Given that you are in the ‘obese’ range at present I would suggest trying ‘The Fast 800’ diet. Steadily losing fat around the abdominal region should reduce systemic inflammation and reduce the stress on your liver.

If you feel able to, you could try Stage 1: Very Fast 800 for the two weeks suggested by Dr Michael Mosley then reassess (p.124 & p.142). That would take you up to the liver ultrasound date anyway. You might then decide moving to Stage 2: The New 5:2 is better for your family, and better for your overall nutrition.

Targeted nutrition for mental health at this time of year includes wholefoods rich in vitamin D3, long chain omega-3s, magnesium, zinc. So plenty of oily fish, other seafood such as oysters and crab, chia seeds, low sugar dark chocolate, cacao nibs. If you can cook with the bones of the fish and the shells of seafood, you will get some extra
minerals in the broth to help replace the cows dairy that you do not tolerate well.

People with fatty liver and with obesity are often low in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D3 and zinc again. Some experts also suggest increasing antioxidant rich wholefoods: these include bright and dark coloured non-starchy vegetables and low sugar fruits in the full rainbow of colours, low sugar dark chocolate, cacao nibs.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6170520/

Everything I have listed works with Dr Michael Mosley and Dr Clare Bailey’s recommendations in ‘The Fast 800’ and the ‘Clever Guts Diet”. Hopefully your excellent GP will agree!

The analysis of my microbiome has led to interesting results but it was not clear on the meaning of the high value of the Phylum Cyanobacteria equal to 18.2% which is very different from the average of the recorded values (a few percentage points in general). The relative Class is 4C0d-2 and Order is YS2, but family, genus and species not classifiable.
The other results are 45% of Bacteroidetes, 33% Firmicutes, (Cyanobacteria 18%), others about 4%.
I also read the article Di Rienzi et al, Di Rienzi et al. eLife 2013;2:e01102. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.01102, regarding Cyanobacteri in the human gut, but I did not find answers to my question. Can anyone give me clarification on this anomaly can it be advantageous or disadvantageous? Or can you tell me some scientific studies to consult? Thank you

Thank you for your reply.
I appreciate your quotes from the books, that helped me to increase my understanding. I have now highlighted them on mine, as a reminder.
1. I Have a BMI of 38 which is obese. I know I need to loose weight, I have been loosing slowly. I lost almost 4 kilograms on CG phase-1. It has been recommended that I loose weight and got to a 31 BMI when I did 5:2.
At the moment my GP has had focus on finding out about what is causing the liver values slightly increased in the last 2 blood tests. I am going for a liver ultrasound now on the 17th of September and retaking the bloodwork too. In order to have a clearer understanding of what is happening and if there is the need to refer me to a specialist.
I am thinking after re-reading on my Dr. Mosley books, that a proper Fast 800, will improve my health.
2. Yes I did maintain the diary and have come to understand that cow milk products are not good for my gut. I have eliminated all dairy products. Except for Greek yogurt and goat chess, which I eat anyway a very low amount.
3. Yes, absolutely I did with 5:2 I (and my family) enjoyed the variety and felt we ate whole-food and varied. We have kept some of those recipes as part of our diet. I would say for me in particular I did also focus on not going over the 500 – 600 calories on the fasting days.
4. I am in Norway, and I think I will benefit from a “targeted nutrition”. Can you elaborate how can I do that. Are you thinking I will benefit of following the 12 week program of “Fast 800”? I have been wondering about it myself.
I am fortunate to have a brilliant, wise and caring GP, so I will be followed up anyway.
Thank you again and looking forward to your answer / advice.
Blanca

It is worth focussing on quotes from the scientific experts if you can, because journalists can alter the key message by removing qualifiers, adding dramatic words or otherwise changing the emphasis. The Daily Fail is a major culprit, especially in headlines and subheadlines.

