Get a grip woman!

foxgloves

I find fermented foods a really interesting subject. The only one I do regularly is my sourdough bread, although I used to make yoghurt back in my single days. I still have the paraphernalia for that somewhere. My one & only attempt at sauerkraut was a smelly epic fail, but I have read quite a few books from the library on the subject of fermenting & received the River Cottage book on it for a gift a couple of years ago. I fully intend to have a go at something else this year.
I had read about resistant starch....cooked cooled potatoes being more beneficial for good gut bacteria & I believe cooked cold pasta, as in a salad, also has the same effect.
F

KajiKita

themadvix said:

I’m pretty sure a Zoe podcast with the top scientists there argued the opposite - that unless there’s a specific need, bought pro/probiotics don’t do a lot.

I remember hearing this too, but was so miserable when struggling with a discomfort issue, that I tried a female specific probiotic that was meant to help. The issue is now under control, partly due to a prescription from the doctor as well, but I am aware if I miss a day with the probiotic. The other thing I noticed is that the instructions are quite precise about taking it in the morning and not at night - when I forgot one morning, I thought, oh well take it at night then (not that late, with dinner, a good three hours before going to bed). OMG …. the nightmares I had that night - never, ever had a night like that …. 😳 I miss that probiotic if I haven’t taken it by lunchtime now ….

This is only anecdotal I appreciate, but it suggests to me that they do have an effect even if the mechanism is not understood. 

KK

greenbee

Jumping in as I've just completed a year on the Zoe programme and had a microbiome retest, which compares your current (identifiable) gut bacteria against your previous sample (which is reassessed based on their latest database so you're comparing like with like as the science evolves). After a year of eating far more plants, a wider variety of plants, far less beige food (because I'm actively avoiding it in situations where I just used to give in, like work travel), less meat and fish (not overly fond of it, but ate it because I was told it was good for me), far more fibre (around 70-90g/day, sometimes more... don't try to do this too quickly!), and a regular yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi - varying the brands as much as possible, I have introduced 9 new beneficial bacteria and killed off 4 that are associated with poor health outcomes. I've also lost weight, improved my energy (I joined due to long covid symptoms), got rid of restless legs, raynauds, peripheral neuropathy and my skin is fabulous. Everything you need to know to improve is in the podcasts, so you don't need to pay for the programme - I did because I was desperate to do something do deal with my ongoing symptoms almost 3 years after having Covid. 

themadvix

That’s really interesting Greenbee, thanks for sharing. Huge fan of the podcasts and interested in the study but it’s not for me financially at the moment. I definitely eat more fermented food now - and try to be evangelical but without much success!

greenbee

Feel free to ask questions (on my diary/via PM/here if SL doesn't mind!), and I'll do my best to answer. It was only sheer desperation that made me sign up - and they're very good at sharing the information online. Now my brain is mostly working properly again I think there's enough information there for most people to be able to go it alone (then again, the FB groups suggest otherwise - people pay for the programme but don't want to change what they eat!). I think I've probably saved as much as I've spent given that that I'm eating more pulses and veg and less meat and fish (and eggs clearly, I've got 11 eggs that need using up). 

Suffolk_lass

Oh, @greenbee, I am very happy for you to ask questions or chat on my diary, it is really interesting, especially the anecdotal experiences. 

@themadvix, the opposite position is what I have always believed, based on some assumptions about digestive acids, which is why I found the article so interesting. Let me see if I can link to it... I have made a screen shot image and here is a link (you might need a subscription/free trial to read in Times on-line).

Baileys_Babe

Thanks @greenbee for sharing your experience of improving your gut bacteria and the positive impact you have seen. I do enjoy fermented food, but I am currently failing to include them in my diet🤦 I will go and listen to the podcasts and if I have any questions I will get back to you.

@Suffolk_lass thank you for sharing the article, I will read it tomorrow on a larger screen.

Watty1

themadvix said:

Watty, if you do Facebook, there’s a group called UK fermenting friends and if you join, you can request in the chat for WK grains and someone will send you their excess for free. I got my MK grains this way. Really helpful and friendly group too.

Oh thanks so much for that tip. I just popped over to look that up and apply to join.  I love that idea.

Suffolk_lass

Well, we each have a list. Mine is 3 things, DH has one in three parts. His was outside, mine are in, out and drive about, so his might not get done if he is too cold.

He was too cold so I am not even attempting my outdoor job proper. It is bitter. I will get my seeds in and audit them instead.

So instead, we have made both our own and the double room beds, and moved all the bee paraphernalia from the single spare room along to the double. This is in preparation for getting a loft ladder person along to see if they can fit a revised loft hatch and ladder, and board out part of the loft. There are three lofts...! then all that bee stuff can go up in the loft. We won't need insulation, there is tons of it!

I'm on my 3rd load of washing (three to go but one is a hot overnighter, so might leave the others until tomorrow).

Whoops, just found yesterday's post...

Suffolk_lass

This morning I have to wait around as a piece of outdoor furniture is due to be delivered. I gave my address when ordering, as I will be here but it is not for us, it is for the Village Hall outdoor space. The cover arrived Friday (a different supplier). I only ordered on Thursday morning though, so both have done pretty well. 

This evening's meal is in the simmer oven, some shin of beef made into a take on goulash, having been tempted by @foxgloves (well Mr) making it for them this week and me thinking, I need to zhuzh things up a bit from my basic season and cook long and slow, then add to something else (tried and trusted) formula. So, potato (and carrot) is peeled and chopped and I will add it in a few hours. We will have some steamed cabbage with it (not to be authentic, just because we like it!). 

I was let down by a bee equipment supplier yesterday after them having my money for two months; not impressed but I can see they are in the process of refunding to my Payfriend account, which will hit the credit card before the money there goes, for this month's bill. The November purchase money was taken in December! My local reseller of equipment has the items in stock and I will collect them on Saturday when I collect him to go to an education day on the dreaded Asian Hornet. I should have just gone to him first!

I must go over to banking and pay for the kit, and see if our treasurer has refunded me for the purchases I have made