-non-european-olive-oils-to-beat-the-price-crisis

http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/food-drink/best-extra-virgin-olive-oils-cooking-10294489.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2644437/ALDO-ZILLI-rates-12-oils-bargain-basement-indulgently-pricey.html

http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/institute/food-reviews/extra-virgin-olive-oil

http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/food-and-drink/article/best-extra-virgin-olive-oil

Hi June, did you buy the Lakeland one? Thinking of getting one myself.

In the absence of a list of the best extra virgin olive oils on the website …

There is not a straightforward link between taste and health benefits – although polyphenol antioxidants do have a flavour.

Furthermore these articles may help identify genuine extra virgin oils. If anyone has a subscription to Which? UK I would be interested in their taste test.

I would be interested in your opinion of Nexabiotic Advanced Multi Probiotic (23 strains, 17.25 billion CFUs, delayed release capsule).

Having said that, I use cold pressed rapeseed oil for Asian marinades because coconut oil is solid when refrigerated.

I use unrefined coconut oil in stir fries and curries, olive oil for Middle Eastern dishes and salad dressings, so the proportion of rapeseed oil in my diet is small.

Depends how much you are consuming how problematic rapeseed oil is. I would not describe most processed fats as healthy, more healthier.

Whilst rapeseed oil contains far more *short chain* omega-3s than most other vegetable oils, it is still high in (inflammatory) omega-6s. Furthermore conversion of short chain to the beneficial long chain format can be as low as 10%.

Extra virgin olive oil is a good source of polyphenol antioxidants as well as the oleic acid. There are other fats rich in oleic acid, including butter and avocado oil.

Hi mcoppel

I’ve made 2-3 batches of this now, love it but I now educe the fennel seeds by half as I found them a bit overpowering.
You may need to massage it a little more to get some more juice, I’ve not had to add any water to mine but I do give it a good working over (like kneading bread). Once packed into a jar (really ram it it) I usually end up with a good 2cm of liquid over the top of the cabbage.
Hope that helps

For sweetener I use lactulose solution, which is an indigestible sugar/ polyol which acts as a prebiotic. In the UK this is a Pharmacy-only drug for constipation, but in some countries it is used as a food additive.

For linseeds I use Granovita Linseed Plus. Both contain lactose (milk sugar) so not suited to those with an intolerance.

Additions include:

One serving (~80g) other fruit, eg half an apple, mini banana

Half a teaspoon cinnamon powder

One tablespoon cacao nibs

Two portions (~150g) frozen summer/ black forest fruits (no grapes)

One portion (~150ml) plain live Greek yoghurt/ skyr/ fromage frais

Sweetener to taste

Half a teaspoon inulin

Top with one to two tablespoons cracked linseeds.

Unfortunately the suggested suppliers for probiotic pills doesn’t ship to Australia. Any suggestions for an Australian supplier?
Also if you haveFODMAP intolerance should you starve out the bad bacteria or take a probiotic

I always use organic rapeseed oil which I get in Tesco. I heard several years ago that Lindane, which has been linked to cancer, is used on rapeseed. I don’t know if it is used today but apparently rapeseed has a wide range of insect pests so non organic oil will probably contain insecticide residues.

After reading Clever Guts, and suffering some of the symptoms described, I decided that it would be useful to take a Microbiome test. I have received the test kit from µBiome, but I’m not sure how to return the sample to them in the USA.

Royal Mail clearly state that any kind of biological specimen is prohibited from being sent internationally and contravention may result in prosecution.

Has anyone successfully returned a sample to µBiome and if so which shipping method did you use ?

Many thanks in anticipation.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/pharmacy/pharmacy-news/probiotic-viability

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Empty-stomach-Probiotics-professor-clarifies-findings-of-efficacy-study

Most books I have read recently on the microbiome stress the importance of eating good fats including olive oil, butter and coconut oil and avoiding the rest including most seed oils which tend to be high in polyunsaturates. However, rapeseed oil is different in that it has a healthy profile and is high in omega-3. The American writers advise us to avoid rapeseed (which they call canola) on the grounds that sources are genetically engineered and may therefore be subjected to higher levels of pesticides, and production methods use solvents which are to be avoided. However, am I correct in thinking that any rapeseed grown in the UK and the EU is not genetically modified, and if the oil is cold-pressed and produced without the use of solvents, surely these issues do not apply? I find the flavour preferable to olive oil although I appreciate that rapeseed does not carry the heart-protective oleic acid found in olive oil.
Can anybody please enlighten me?