A later, more measured, article focusses on children
“Europe’s food safety watchdog plays down flaxseed cyanide danger”
https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2019/08/21/Europe-s-food-safety-watchdog-plays-down-flaxseed-cyanide-danger

Earlier article, but based on the same report
“EFSA issues second cyanide in food opinion”
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/11/efsa-issues-second-cyanide-in-food-opinion/

The Green Flaxseed Bread recipe makes ten to twelve slices, so <20g per serving. On the example meal planner this recipe crops up on alternate days, BUT there are other recipes in the CG books which contain ground flaxseeds.

Have you been maintaining your detailed daily food and symptom diary (p.168)? If yes, how much ground flaxseed are you personally consuming each day?

HTH!

.

Well done for getting your focus back!

Has your family doctor suggested that you lose weight? Are your BMI and waist circumference measurements in the ‘healthy’ range, ‘overweight’ range or ‘obese’ range?

In the ‘Fast 800 Diet’ Dr Michael Mosley says “It is designed to provide a simple, effective way to shed fat and set yourself up for a healthier future.” (p.11).

Whereas in the ‘Clever Guts Diet’ Dr Michael Mosley says “it is about the sort of food and lifestyle changes you should make if you have gut problems.” (p.9).

Were you been maintaining the detailed daily food and symptom diary (p.187) during your recent CG phase 1? Do you believe that you were eating a properly balanced and very varied wholefood diet when doing the 5:2 plan, or focussing more on calorie counts?

Given that you have struggled with your mental wellbeing – stress/ depression – it might be wise to focus on targeted nutrition if you are in the UK, since we are coming into Autumn and Winter.

Hi,
Having read an article in the Mail on Sunday about the amount of cyanide in Flaxseed, should I stop making the Green Flaxseed Bread in your book ? (Since it contains 200g of Flaxseed !!!!)
Trish

Thanks, this is something I’ve wondered myself but like you say GPs not knowledgeable on the subject.

Has your son found anything that helps aside from cutting down on high histamine food?

Anything to counteract the effects on the occasion of a glass of bubbly, or a properly dressed salad for that matter? 🙂

Dear OP, you may already have the answer to your issues as some time has elapsed since you first posted but just incase, I read this and it sounded like it could be related to histamine intolerance (my son has this and he has similar symptoms to what you’ve described). Histamine is high in alcohol, fermented foods and can also be found in other foods. Worth having a look at this if you’re still looking into this. Most GP’s don’t know much about this unfortunately. We’ve had most useful information from a dietician if that helps.

I have done 5:2 with great success and also the fast beach diet. The stress and depression happened.
Now I am a 57 year old woman.
Have done phase 1 Clever guts, after some liver values where slightly high. I am being monitored by my GP just now. I have informed her about my nutrition, which she means is good to keep the focus on that also as I am being monitored. I want to contribute to my own “health-liver-recovery”. I am a moderate drinker (1 wine glass a week), no alcohol from now on.
MY QUESTION IS?
Health wise, will I benefit more of following the Clever guts lifestyle or is it better to move to the new fast 800?
Are familiar with both, which one will contribute more to improve my liver values.
Thank you.

Hi, Keto diet is considered to be a highly effective diet for losing weight. You need to cut your carbs and eat low-carb foods. The ketogenic diet encourages also the elimination of refined and processed carbohydrates.

I just adore to cook for myself and I always cook the most delicious and simple dishes. My favorite recipe is grilled shrimps , I love to add a lot of sauce and I prefer to eat this meal for dinner. I always take recipe how to grill shrimps here https://club.cooking/recipe/grilled-shrimp/

I would be interested in being in touch with people who are following the plant paradox by Steven Gundry.

I met somebody who is following the plant paradox who told me how helpful it has been for him, I have also looked at some of the book and have found it very helpful. I’m in the UK and would like to be in touch with others in the UK who are following this to talk about where we can source some of the things that are mentioned .

Would love to hear from anybody in general who’s following it. Thank you.

