LETTER: Tips to chew over

From Mrs M. D. Nichols Sir: While Dr David Silk's research programme ("Our gut reaction is to feel ashamed", 20 December) raises its £10m, may I suggest that sufferers from irritable bowel syndrome avoid eating starches and proteins at the same time, avoid eating wheat and dairy products altogether, and avoid eating and drinking (particularly acidic Chilean red) late at night? I know those Fulham dinner parties to which Toby Peters refers in his article - 9.30pm before you get a bite. The digestive system closes down between six and seven in the evening. The greedy people in the article might have got away with that rich food at lunchtime, though they probably ate it then, too.

Yours faithfully, M. D. NICHOLS Manningtree, Essex 21 December