IT was like a scene from that seductive Kinder Bueno advert.

'You know you want me,' beckoned the big, fat crust of white sliced loaf.

But, unlike many occasions in the past, I refused to give in to temptation. I slammed the bread bin lid shut and walked away.

Ever since a debilitating bout of food poisoning in Italy four years ago, when I spent the second week of the holiday holed up in my hotel and lost half a stone a weight, I've suffered from irritable bowel syndrome.

The worst of my symptoms is bloating - when my tummy swells to Rik Waller proportions and clothes don't fit properly.

I've always suspected wheat as being the culprit, but have repeatedly struggled to kick my addiction to pasta, panini filled with tasty fillings and two-and-a-half Weetabix every morning.

I didn't fancy taking medication and, at the turn of this year, decided that drastic action was called for.

No excuses this time - it was up to me, not a combination of chemicals, to change things for the better - and for the long term.

So I went to see Lauraine West, who runs Fruitful Living from her home in Kidderminster.

Lauraine's career background is in business development but, as a former Body Shop employee, she has long been familiar with sourcing natural ingredients and environmental concerns.

For years, she suffered from migraines and severe period pains but it was when she contracted shingles during a hectic time at work and a marriage break-up that she began to make some life changes.

Her worried friends bought her a book called "Nutritional Healing" and she became hooked on the subject.

After a long introductory chat, Lauraine told me that IBS often affected people who had healthy lifestyles and that my diet might just need a bit of tweaking.

To find out which foods could be having a detrimental effect, I was wired up to the machine that tests for intolerance. Its success rate is around 80 per cent, so my hopes were high that a solution was in sight at last.

The test was painless. No needles were involved, just a pen-like metal object that Lauraine dabbed on to my open palm at regular intervals.

If I had a problem with one of the substances, the machine's tone altered.

The test for vitamin and mineral deficiency was encouraging, though I am lacking biotin, a mineral that aids cell growth.

Next came the food test results and,not surprisingly, wheat, barley, oats and rye sparked an adverse reaction from the machine. As did a fungus (which Lauraine thought could be caused by living near woods, as I do), potatoes, petrol, ammonia, cigarettes and the dreaded MSG - monosodium glutamate. Armed with this information, Lauraine dispensed common sense advice to help me banish the 'baddies' from my diet.

My personal food intolerance, sensitivity testing and vitamin/mineral guide contained details of alternatives to wheat and a list of foodstuffs rich in biotin.

Lauraine also suggested I eat more seeds, including linseed, sesame and pumpkin, switch from white rice to brown and gave me two supplements, aloe vera and fos-a-dophilus, which sounds like a centre half that Arsenal could be interested in.

She also told me I needed to curb my cravings for sweets and chocolate, which could result in dips in my energy levels, and drink two litres of water every day.

I left with a spring in my step and determination to get my body on an even keel.

First step was the health shop for linseed and gluten free muesli then, after proclaiming 'I'll do the shopping tonight' as soon as I walked through the front door, I investigated what the supermarket had to offer born again foodies like myself.

I didn't splash out - opting for corn thins, rice cakes and a packet of gluten free and wheat free shortbread biscuits.

Later, I couldn't wait to open the packet but the lack of gluten soon became apparent when the biscuit disintegrated into a crumbly mess.

"I think you need a plate for that," said my husband en route to the carpet sweeper.

A week on, I haven't eaten any bread, though I must confess to scoffing a double chocolate chip muffin.

After all, what's Sunday afternoon without cake?

It's early days, but the signs are encouraging.

My other half says my tummy doesn't look as swollen last thing at night as it usually does and I appear to have more energy.

Fruitful Living can be contacted on 01562 637145 or you can e-mail Lauraine at info@fruitfulliving.co.uk