Hi Sister4
It is hard to remember the exact details but I think I started to feel an improvement after a couple of months and felt better after about a year. I did not increase my activities gradually but found that I was able to do more as my health improved. I know that some of the medical profession thinks that graded exercise helps a sufferer of CFS to get better but when I was ill I found that trying to do a little bit more each week just set me back and made my fatigue worse. I would pace myself and would make sure that I allowed plenty of rest time.
I am back to a normal routine now. I do not have as much energy as before I was ill but I am 8 years older and now 62 so that is understandable! I can look after (with my husband’s help) my two toddler grandchildren two days a week. I can go on a 6 mile walk with the dog. I can meet up with my friends and spend 3 hours chatting. I don’t think I could work full time (luckily I could take early retirement when I became ill) as I still need days when I am not as busy.
I would be very happy to discuss things with your sister when she feels up to it.

Hello, your thanks for sharing your post. According to researches, data shows the effects of sleep deprivation which is a link to weight. There is a variety of food intake that should be followed which is helpful and improve your sleeping habits.

I also have the same condition ME/CFS and I’m not able to get online very often, only with help, but would like to meet others following the plant paradox program with Dr Gundry. It’s easier for me to use the telephone rather than the internet but obviously I can’t find the audience there! Wondered if anybody would be willing to swap phone numbers via a private message, so that we can chat on the phone please.

Wishing you all the best and thank you for your help.

Thankful1

By all means substitute ingredients you dislike but try to maintain a really wide variety in each food group or food type: here wholegrains, pseudo-grains, beans and lentils (if you tolerate them).

What type of rice are you substituting? Ideally have brown, basmati, long grain or black rice (not white rice, sticky or glutinous varieties). The insoluble fibre and resistant starch content act as prebiotics and help support a healthy microbiome.

HTH!

.

Hi, I”m a carer for a CFS daughter, housebound, often bed bound 5 years. Her GP had put other CFS patients into remission but couldn’t help much. Then I came upon http://www.cfsremission.com run by a US citizen scientist, Ken Lassesen, who’s a professional AI expert and passionate about cfs – AI because he crunches Pub Med papers, not people’s silly theories and opinions. You get your gut bacteria tested (we use Ubiome because they’re specific and precise and cheaper than most) then log onto his website & get PERSONALISED suggestions to suit your particular bacteria – herbs, spices, meds that might take your gut the wrong way, but could take it the right way. It’s free. I can’t believe in this world that such benevolence exists. My daughter’s up and about! Going shopping with me today!Not remission yet, but happier and looking towards a future.

Hi Silverslippers,

Thank you for telling your story, glad there is still silver linings out there.
It does make life hard when you do the right things and it doesnt fix the problem. Im glad you found out what was causing your symptoms, i think this is the hardest part for patients, there are so many doctors and so many diagnosis that are wrong or misdiagnosed or even just a single part of the problem.
Thats an amazing cure time, 20 mins.
I think 12-14 months is about the normal waiting time for a public wait list. I had an Endoscope four months ago after my time on the waiting list, and was diagnosed with gastritis, which i have been prescribed a PPI for six months to stop the irritation of the gut lining but the only advice to stop the cause of the irritant was stop eating symptomatic foods. I dont think this will be a long term solution to my problem.
Since reading your post I am wondering if i will have to come for a holiday to Sydney and see if I can get an appointment at the Centre.

Is there any disadvantage to swapping quinoa for rice in your recipes? I’m not a big fan of quinoa.
I just made the Lazy lemon chicken on pg 130.

They’re available from https://www.phycohealth.com/

Hi Dr Winberg
Today the Landline program ran the article on yourself and the seaweed tablets and other products. During the segment you were selling product at a market in Sydney.
Can you please advise where we can source your product either online or in Perth WA.

Thanks
Gina

Radically the incorrect information

Hi Pearsey,
Thanks so much for the additional information. With your change in diet approximately how long did it take to see an improvement in your energy levels? Did you increase your movement activities gradually – I will try and get Dr Sarah Myhill’s book and see her what her recommendations are. Realise everyone is affected differently and will improve with different remedies also but its good to know someone who has been in a similar situation and had success following these recommendations. Are you back to your normal routine now? Hopefully my sister is open to the idea and will herself communicate through the forum for some support when trying this program. Could she get in touch with you also? Really appreciate your reply so thank you.

