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My Health Problems Disappeared When I Stopped Eating Ultra-Processed Food
I have had stomach problems since I was a kid. Pain, cramps, bloating, fatigue after eating, poor sleep – and eventually, frequent toothaches joined the party. Sometimes the combination of these symptoms would knock me out for weeks at a time, other times they would back off for a few days. But for most of my life, discomfort was my baseline.
Then, at the turn of 2024 and 2025, something broke. I was so exhausted I would get on the tram in the wrong direction. I was making mistakes at work, and my dentist saw me more often than some of my friends. When the adrenaline from the pre-Christmas season – the busiest time of the year in my industry, e-commerce – finally wore off, I realised I could not keep living like this. I made a simple resolution: health comes first. (I wrote about it here)
Tests, pills, and a dead end
I started seeing doctors. I went through dozens of tests – from fibroscopy to MRI scans. The result? "You are a healthy man."
Some might find that sentence frustrating. It did not solve anything. But for me, it helped. Hearing from a medical authority that I did not have any serious condition gave me permission to look elsewhere for answers.
In the meantime, I took medication that “reset” my stomach once a month. It worked... for a few days. Then the symptoms came back. I tried eliminating lactose, dairy, different food combinations. Nothing. The symptoms stayed. I dealt with the toothaches using antibiotics or extreme methods I will not even describe here.
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Summary
Common questions on this article's topic
What is ultra-processed food?
What health problems are linked to ultra-processed food?
How much of the modern diet is ultra-processed?
Why do doctors sometimes miss the connection between food and symptoms?
What happened after quitting ultra-processed food?
Is it necessary to completely eliminate all processed food?
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The irresponsibility with which I’ve treated my own health is inexcusable.
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