Michael has written about probiotic brands in his post “A note from Michael on the book” in the Welcome section of the forums.

posted by cleverguts (CG Admin)
on 5th June 2017 at 10:46 am Reply • Report post • permalink
Hi everyone,
Welcome to the Clever Guts website. I’m hoping that people will come here to share their experiences and create a community. The book that this website is linked to is selling well in the UK and Australia (where I am currently doing a book tour), which is great.
In the book I said that people would be able to come to the website and get additional information. So, first of all, an apology. I have not been able to pull together more information on things like probiotics, olive oil and a proposed sleep experiment as fast as I would have liked. It is happening and below are some updates, but things are progressing slower than I had hoped. I am, I promise, onto it. Do sign up for the newsletter and I will keep you better and more rapidly informed.
Probiotics
As I mentioned in the book probiotics are the living bacteria that are sold, mainly in capsule form, in the hope that they will help improve a number of different conditions. If you don’t have a specific condition then I suggest you aim to improve your microbiome by following the menus in the book and on this website. I also suggest you try adding in some fermented foods to your diet (see Clare’s video about how to make delicious purple sauerkraut here)
Although they do contain living bacteria I think it is unlikely that buying one of those yoghurty drinks in plastic bottles will make a significant difference to your health. That said, some people swear by them. You should be aware that they may contain significant amounts of sugar or artificial sweetener (depending on whether you go for regular or light versions) and relatively few bacteria (usually 6-10 billion in a bottle. You should be aiming at more like 20 billion)
If you do have a specific issue that you want to try a probiotic for then below is currently the best I can do. Recommending a particular brand is tricky because it depends on the reason you are wanting to take it and the strength of evidence behind that brand. The following brands have a degree on scientific evidence behind them, but I would be grateful for any feedback on how helpful (or otherwise) you have found these products. Also if there are others you would like me to take a look at.
VSL#3
This is a probiotic which contains a mixture of different strains of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, though I would still recommend that if you have IBS you try to sort your diet out before/while taking VSL#3. You can buy VSL#3 via their website.
HOWARU Protect
This is a probiotic which contains Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus According to Medline Plus, part of the US National Library of Medicine, taking HOWARU Protect may help reduce reduce symptoms of cough and runny nose, also lung infections in children under 6. Visit their website for more information
Health Span Elite
This is made by a British company for athletes and was recommended to me by someone who also advises the English Rugby team. He recommends their products on the basis that they contain what they say, and nothing more, something which is important for an elite athlete. The danger with buying supplements in any form off the internet is they can contain substances like steroids which for an elite athlete would be career suicide. More information on Health Span Elite at their website.
Sleep and Prebiotics
In the book I wrote about wanting to set up an online study to see if consuming potato starch helps improve sleep quality. Since writing the book I have also tried a special pre-biotic fibre, which was originally developed by Reading University. I found this to be more effective than the potato starch, though also more expensive. What was striking was that within a week of starting on the fibre supplement the quality of my sleep, as measured by devices leant to me by scientists from Oxford University, had improved significantly. It could be chance and there is no guarantee that it will work as well for others, which is why I want your help.
I’ve decided to set up an online survey asking people to try this, potato starch, or another well tested way of improving sleep quality, and report back. We’re just ironing out some glitches and I’m hoping this trial will be ready to go soon, for anyone who fancies joining in. I will give you full details of the pre-biotic and where to get it then.
Olive Oil
In the book I also wrote about the fact that extra-virgin olive oil is the most counterfeited food in the world and that I would try to find brands that have some degree of certification. It is still early days but what I would say is that small, specialised providers are likely to be your best bet for price and quality, though they will be more expensive. If you are particularly concerned, it appears that Italian olive oils have some of the biggest problems. I will update when I hear more and happy to get recommendations from you for your personal favourites. I also welcome any manufacturer who cares to get in contact who can guarantee, on the basis of lab tests, that their extra-virgin, really is extra-virgin.
All the best,
Michael
posted by Beatrixinvogue
on 6th June 2017 at 1:10 pm Reply • Report post • permalink

I’ve just made the purple sauerkraut. Am I being thick? Am I supposed to put in spring water and salt straightaway? There are not enough juices to completely cover the mixture in the jar, but the whole thing looks very damp!

Sorry, only just seen this. I don’t think Dr Mosley says anything about organic vegetables as far as I can see, although the recipe for the Healthy Gut Green Smoothie uses organic spinach.
I suppose the fewer pesticides etc we consume must be better.