Hi Sister4,
My first steps to recovering from Chronic Fatigue started after I read Dr. Sarah Myhill’s book on treating CFS. I followed many of her recommendations. She advised eating a paleo diet as her patients seemed to improve when on it. So for a year I ate a strict paleo diet and then slowly started reintroducing different foods. I also started eating probiotic food like homemade kefir, sauerkraut and yogurt. I also started taking a probiotic supplement which contained many different bacteria including soil bacteria. Dr Mosley also recommends prebiotic foods and I now take Inulin every day. I can now eat most food except raw tomato which gives me brain fog and fatigue about 2 hours after eating it and gluten which gives me digestive problems. However, I still avoid high carbohydrate foods like potatoes, rice and of course bread and pasta and eat very little processed food. When I first went on the Paleo diet I lost 13lbs in weight, which was a lot for me as I am only 4ft 10’ tall. Now my weight is steady at 7st 11lbs.
However, the problem with CFS is that it is probably caused by many different things and so what works for one person may not work for another. I believe my CFS was caused by Blastocystis Hominis (which I think I got in Switzerland as I started being ill a month after the holiday). This severely affected my gut bacteria and so changing my diet (along with taking Diatomaceous Earth to eradicate the parasite) was instrumental in me getting better. All I can say is that if nothing else has helped your sister then it is worth giving the clever guts diet a try. Once you get your head round the new way of eating you will realise that it a very nutritious and satisfying diet. I can’t see me ever returning to my old way of eating.

Hi Pearsey, I searched the forum and found your posts. I have just come across ‘the clever guts diet’ book and hoping to help and recommend this for my sister who has been suffering from chronic fatigue since 2014. She has done a lot of testing and tried many things but has had no huge improvement. She has been bedridden for most of the time with very little energy, however recently has put on a huge amount of weight (approx 20kg within a year) and now has other health associated issues. Can you let me know how you have managed to get on top of your chronic fatigue and if the diets have helped you? Thanks!

I am hoping to help my sister who has experienced chronic fatigue for five years. She has been seeing a GP but has shown no great improvement in energy levels (spends majority of time in bed) and developed greater health problems with a large weight gain (approx 20kg in one year) and associated issues with being overweight. Am interested in suggesting to her the 12 week fast 800 diet to reduce her weight but should she be doing the clever guts diet first to treat her gut? At the moment her exercise capabilities are also limited due to low energy levels. Has anyone else suffered from chronic fatigue and had good results following these diet recommendations? Are there any recommendations for a GP who has assisted with this program /or the testing or helped someone else with chronic fatigue and had positive results within Perth, Western Australia. Is testing for individual diets now available within Perth/Australia or if not when will this be available. Thanks.

I have had lifelong depression and food sensitivity. In the last few years I’ve noticed that 1-2 hours after a fatty meal (or even a lot of cashews), my depression worsens. Shortly after taking probiotics it amplified, and taking a week of antibiotics calmed it down (although I became very sleepy). I suspect this is related to SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth).

– One possibility – endotoxins are released from bacteria from saturated fat.
– Another random possibility – Deoxycholic acid, a secondary bile acids, which are metabolic byproducts of intestinal bacteria. This seems to have an affect on the immune system (which is often coupled with mood).

I wanted to throw this out there in case anyone finds this helpful. I found a couple of posts from googling with others that have the same symptoms, but I had to dig deep. Any feedback is welcome!

