Potato starch is on its way and I have been unable to find the protocol for its use on the website can you please advise regards john

In April I had to return from Singapore on the way to a holiday in New Zealand because of diverticulitis. Ive downloaded the Good Gut diet book and I’m determined to eat more healthily ( ordered a kefir starter pack and just made some sauerkraut and kimchi- watch this space!). But…….it it possible to have too much of this probiotic stuff? I already make yoghurt. I certainly don’t want to do anything that starts off diverticulitis again

Hi, my copy of the Clever Guts Diet arrived today, Only had time to read the first chapter so far,but very interesting.

It’s not stupid at all, I’ve done that, too, many times!

🙂

Thanks Aquilega
I’ll give it a good try. The other thing that happened with me was that I overcompensated on non fast days by eating too much – almost like I felt I’d got to make up for the fast day – it’s stupid, I know. I’ll try not to do this time

Hi iKeeptrying, sounds like you’re on the right track.

I’ve been doing 5:2 for over 4 years and it’s so ingrained in my routine that I don’t think twice about it. I have always done 500 calories but I’m thinking I will up that now that Michael’s advice is to go up to 800.

When you’ve done it previously, have you cut out drinks/foods you would usually have? e.g. coffee, tea, etc? Could it be withdrawal that you’re experiencing?

I do 5:2 most weeks except for holidays, birthdays etc, and then there are some days that I just don’t feel like it if I’m not up to par. I go with what my body needs. I drink tea, coffee and herbal drinks while fasting and eat my normal foods except less of it and a lower number of calories. Although I am already implementing food ideas from the new book.

Some people spread their calories out over the whole day, while others have just one meal. Personally, I find two meals works for me – breakfast and dinner. You have to do what works for you.

Hope this helps.

Hi I’ve tried 5:2 several times and not managed to stick to it. So I’m wondering what advice you could give me to help myself get into it. My husband has been doing it for 3 years and he loves it and is maintaining now – so we could do fast days on the same day together. I’ve had trouble with headaches despite drinking loads of water, and on non fast days have felt nauseous and like I’ve been hit by a bus, so I stopped doing it. I’ve been to the doctor and had myself checked out as I was worried I might be pre diabetic but my blood glucose is fine although cholesterol was raised for the first time in my life.

I’m starting the clever gut diet and think this is just what I need for my Ibs and the after effects of antibiotics. I am thinking I’ll follow a Mediterranean diet – I love this type of food (and I can have a glass of red wine and dark chocolate 🤙😀) I’ll cut out those foods that don’t agree with me and my IBS and broaden the range of foods I eat and include fermented foods. I thought I’d ease into intermittent fasting after a week or so by trying 1 day fast of 800 calls rather than 500 then build up to two fast days. Oh, and I’m going to increase my exercise – get on my bike again . How does this sound??

What an incredible book!

What I’m finding really interesting is that some of what Dr Mosely is saying has been on internet sites for years, but I could never really trust what was true & what was made up. A good example being leaky gut, which was dismissed by the established medical community as nonsense. In this book it’s stated as fact. At last I feel vindicated.

I’ve had skin candida rashes for years, as well as IBS, slowly getting worse over the years. Never knew which diet to go for. Now I have a proper diet plan from a doctor I trust.

Hi chocolate the daily mail article is much the same thing as in the book – I googled clever guts diet and daily mail and it comes up with an online article you may find interesting based on his supplement in the paper.
I’ve found the diary its at- click the tab “get started” then go to reboot your biome from the drop down menu, then at the bottom of the page about rebooting there’s a link to the diary – let me know if you get stuck and I’ll try to link you to it

Hello everyone!

I have now read Michael’s new book ‘Clever Guts’. I had pre ordered it on Amazon but it was delayed and I couldn’t wait, so I bought the kindle version too! The hard copy is useful for the recipes though and Amazon have extended my prime membership for a month to say sorry, so all’s well.

As mentioned in my profile, I’m 56 – with predominant IBS-C (and sometimes IBS-D). I’ve been intermittent fasting since 2012, taking probiotics since 2016 and also following the slimming world eating plan as well. I have an underactive thyroid too, but have still managed to lose 2.5 stone with 5:2/slimming world and I’ve kept it off for 2 years on 3rd June!

Having read the book I can see how important prebiotics will be in my fight against IBS. My symptoms have already improved dramatically since following the above regime, but I’m still a bit of a way off living what I would call a ‘normal life’. I’m very much looking forward to introducing prebiotics into my daily routine and will be trying the ones Michael used in his recent documentary ‘The Truth About Sleep’ (which is where I first heard about them). For probiotics I use VSL#3 and it’s good to see Michael’s recommended them in his section on IBS. I buy them directly from the VSL#3 website though and wouldn’t trust getting them from Amazon etc, or I get them from Lloyds Pharmacy – although they’re £5 more expensive from Lloyds but useful if you’ve run out and need them in a hurry.

