Feeling Green without Greens

[Wwwdot]

Hi Guys

An unexpected learning curve - slid down and now back to recovery path.

I won’t bore you with the background as it’s in my bio but basically I self treat as more than 18 months waiting and I have STILL not got to see a gastroenterologist re my PA/GA so been self treating with amazing success. From dreadful IBS, low stomach acid, no appetite and bloating and weight gain - I can now eat virtually anything and I have come down two clothes sizes even though I am eating more!

BUT… we had an Indian takeaway and it was expensive and dreadful so much waste and we all felt rubbish after it. So I started making authentic curry batches for the freezer and for approximately the last 10 days my diet has deviated from my usual 3-4 cruciferous greens with my meal. Ie not uncommon to have cabbage, brocolli and asparagus or half a large Romaine/Cos lettuce with a meal.

The good news is that I was able to eat the curry with no IBS symptoms and no sleep upsets etc. But at the weekend we went to a wedding and I ate a burger and a piece of wedding cake and next day I felt like I had a lead lined stomach and I felt really off and uncomfortable.

Last night I ate a large plate of cabbage noodle with lots of veg and I can already tell this morning that is what was needed. My stomach is soft again and I can hear happy processing gurgles instead of deafening silence.

Clearly the greens are essential to my stomach repair and maintenance. Next curry is a saag ie lots of spinach!

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[Canadian77]

Glad to hear you are on the mend, amazing how one meal can disturb the gut

[Wwwdot in reply to Canadian77]

To be fair it was a slide of green decline due to focussing on curry making and the burger was just too much for my tum! But a lesson learned!

[SuperhydroIM]

Sorry to counter here but no, greens are not essential. Animal fat and meat is essential. Try it out to improve.

[Wwwdot in reply to SuperhydroIM]

Hi SuperhydrolM

I think both are needed. It’s about balance. I have been eating plenty of meat and animal fat and greens and I had months of gut improvement. But then circumstances reduced the greens but maintained the meat and that’s when after a few days my gut issues began to resurface. A couple of days back on the greens (and meat) and I am feeling better - much better!

Thank you for your input!

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[Technoid in reply to SuperhydroIM]

"Animal fat and meat is essential."

How long does it take to die after stopping eating all animal products? I'm a curious vegan, perhaps my nutrition education can be improved 😏

[Wwwdot in reply to Technoid]

I could easily be vegan if I didn’t live with meat heads!

There is a community of Bhudist monks up the road and their vegan food is supposed to be sensational - I need to persuade them to give cookery lessons!

I seldom crave meat or fruit but I frequently crave vegetables !!

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[Monkharris]

Fantastic information, confirms what I have suspected for a while. When we have lots of greens arrive in our weekly veg box, my digestion is happier, especially with calabrese, purple sprouting and spring greens. I instinctively gravitate towards purple sprouting broccoli, it tastes so good. Nature knows what she is doing

[Wwwdot in reply to Monkharris]

Hi Monkharris

Yes I am convinced now, not that I doubted Mother Nature before, that greens have an important role in food digestion and gut health. Might not be the most scientific way to reach that conclusion but it’s good enough for me!

Purple sprouting broccoli is a fave in our house too!

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[bookish in reply to Monkharris]

Purple sprouting is wonderful, my mum used to grow ours when I was a kid. Cheers

[Wwwdot in reply to bookish]

Trying to grow it Bookish but what with rabbits, deer, and hens and the wind (not the too many greens tripe!) it’s a challenge!

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[bookish in reply to Wwwdot]

That does sound like a challenge! I remember lots of caterpillars, and black fly on the broad beans, but nothing bigger.....

[Wwwdot in reply to bookish]

Hi Bookish

Just checked and a cat is now added to my pest list along with the slugs that have eaten all the companion tagetes!! Never mind weeds are prolific and learning how to eat my weeds!!

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[bookish in reply to Wwwdot]

Very good for you, weeds......as well as pretty and great for wildlife!

[Doris11]

Hi there I read some cabbages are a good probiotic for your gut bacteria? 👍

[Wwwdot in reply to Doris11]

Hi Doris

Yes they are! Sauerkraut is a good example and I make my own you can do the same with brocolli and other veg - the hard part is keeping it all submerged to stop mould growth as it wants to float!

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[WIZARD6787]

Hey , Wwwdot, Good on you for working it out! I have found with more effective/ appropriate self-treatment I do not have to adjust my diet anymore. My go to probiotic is a stroll.

The science of nutrition which I studied from 1962 to 2000 is much closer to astrology than astronomy. More fashion than logic which is why it moves from fad to fad.

[Wwwdot in reply to WIZARD6787]

Hi Wiz

Yes sadly food science is far too faddy for my liking - I have always just eaten what I fancy when I am hungry and been fine - no issues with weight or anything until the B12 levels got too low that I got sick. Having no appetite is the hardest challenge as not wanting to eat is tough when you know you must - and I know from others that a loss of appetite is very distressing.

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