Hi Marshall
To the best of my knowledge the easiest way to tell them apart is that potato starch (the one you want) is a pure white fine powder, potato flour is slightly courser and cream/beige in colour.
Hope that helps

I have been trying my own resistant potato starch study and believed it may be helping the arthritis in my fingers although this could also be the result of eliminating sugar from my diet.
Unfortunately I have been experiencing unusual cramping in my left arm & now my wife who has been taking a teaspoon of “potato starch” is experiencing similar cramping???
This leads to my main concern…. Here in Queensland Australia I have bought several bags of Lotus Potato Flour that have the word STARCH clearly under the word flour… I have also now discovered that there is a clear distinction between potato starch & potato flour… Lotus also have a similar packet stating potato starch…. how can I find out if this is still potato flour and has anybody else experienced muscular cramps

http://74door.ru/forum/user/10965/
http://xn--j1aadhdbbpr7hb.xn--p1ai/forum/index.php?PAGE_NAME=profile_view&UID=62738
https://bodib.ru/forum/user/2215/
https://www.svetli-grad.ru/forum/user/1/?PAGE_NAME=profile_view&UID=11453
http://www.mebelsfabriki.ru/forum/index.php?PAGE_NAME=profile_view&UID=5234

It’s Christensenella. Not a bacteria I was born with by the sound of it.😉

Can someone please remind me of the name of the gut bug that some people are born with that enables them to stay slim throughout their life regardless?

Hi! I do a couple of days 18:6 and tend to stop eating after lunch, skipping my evening meal. I usually have Oat milk in my morning coffee which I now prefer to cow milk. It gives the coffee a nutty flavour and enhances it for me!

As far as I know nothing has transpired Re this study.
Atlas biomed did my gut biome test. They seem good
Atlasbiomed.com

I have just scrolled through all the posts from 2017 – 2018. Did this study ever get off the ground and does anyone ever get a reply? I am also interested.
I will be visiting the UK from Australia in September. Does anyone know where I can get my Microbiome tested as there is not much happening down under (please excuse the pun).

Hi Surfergirl – and others,
Well, it’s been a long journey. Things went from bad to worse and I was diagnosed with IBS for which I was doing everything, diligently, to manage. However, nothing worked and I became very depressed and wondered how I could even keep on working. It’s a whole world of sufferers out there.
I live in Sydney Australia and I heard, from my chemist, about The Centre for Digestive Diseases. I made an appointment with Professor Borody who believes this is essentially an untreated long term infection often from C Difficile. I had to wait 14 months as people come from all over the world to see him. I had a colonoiscopy and was subsequently given two antibiotics to take, one made by a compounding chemist, the other a fairly obscure antibiotic. Within 20 mins of taking my first dose the bloating started to subside, then the gas reduced, the burning went away and over the next few days all symptoms virtually went. I was elated yet just waiting for it to come back. I didn’t believe that could so “simply” be the answer. It was. Early this year I had a bout of gastro and the symptoms came back albeit very mildly. Enough that I recognised the distinctive body sensations and feelings… including depression. I immediately took a short dose of the meds and have been symptom free ever since. This, to me, is a miracle. I still follow everything Dr Mosley advocates – not always strictly but do believe that if you’re following all the guidelines and still have considerable problems there’s something else going on and a lot of this is as Prof Borody says. The walls of his office are papered with testamonials. I will be forever grateful. Good luck to all of you!

Hi IKeeptrying,

Have you looked into the high intensity training that MM suggested to try lower your weight?
It seems to be a good thing if you doctor agrees, as its less time consuming than spending hours at the gym or slogging up the pavement.
I prefer team sports, but have found this has helped to move things along before.

Hello All, I have alot of reflux problems had 2 operations, a pyloraplasty to open the other end of my stomach so food can go down due to gastropersis (paralysis of verve in stomach). My question is I can try the fasting however I have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) has anyone have this condition and still do fasting because I find it difficult.
Can you get the test kit in Australia I cant seem to find link n website.

Thanking you in advance.

Hi Silverslippers,

I would love to hear how you have fared since your initial post.
I have recently been diagnosed with gastritis and am planning to reset my bi ome, I would also love to try the daytwo test but it is still unavailable in Australia.
Also who was the website that did offer fecal testing in Australia please?