This is the book I’ve been waiting for. Read it in one sitting and can’t wait to get started. One quick question – The book mentions a food diary you can download and print from the resources section of the website but I can’t find it … where’s it lurking ?!
Also – I missed the Daily Mail magazine last weekend – did anyone manage to snag a copy ? Is there anywhere I can download or ask for a printed copy or is it worth the trouble – I’ve probably got everything I need in the book.

Think I’ll try the dry Steve I’m in the UK and have started using Ocado – it says they also sell kefir and fermented sauerkraut but seeing the price and we love sauerkraut I might start making our own👍

Fat rabbit – great name lol I love miso so will give marmite a try thanks

I just wonder if supplements are worth it or just a waste of money ?

I’ve just written a long post and the site decided to re-load itself and lost my post, so I’ll try to rewrite it from memory

That’s great news Fatrabbit, and motivation to people like me.

LCB I think I know where you mean – it’s a lovely town with some excellent individual shops. There’s a good art gallery (several) that has a restaurant run by the owners serving home cooked healthy meals – and.coffee and cakes – but you wouldn’t want them!
I also like beans and pulses and. Make a mixed bean salad with lemon and oil dressing, some garlic, coriander and basil with a handful of seeds thrown in – I can eat this instead of bread and carbs

Catananche I’m going to stick to a Mediterranean type diet and trying to cut out the foods that don’t agree with me at the same time as broadening the range of food I eat as I can get a bit stuck in a rut through laziness. I’ve tried 5:2 several times (my husband. Has been doing for 3 years and does maintenance now and it suits him) I always seem to get headaches despite drinking loads of water and also felt like if been hit by a bus on non fast days – I like the suggestion of michaels to eat 800 cals instead of 500 on fast days. – I might try easing into 5:2 after a week or so of repairing my mircrobiome
Keep posting everyone as it’s nice to read your posts about yourselves

I am a 52 year old vegetarian who has been doing intermittent fasting for 6 months and seen amazing improvements in many aspects of life from it, including reductions in my weight, anxiety levels, inflamation, pain from fibromyalgia and from the arthritis in my hands and asthma. My energy levels have gone up by miles too. I have lost all cravings for carbohydrates and everything tastes better. I am intrigued by the fact that my gut bacteria are behind much of this change. I want to learn more and be able to make further improvements to my biome.

I buy dried seaweed at Tesco and put it in hot water with a teaspoon of marmite to make an cheap version of miso soup. It is great for getting you through fast days without spiking insulin.

I’ve just made my first attempt of the purple sauerkraut (with carrot instead of beets) and had to make a big batch because I had a larger jar. I do like sauerkraut but haven’t been adventurous with it before, just had it with sausages so I’ll need to try it with a few other meals or it will go to waste.
I’m going to kefir a go too, can’t find it locally to buy.

I bought some yesterday in my local health food store. A fresh version from the fridge, plus dried seaweed (the kind of thing they use to wrap around Sushi). I can get it also from Sainsbury’s if you are in the UK.

Tokyo14 – I believe it’s common to have prophylactic antibiotics with major surgery (certainly is with obstetrics) so that itself could have had an impact and have you seen this: http://www.drperlmutter.com/chemotherapy-microbiome/? Best wishes in fixing your dodgy guts!

IKeepTrying – my plan is to go back to 5:2 and cram in lots of colourful veg. I love fruit but am lazy with veg. Then I need to do battle with my sugar cravings. And I’m about to start my first batch of sauerkraut and might have a go at kefir. I already have yoghurt daily, do HITT and garden but the bit in the book about having a repetitive diet struck a chord.

I love yogurt but had little success when I tried to make my own many years ago.

I have never tried sauerkraut, but as I hate the smell when my husband puts vinegar on tomatoes when he has a salad I would find it off-putting.

This is despite the fact that I use vinegar for cleaning and used acetic acid regularly when I was working.

I am determined to have a go at making some sauerkraut soon. Any tips for success welcome.

We are moving to Derbyshire at the beginning of August, to a small town west of Derby. I’m told they call it The Gateway to the Peak District. Lovely area, lots of fresh air for healthy bacteria? I’ve just asked my local hardware shop if they can get fermenting jars, don’t want three, just one will do. If they can’t then it will be the products link.
I am trying to replace the fibre from wheat with the fibre from vegetables and beans. Got the old Audrey Eyton F2 books (remember her and that duet?). She does done lovely salads with butter beans (my husband loves that one) or red kidney beans and sweet corn. All good fibre. As I am allergic to dairy I have goats milk products which seem to suit me and I will have another 3 weeks of kefir shortly. I am also taking Bio-kult probiotics – Boots do a 3 for 2. Also going sugar free, or at least 90%. I will also do some fasting. Maybe from lunch to breakfast. We will see.

i did the blood sugar diet so majority of my food is carb free but it does play havoc with my dodgy guts!!!!
i am hoping if i start this it may improve my poor dodgy guts!!!

It’s not something my green grocer sells, do I have anything to gain by buying supplements in the healthfood shop? And if so which strength and how much is beneficial ?

