How can I find my old pictures?

[chickencam]

I have read a little about gut microbes and suggested to my colleague who has been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue syndrome that she looks into this, she is also a nutritionist so it is her area of interest too. She lives alone and although she knows what she should be doing she doesn't always follow her own advice

I think that there is so much that is yet to be discovered about the benefits of good bacteria and micro nutrients. I read an interesting article about a couple of young female doctors who ate the same diet for a few weeks and measured the effects in their weight, blood sugar levels etc. Both reacted very differently especially in terms of blood sugar spikes, one found grapes gave massive spikes for example where the other didn't. A lot of this seems to down to the fact that some people have a huge range of different gut bacteria and others only a few. The trick seems to be yo eat foods which increase the range, this seems to be where the benefits of a diet with a wide variety of foods comes in especially as much fruit and veg as possible and also fermented foods like sauerkraut etc.

My dad who has various digestive issues and had an endoscopy a couple of years ago got much worse after this, and we think this is because of the drugs he was given before it to clear his system completely. This cleared all gut flora too, he couldn't eat anything with a high cellulose content for a long time which wasn't helping with rebuilding his health.

[soapdragon]

I am never sure about those yoghurty drink things that claim to support the gut immune system Maybe live yoghurt is just as good Blue cheese is supposed to be beneficial too. Does anyone know of any other 'must eat' gut foods?

 

It would make sense that, if your digestive system is working at its optimum, being super efficient at eliminating stuff the body doesn't need, then general health is better!

[Valkyrie]

Sometimes I think we are just guinea pigs with the docs. They try different drugs on us and sometimes that's not good because they are just guessing without sending for tests. All the tablets I was taking for hiatus and it wasn't - I had gallstone problems. The first doctor just declared that was my problem. So went back again and again and another doctor said it was probably hiatus and still gave me the same tablets. Eventually I went yellow! Into hospital and bye bye gallbladder and I've been fine ever since. I was also given child dosage of asthma puffers from another doc (if it's the surgery and you need help you take whatever doc you can get an appointment with).

I was also having dizzy spells. I'd been on blood pressure tablets for a long time - and I'd dropped right down to the lowest possible - plenty of exercise and eating yukky beetroot. So I stopped taking them altogether - went back to my own GP - yep booked about 2 weeks in advance - and he was delighted with my progress but told me that I needed to take a tablet that day because my blood pressure would be over 80 by the evening.

Since then my mum told me that the older you are, the higher your blood pressure goes. Seems my blood pressure is that of an 18 to 24 year old. I'm 58! No wonder I was getting dizzy spells! It was too low - like 119/65!!!! But I do have my own monitor and I check the pressure just to make sure, but it is low and still way under 80. Usually around the 75 mark in the evening and around 120 to 130 for the higher number. I don't use salt in cooking and I have to ask when eating out not to have salt. Don't like it anyway! Although sometimes it's well hidden - another reason for not touching processed foods - they are way too liberal with the salt!

[The Dogmother]

My mother has bad arthritis in her hands, as does OH's sister. Mine are starting to get a little swollen do and stiff at times, but cod liver oil and glucosamine definitely help in my case. I am 53, and can see that I will head the same way way as my mum.

[soapdragon]

Glucosamine sounds as though its worth a try so I will get some asap and see if that helps! Still not sure about the cod liver oil !!!!

[The Dogmother]

You won't taste it in the capsules my dear.. boots stocks them.

[Valkyrie]

a big spoon of malt and cod liver oil - yummm also from Boots - reminds me of days of yore!

[soapdragon]

Bought cod liver oil and glucosamine (still can't spell it!) in Lidl for a VERY reasonable price Now have 30 days supply so will see how that works.......thanks for all good advice, Wise Ones!

[mollyripkim]

I also have an auto-immune disease and my consultant is adamant of the link between gut bacteria and inflammation, he recommended fkaxseed oil and probiotics, I use the boots travel ones as they have the highest amount, apparently the yogurt drinks etc are not much good. I do also need steroids etc but now on a maintenance dose.

[mullethunter]

Mollyripkim can I ask what your symptoms are when its bad? We're really struggling to get a diagnosis for OH let alone anything further. Please feel free to PM me.

[Cat tails]

There used to be a special clinic in the Netherlands, university of Leiden, that was researching the link between joint inflamation diseases and gut inflamation diseases. According to them there was a strong link between the two and they treated the joint problems with special diets.

I think they stopped, because the funding terminated, but they did write some very interesting papers on it. A friend of mine has reumatoid artheritis and was losing weight quite drastically at one point. His GP didn't know about the research done, but he got in to contact with a specialist and is on the mend.

[The Dogmother]

That's interesting... I'd like to hear any information on that if you find it.

 

My mother has gout and arthritis, my finger joints are going that way and OH has it in an ankle joint after an accident when he smashed that ankle.

[Cat tails]

I've written an article on it once for a newspaper, but it's in Dutch, so not of much use.

 

But have found this article that lists some scientific papers on the topic.

[The Dogmother]

Thanks, will read those when I get a moment; I find this very interesting... there was a lady on my course last weekend, a professor who specialised in digestion, immune system and she extolled the virtues of probiotics and gut flora. I guess that cutting out wheat and sugar would really help.