I had thought i was a fairly healthy young Aussie, decent diet, try not to eat heavily processed foods at all.
Possibly a stress problem as Im a huge worrywart.

Hope you have identified your triggers and reset your biome succesfully, would be great to hear more.

Lovely to read these posts.
I did start off rather well but, by February I got caught up in helping a friend with a new business venture.
Little did I know how time consuming and stressful it would be. Consequently I neglected my own needs, my diet and the psoriasis came back with a vengeance.
So I took a two week holiday.
Plenty of sun, swimming in the sea, relaxation, lots of fruits and salads (meat free) and olive oil. I’m pretty stable now and have picked up the book again ready to get back on it.
I’ve also taken note of the seaweed suggestion by Argussie and will be adding this to my plan. 🙂

Good luck manyanna!

Thanks for the reply and clearing it up for me. I will try it out, hopefully starting tomorrow and will repost results. Fingers crossed.

If you look in the Seaweed and Psoriasis thread on this website, you will see that Pia Winberg gave this advice on 5 July 2017. It worked for me last year and this year it has worked for me again. Yes, I consume 2 1/4 sheets every day. Last year I blended it into homemade vegetable soup, but this year I’m taking it without the bother of soup. You will need to blend it into something liquid because it is too dry to chew on it’s own. I notice a reduction in itching from the start, and then the flaring up just stops. I have been taking it for five weeks and am more or less clear right now. Please post again if you try this and It works for you, as I try to tell people about this and nobody can be bothered to listen.

Argussie, I’m interested in trying the nori seaweed drink you mention. Do you drink the amount you mentioned (2 1/4 sheets) everyday? It sounded a bit much so I’d like to confirm it please. Also have you seen any difference or is it too soon? Thanks for your help, manyanna.

@gutlovinglife
Before starting, phase 1, which I am now. #1 challenge bloating. Discomfort on my digestive system is how I will describe my bloating.
Blanca

My psoriasis is seasonal, and for the parts of the year when I have a particular problem, I drink a daily “seaweed smoothie” which reduces my psoriasis to almost nothing. I buy sushi nori sheets in the World Foods section at the supermarket. One packet contains five sheets weighing 11grams in total. I liquidise 2 1/4 sheets (5 grams) in a glassful of hot water to make an odd but not completely disgusting daily drink. I see excellent results within five weeks of starting. I have had psoriasis for sixty years and this is the only thing that has ever helped me.

Thanks for your advice, Firefox. I will start keeping a food and symptoms diary as you suggest and also re-read the clever guts and fast800 books. I’ll look what MM says about the night fasts too as I hadn’t thought about that

Ps I’m discharged from the hospital. I discussed with my GP easing myself off omeprazole as I didn’t like the risk factors of its long term use and he told me to stop them – no tapering off. He said, well if you get the symptoms again, you can always come back here. I got rebound symptoms for about a fortnight and it’s all settled down now

Ok, thanks. I’ll keep reporting any new ones 😀

Although all prescription medications have potential side effects, some are very safe over the long term. Please discuss the implications of going drug-free with your pharmacist and/ or the prescribing doctor beforehand.

As far as I can tell, Dr Michael Mosley’s ‘The Fast 800’ is the updated version of ‘The Fast Diet’ (5:2) and the ‘Blood Sugar Diet’, so you would not need to combine them.

Have you got back into maintaining your detailed daily food, activity and symptom diary as recommended in the ‘Clever Guts Diet’ (p.187)? If you have you could use this to review the balance and variety of your current diet, what calories and macronutrients (carbs/ sugars/ protein/ fats/ fibre) you consume on average, and how your serving sizes compare to recommended ones. Only once you know where you are can you determine where to go next.

In both the ‘Clever Guts Diet’ and ‘The Fast 800’ Dr Mosley suggests extending overnight fasts as a way of easing in to longer or stricter fasts. You might (re)read the two books, mark out sections and discuss with your hospital consultant, registered dietician or family doctor.

HTH!

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