Cut down on your fruit and vegetables

What sounds like a nutritional heresy may be the best thing you can do for your gut

Sometimes I tell a client that they should remove much of the fruit and vegetables from their diet. Plus all those beans, nuts and seeds they are convinced are the path to health and longevity. From their confused expression it is immediately clear that they are in a mild state of confusion and wondering what sort of nutritionist I am. I go on to explain my rationale, and they leave reassured.

About a week or so later, they get in touch to let me know just how much better they feel.

For most people, plant foods can provide nutrients, fibre, bowel regularity and variety. I too like to garnish the main event on my plate with a little colour and interest. However, for others, specifically those with chronic gut issues, plant foods provide pain, bloating, discomfort and rather more gas than would be considered natural.

Below are four reasons why plant foods should be avoided.

1. You’ve got an irritable bowel

This common condition affects up to 15% of people in the US, mainly women. Here in the UK, with our similar diets and similar lifestyles, that figure is more or less the same.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a non-specific term. It means you’ve had all the usual tests, and passed with flying colours: you don’t have coeliac disease, cancer, Crohn’s, or any other inflammatory bowel disorder. But you still have symptoms, so you are labelled with IBS and continue on your way, without a medical resolution.

It is at this juncture that you start wondering if your diet has anything to do with your symptoms. Welcome to my world.