I’m going to try to keep a list this week

Hi i too suffer with IBS, So have to be careful what i eat including certain herbs and spices my doctor told me to follow a low fodmap diet, have you heard of it? You can get the app i think it cost about £4 but it is a life saver.

I thought it was Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall ?

keepingquiet
Perhaps if we all ate a very varied diet we wouldn’t need the type of probiotics that some people buy?
Better to do it naturally ? I have never bought a probiotic for myself but did tell my DD she should take them after a course of antibiotics.
Eating healthy food is silly?
You may know a lot already about a good diet and good gut health but look around, so many people haven’t got the message yet.

Yes, but this isn't about pro-biotics.

keepingquiet

Just another food fad I think. I appreciated Tim during Covid but now it's all getting bit silly.
Eat a normal varied diet, get some exercise, stop worrying- that's my mantra!

I think it’s only recently, though, that people have realised how important it is to eat pre and probiotics and Tim has been at the forefront of that research.

A spoonful of dried mixed herbs stirred into a pasta or rice dish, or a casserole should add at least 5 ticks to your list, depending how many different herbs are in the mix.

Remember the 30 plants a week doesn't mean portions of fruit and veg, it means any foodstuff, garnish or condiment that contains a plant. Cook mint with boiled potatoes and you can tick up 2 - the potatoes and the mint. Stir sage into a chicken casserole, scatter chopped basil over tomatoes, again 2 for the price of 1.

I realise I managed 20 today because I had some apple chutney with my evening salald

I have IBS too, but I know from the Monash list what triggers it now, so I either avoid my trigger fruit and veg. altogether or eat it in very small quantities. I have to avoid onions, which is tough, and stone fruits, particularly plums and apricots, both of which I love - I’ve had 12 so far, so I’m going to find 30 more challenging than M0nica is.

Monica I agree and as I have a healthy and varied diet I think I won’t have a problem eating 30 this week. I just thought would be interesting to see how I go. So far today I my total has only been 14 so you are doing better than me.
I find it fascinating to read how the gut works much better with a wider variety of foods and how to boost your bacteria.

Sparklefizz

I eat about 10-12 servings of fruit and veg a day, but can't manage 30 varieties as I have a lot of intolerances and allergies. All we can do is our best.

That’s an achievement, I love vegetables and fruit but have had to cut down recently because I have bouts of IBS if I eat too many.

There is nothing very unusual in this idea. It is merely saying 'eat a varied diet'. I have consumed 19 different plant species today (2 more than my original list on page 1) without even trying. Just eating my normal diet.

I need only add another two plant based products a day for the next six days to exceed 30 a week, and as the 30 includes herbs, spices, garnishes and condiments, I cannot see that being a problem.

mabon1 It depends why you buy organic fruit and veg. I do it to avoid consuming pesticides that can be bad for health even small quantities. I also buy it because organic farming methods, preserve the soil and are better for bio diversity.

Here is a link to a very comprehensive article on the subject www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880. If you google he subject you will find that the balance of research says that organie fruit and vegetables are higher in antioxidaants and flavinoid than conventionally grown crops. Both beneficial for good health.

Gwyllt the article is interesting but it does mention that the risk occurs with supplement use, not powdered turmeric.

I think it’s very important though to bear in mind that if something has been proved to work then it must have an effect on the body. If anyone is on medication they must always be aware the some things are contraindicated.
Anyway if one is trying to incorporate it into the 30 a week ‘challenge’ then one only needs a pinch.

Me too, MissI.
It’s a good job I don’t eat fruit - maybe the odd grape, but that’s it.

Just another food fad I think. I appreciated Tim during Covid but now it's all getting bit silly.
Eat a normal varied diet, get some exercise, stop worrying- that's my mantra!

I can’t help thinking this is a bit bonkers too. Sounds fun but rather worried well, and the variety can’t really make much practical difference. There’ll be another thread along in a minute about the air miles of all these, oranges, lemons, mangos, peppers.

I'm pretty sure the normal western diet kills more people than turmeric and black pepper

Thanks Gwyllt. I’m taking turmeric supplements at the moment to help with my arthritis. Might need to rethink how long to take them for. I do add them to food rather than just taking them with a glass of water.

keepingquiet

Who has the time to write all this down?

