I eat healthy and mostly plant-based foods. However, I never seem to gain weight..

[Guest]

I need some guidance. I’m 26 and I eat healthy and mostly plant-based foods. However, I never seem to gain weight, and I am frequently sick with a bad gut. I believe the issue is with my gut because I always have diarrhea. So, I think there is something wrong with my digestion.

I’ve done a lot of tests - multiple blood tests, testing for everything from gluten intolerance to cell count, etc. I also recently had a colonoscopy, and all these tests have come back clear. I also did an allergy test and found out that I'm allergic to dust mites. So, I believe I've done all the tests, but still have an unhealthy gut. I try not to eat gluten and dairy, but still, nothing seems to be getting better.

I tried a gut repair plan for 2 weeks where I mixed Manuka honey, cinnamon powder, coconut yogurt, inulin powder, Jerusalem artichoke powder, and guar gum twice a day. That worked well, and my gut was healthy with normal stools, etc. However, the moment I stopped after two weeks, everything went downhill again. So, my conclusion was that I rebuilt my gut, but whatever I'm eating destroys it again.

I'm not sure what my options are, as I feel like I have tried everything and don't know what to do. I don't want to take long-term tablets or anything that only offers short-term relief. I want to fix the issue for good.

[Debra]

Have you checked for parasites or candida? Parasites are typical for diarrhoea and inability to gain weight. You can’t get rid of parasites or candida unless you treat the biofilms.

[Jessica]

It can take months to properly heal your gut.

[Diane]

Often people who eat plant based foods do not know how to prepare and cook beans and pulses.

Also some vegies need thorough preparation. Societies who use them traditionally know how to prepare these. Do your research. Also many grains cause stomach upset for the same reasons. Also unless organic many grains have been modified to increase production and harvested using glysophate as a dissicant.

Thorough research is needed. Plant based diets are not healthy unless this research is done.

[Nicole]

Personally I think two weeks is nowhere near long enough. If that was working I would try it for a good 6 months whilst also staying on an anti inflammatory diet. It takes many years to destroy our gut. I don’t think there are any quick fixes.

[Katie]

Just one suggestion, as I had similar symptoms but v healthy diet, have you looked in to IBS and high FODMAP foods as being the culprit?

[Isabel]

I ended up very sick when I was a vegetarian. I ended up with sensitivities to grains, beans/legumes, dairy, nuts/seeds, spices, onion, garlic, chilli, ginger, etc.

In the end I could eat plain fruit and veges and small amounts of some meat. It took years to get to the point where I could tolerate these foods sparingly again. I still mostly eat fruit and veges with everything else being a condiment.