Hello all glad there’s more people on here as I was feeling a bit like Billy no mates. It’s interesting reading all your post to see that we all have similar and different reasons for our interest in the clever guts diet.

LCB when do you move to Derbyshire? it’s a beautiful county I live between Nottingham and Derby.
I’ve ordered kefir grains from raw and pure co uk I’ll try to post a link to it

I’m wondering how to start this diet off – I think I’ll cut out things thatiknow dontafree with me like wheat sugar and over processed foods and I’m wondering if I should try incorporating a 5:2 blood sugar type diet

What are you all planning to do?

Oh, I’ve been to the doctors for my blood test results and my blood glucose levels were normal (great news!!) – my cholesterol was up for the first time in my life!! So I need to get losing some weight …..

Hi. I am also of an even more certain age (74) and was also diagnosed with IBS years ago. Mine seems to have culminated in bowel cancer, I had the tumour removed last year and then had chemo. I am trying everything to improve my gut. I am interested in fermented foods but most of them seem to be pasteurised which isn’t much help. We are moving to Derbyshire in August, hopefully and the town has a good independent health shop so that will be my first port of call! Has anyone had any success in making their own kefir? Might try making the sauerkraut. I’ve tried the goats milk one from Wales but it is expensive. I think it helped though. I wish the book was more explicit with which are the best probiotics. Just had a blood test for showing if I am deficient in any vitamins or minerals but might try the fecal bacteria test once we have moved. All advice/polite suggestions and help welcomed.

Hi,

I read the book and wanted to try some recipes, but my first pick – banana cashew pots on p260 – involves 250grams of cashews! Is that right?

Hello. Just got the book yesterday, I’m about at page 90. I would love to have the analysis, pity it’s not available in the UK yet. I was diagnosed as diabetic in 2001, but quickly got on top of it with diet etc. and take no medication but have ‘normal’ blood sugar. I have a C&G nutrition unit qualification which I studied to help me with this, but I still can’t get my weight down no matter what I do. Yes, I’ve done 5/2. I do know about the biome etc., but more advice is always welcome if it’s evidence-based as this is.

hi i am just half way through reading this book and find it really interesting
i am a lady of a ” certain age ” (52) !!! and have always had a ” dodgy tummy” for want of a better word
however i had a hysterectomy and chemo in 2015 which i find has left me with hot fushes and at times an even “dodgier tummy” so am looking forward to giving this book a try
i recently had a bad bout of gastroenteritis in february so feel i need to get my guts to be clever again !!
does anyone know if surgery and chemo can have effects on my ” clever guts” ??

Hello all, I am a 70 yr old retired person living with my wife, daughter and two young delightful grandchildren. I have MDS a rare and incurable cancer of the bone marrow. That said I am naturally keen to disturb its progress and have been studying food as an ally in my quest. I have become very interested in the microbiome and have already read 196 pages of this most absorbing book. I look forward to implementing the suggestions contained there in. I’ve just had my first teaspoon of potato starch!

Hello! I’m 31, suffered mildly with my health since having my daughter 8 months ago. I have gall stones and a duodenal ulcer. Although I think they have gone since eating lower carb and higher good fat. I haven’t quite finished the book but already annoyed by all the references to this site, only to find no info here. Or is it just me? I can’t find the information mentioned in the book about olive oil, for example.
Anyway lovely to meet you all.

Hi there! I did that quiz too and had a high score. Would like to get my weight and asthma under control and if my thyroid function improves, well that would be marvellous. Finished the book yesterday and in preparation chucked out all artificial sweeteners (ah who am I kidding, I finished the bottle). I’m just about to start my prepping my own sauerkraut and weirdly looking forward to fasting again.

Hi folks my book arrived in the post today read the first 92 pages already !
I’m determined to break my yoyo dieting cycle and get healthy physically and mentally 👍

Hello, is anyone there? Well, it looks like I’m the first here I’m 66 years (just) and live in Derbyshire uk I’m happily retired

I’ve been waiting for this book and way of eating since I first saw notice on amazon of it. I have also read the supplement that was in the Daily Mail last week (not my favourite newspaper!) I did the quiz that was with the online article and I was way over 10 eg my gut being in trouble – it was nearer 16!!!! I’ve had IBS since I was in my teens, I’m prone to fungal infections – thrush, althletes foot, and eczema type rashes in my scalp and ears etc. I seem to have reactions to sugar, yeast and wheat and over processed food that gets worse as I get older. I also suffer from insomnia especially when I have some of the foods I’ve mentioned I’m. overweight by about two stone I’ve tried the fast diet and struggled with feelings of nausea and headache, despite drinking pints of water, so I gave up. i have been dabbling with the blood sugar diet and love a Mediterranean type diet. I’ve just had blood tests done by my doctor as I’m worried I might be pre diabetic – I get the results tomorrow.
Sorry to hit you with my “health issues” all at once. I’m actually a positive happy person – honest 😀

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the Clever Guts forums!

This is a great place to meet others who are also on a path to improved gut health. We urge you to introduce yourself and share your tips, tricks, recipes and stories.

Good luck and we look forward to hearing from you!