If I eat one lettuce leaf a month does that count? Does tea and coffee count as a plant?

Bonkers.

😂😂😂

I'm ok if tea and coffee are counted!
And already had a bit of left over potatoes, broccoli and courgette today fried in olive oil (another plant).

I have read that organic fruits and vegetables are no better for us than the less-expensive "ordinary" fruit and veg.

Higher doses of turmeric, other that normal cooking amounts, should not be taken with blood thinner medication either as it thins the blood further.

Turmeric and black pepper has been mentioned in this thread. By chance read this yesterday
Thought you might be interested

MEDICALNEWSTODAY | Sunday Supplement
Turmeric supplement capsules
The unexpected danger of turmeric and black pepper supplements

For years, we’ve heard about the potential health benefits of turmeric supplements, but a new study published in The American Journal of Medicine reveals a concerning link between these supplements and liver injury.

Researchers from the U.S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network identified 10 cases of turmeric-associated liver injury between 2004 and 2022, with six cases occurring since 2017. Of these, five patients were hospitalized, and one died from acute liver failure.

The study found a particular risk associated with taking turmeric and black pepper supplements together. Dr. Jay Hoofnagle, one of the study’s authors, explains: “Turmeric is a spice [...] it’s not absorbed. The answer, we think, is that these modern products [...] have been altered so that they are absorbed.”

The combination of turmeric and black pepper is popular because black pepper contains piperine, which greatly enhances the absorption of curcumin, the active compound in turmeric. However, this increased absorption could be what raises the risk of liver injury.

Interestingly, what’s safe for one person might not be for another. People in 7 out of the 10 cases carried a specific genetic variant (HLA-B*35:01), which may increase susceptibility to this type of liver injury.

It’s important to note that the risk seems to be associated with supplement use, not with turmeric used as a spice in cooking. If you’re taking a turmeric supplement, especially one boosted with black pepper, it might be wise to discuss the potential risks with your doctor. While turmeric may have health benefits, this study reminds us of the importance of approaching any supplement with due caution.

To learn more about this study and what it means for your health, jump to “Turmeric and black pepper supplements linked to liver injury in some people” for more on the science behind this surprising discovery.

Also making headlines this week:
Detailed study suggests keto diet is good for the brain
Drinking coffee cuts risks of sedentary lifestyle
Microplastics in the penis — what does it mean for fertility?
We love to hear from you, so please get in touch by email if you have any feedback, comments, or questions about this week’s Sunday Supplement.

Stay informed and stay healthy!

Tim Snaith
Newsletter Editor, Medical News Today

You only, apparently, need a small amount of each. I googled yesterday a found out that different coloured peppers count separately.
A Brazil nut is not the same as a cashew so a handful of mixed nuts is a great way to add to the count. Seeds are good too.
mollygo we are having curry tomorrow and we have that with lots of bits and pieces so that will probably get us up in the 20’s.

One sheet of paper with four columns for the month.

I just number an A4 sheet of lined paper from 1 to 30, write the date at the top (my week starts on Monday!) and fill it in through the week. It’s really easy to achieve 30 different plants when tea and coffee, herbs and spices, grains, cereals and eg garlic and ginger are included as well as vegetables and fruit.

I recently sent away for several jars of craft fermented kraut. It has to be kept in a fridge so it takes up a lot of space in my small fridge. I had read that if fermented stuff doesn’t need to be stored in a fridge it’s no good because that means it’s been sterilised which defeats the whole object. I thought it might trigger my IBS but in the Know Your S**t series on Ch4 they said it would be ok.

teabagwoman

PamelaJl how much turmeric and pepper to how much yogurt please? I’m trying to increase my intake of turmeric but, apart from curry, am struggling to find ways to use it. It isn’t actually all that difficult to eat 30 different plant foods a week although, as I live alone, it does involve a fair bit of freezing of fresh fruit and veg.

I add turmeric to scrambled eggs or omelettes. I’ve just bought some with a higher curcumin content though and not sure if that will be ok. Remember spices can be included as a different plant, too. I add cinnamon to things but only organic Ceylon cinnamon.