Are you managing your microbiome?

Been doing it for years. I started after being recommended a book by Dr. John Mansfield, a specialist in arthritis and allergies. A man way before his time.
Michael Mosley then investigated gut health and then I read another brilliant book by Tim Spaector called The Diet Myth. It really explains the links between the gut and the brain.
Not a fancy diet nipsmum, more just a healthy way of eating.

Sugar butties hellsgrandad!! A blast from the past.
My friend Kath's Mum used to make them. I pretended to enjoy them, but really I didn't like the gritty texture on my teeth.
In fact my teeth are on edge now just thinking about them

It is correct that you can at first get some slight stomach cramp but usually only until your gut adjusts - there are often people on facebook who pass on some of their grains as they can grow fast at times so you can often get some for free. It takes a bit of practice to learn what works with them but they are pretty resilient. There is lots of info on the link I posted above - join in the kefir craze - though if you prefer you can also buy it in Lidl - but homemade is nicer and over time you can tailor it to how you like it best. It's also excellent for bone fracture healing and repair.

That made me laugh Patricia. I too make kefir using live grains bought online. Very easy to do, and the grains multiply so you can give some away, or like Patricia put to sleep in the freezer!
I suffer with IBS and silent reflux and wanted a natural remedy so read The Clever Guts Diet too. Tried making sauerkraut but all that slicing and massaging with salt was too much effort. The kefir is fine and so is making live yogurt. Happy to read that blue cheese is a fermented food too but some of the recipes look very unappetising, though others get love them.
I'm afraid that I also still eat the wrong stuff, mainly sweet stuff so my ailments still have the upper hand.

I will try again Hannah as it's clearly a good thing but maybe take it a bit easier this time ? !

I'm interested in this but know little about it. I looked at a bottle of kefir the other day, but didn't buy it. Not sure if I'd like it? The bone broth would be a no and the saukraut doesn't appeal.

I'm vegetarian and eat lots of fibre and pulses/lentils and dairy. I have been on a SW diet and ate no bread for 6 weeks - when I did have some I had a reaction to it.

I'm on the same trip as you. Try making kimchi - it tastes incredible! Unfortunately, while I'm in Spain, I can't get the ingredients but have made something similar, though not as addictive.

If you want a recipe, let me know,.

I had a great compliment from my London-based son this morning. He and his girlfriend went out for Korean food and had kimchi there. He reckons my homemade kimchi is nicer! I got him started on milk kefir too and now he's also making it with water kefir grains. I have a ginger beer recipe I'm going to try out next. Apparently it really packs a punch!

Thanks Dee - I'd like the kimchi recipe please. I see some include fish sauce, but can that be left out?

That does appeal to me. Do you keep it in the fridge?

Nanny27:
Fermentation. Even a very complex wine is only alcoholic grape juice. The alcohol is produced by a process called fermentation. A ripe organic grape is full of natural sugars and there are wild yeasts living on its skin.

Is that good or bad Jalima? I’m just drinking a gin (no sugar) and tonic(naturally low sugar) so I’m not thinking straight at the moment.
If it’s good I’ll have a red wine in a minute!?

I too have IBS and take a pro/prebiotic supplement every day. I think it helps. I eat plenty of fresh veg and the right cereals etc, but I also have a dreadful sweet tooth so I'm probably my own (or my guts) worst enemy!

I’ve just finished a course of predisolone steroids.
I did get the moon face and distended tummy after taking them.
And although I took omeprazole tablets to help with digestion problems, I still feel constipated and my tummy feels uncomfortable.
I did start taking kefir , but still have my sweet tooth.
Any advice out here would be appreciated.

I've read about this but have also read that joghurt bacteria etc can't survive in the gut, at least not long enough to do much good. There's more chance with fermented foods.

According to Tim Spector your gut needs 20 different foods each day so keep ringing the changes with nuts and occasional rare fruits and veg.
Apparently the gut microbes you receive at birth and shortly after are the ones you have now, more or less but variety does them good.

His book The Diet Myth is a good read and based on research of hundreds of twins.

I had to take prednisolone for six years for polymyalgia. I tapered the dose gradually and came off it last summer with not after-effects. Did you taper your withdrawal from pred, Magicmaggie? I found that the moon face thinned down after I reached 10mg and never did have constipation, possibly due to my apple-eating habit. Dried apricots are very useful for constipation!

Annodomini
Thanks for your reply and advice about eating apples and dried apricots. Will certainly give them a go.
Yes, I did taper my tablets from 7 a day for a week down to 1 a day for a week and finished last week.
I’m going to do some facial exercises to try to slim down my “moon face”. Hope they work???

Magicmaggie, prunes soaked overnight in a little water are also good for constipation. Just eat them with yogurt for breakfast and include the soaking water. Not too many to start with, perhaps just two or three until you know what has the right effect. You don't want to be caught short when you're out!

magicmaggie
Re your sweet tooth. Try very gradually reading the amount of sugary things you eat, and the frequency you eat sweet things.
Gradually you’ll find that things that you used to like seem sickly and you’ll want them less.
For real aversion therapy, google Robert Lustig Sugar: the Bitter Truth.

Reducing, not reading!!!

HannahLoisLuk
many thanks for your advice re prunes.
As you say I’ll be careful about the amounts, as a friend
said to me yesterday she’d rather be like me then, like her who gets bouts of diarrhoea and is either unable to go out or is always searching for a ?

I’m sure many other gn’s

Janeainsworth
Thanks so much for your advice about my sugar craving.
I will certainly google Robert Lustig’s book.
My goodness you gn’s are a really helpful bunch of ladies.
I’m sure others will gain knowledge from all your helpful advice.
Now let me think ? of some other problems.........

I have just ordered Michael Moseley's book "Clever Guts" and look forward to reading it!

I buy Kefir a a thick yogurt type product of Polish and Eastern Europe origin with a particular culture that is supposed to have lots of the best microrganisms for gut health. It does appear to be helpful in keeping regular. A 200ml glass seems to work.

I live in an area where this is on the supermarket shelves. I don't know how widely available it is.

The local Polish community brought that with them along with other fermented products such as sauerkraut.
www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-kefir

I am on long term, strong antibiotics so bought some kefir grains. I take the ab in the morning so drank the kefir in the evening. I did not notice any benefits so put them in the freezer when we went on holiday. The next place will probably be the bin!

're the comment upthread re kefir and about being not sure will like it - I just tell myself it's medicine and glug it down. I soon got used to the taste. There was a time when medicine wasn't disguised by being sweetened!