In a world where convenience often trumps quality, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become a staple in many diets. These foods, which are typically high in sugar, fat, and salt, have been linked to a range of health issues, from obesity to heart disease. But what happens when a family decides to cut them out completely? We've got an exclusive insider story that reveals the astonishing effects on energy levels, hunger, and mental health after ditching UPFs for a month.

The journey to a UPF-free diet is not for the faint-hearted. It requires a significant shift in eating habits and a new approach to grocery shopping and meal preparation. For our featured family, the challenge was to replace their usual diet of convenient, packaged foods with whole foods that generally contain only one or two ingredients.

Negative experiences are reported by two individuals after quitting ultra-processed foods for 30 days. Credit: @GavinWren / YouTube

Gavin Wren, a 46-year-old food policy expert from London, and Jon Kuhn, a 38-year-old father-of-two from Indiana, embarked on this dietary experiment with the hope of reaping health benefits. They both shared their experiences with us, and their stories are a testament to the profound impact diet can have on our well-being.

Wren, who had to give up favourites like Oreos and oat milk, found the experiment to be a source of anxiety. The stress of meticulously checking ingredient lists and the increased cost of whole foods made social events and grocery shopping a daunting task. His takeaway? Moderation is key. While he recognised the importance of reducing UPFs, he also acknowledged that an extreme diet devoid of all UPFs is not practical in today's society.

Kuhn, on the other hand, experienced intense irritability and agitation reminiscent of nicotine withdrawal during the initial phase of his UPF-free diet. This reaction was likely due to sugar withdrawal, as high-sugar diets can lead to overeating and addiction-like symptoms. Despite the rocky start, Kuhn noticed a significant improvement in his irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that may be exacerbated by the disruption of gut microbes caused by UPFs.

Throughout the 30-day period, both men faced challenges in maintaining a strict UPF-free diet, especially in social settings. Wren's slip-ups included indulging in chilli sauce, pub crawl snacks, and ice cream, while Kuhn reintroduced vegan alternative UPFs like vegan meats into his diet post-experiment.

Despite the difficulties, there were undeniable health benefits. Both men reported more stable energy levels and mood throughout the day. Kuhn's IBS relief was a particularly noteworthy improvement. However, they also recognised the convenience and enjoyment that some UPFs brought to their lives, especially in social contexts.

The experiment highlighted the importance of balance. While whole foods are undeniably healthier, UPFs can make life easier and more enjoyable. The key is to find a happy medium where whole foods form the foundation of the diet, with UPFs enjoyed in moderation.

Our readers, especially those in their golden years, might find this story particularly relevant. As we age, our bodies become more sensitive to dietary choices, and the impact of UPFs can be more pronounced. This family's experience serves as a powerful reminder of the benefits of eating whole foods and the potential drawbacks of a diet high in UPFs.

Credit: YouTube​

Key Takeaways

• Two individuals reported negative experiences after quitting ultra-processed foods (UPFs) for 30 days, highlighting challenges with anxiety, hunger, and social constraints.
• Despite initial difficulties, one participant experienced health benefits, such as an improvement in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• The experiment underscored the difficulty of avoiding UPFs in social settings and maintaining a balanced lifestyle while adhering to a restrictive diet.
• The participants' advice was to consume UPFs in moderation rather than eliminating them entirely, as they recognised the practical limitations and potential stress caused by striving for a zero UPF diet.

We invite you to share your own experiences with UPFs and whole foods. Have you noticed changes in your energy, hunger, or mental health after altering your diet? Join the conversation below and let us know how your dietary choices have affected your well-being.

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[MaccaMan]

What a terribly misleading and poorly reported story. UFP's are extremely harmful to one's health in every way, shape and form, period.

One can only then surmise that one of these big companies 'fund' the SDC in some way.

 

[Baz1960]

Ultra processed foods are destroying our own health and impacting those around us. Whether mental health of our own or others. Inflammation, cancers, diabetes and general activity levels all suffer. Eat clean people, just like we use too. New year, new rule, if it comes in a packet, generally forgo it.

 

[maxtyson]

Wow this article sounds misleading to me with their excuses. We seniors survived without UFP's to get where we are today.

 

[Lizzie1149]

Wow this article sounds misleading to me with their excuses. We seniors survived without UFP's to get where we are today.

Yes we did HOWEVER, may of us are sick with diabetes, cancer and other health issues. All can be traced back to eating more processed foods than our parents fed us. Yes we had sugar but that was changed when they added fructose to dextrose to get crystallised sugar. Then sugar was added to almost everything. My big question is why would you put sugar in sausages but they do now. For me I would not touch anything Kellogg. It's junk and was started by a butcher of little children.

 

[Lizzie1149]

I love how they pick people who have issues with doing this. If you go very low carb you will get withdrawal symptoms similar to flu. It's usually low electrolytes. Also many don't up the salt intake when they stop eating a lot of sugar and this is an issue. Sugar is poison, salt is healthy. Then there tissue the little but pointed reference to vegan meat. Why would you eat vegan meat. It's so full of chemicals. I don't know which is worse. Highly processed stuff or vegan processed foods. They are both full of chemicals. Many of us have had varying degrees of success on low carb/keto/carnivore but the most stand out thing is the blood work tends to be excellent. We need to realise that we need salt and the nutrients in real meat, vegetables have oxalates in them which are detrimental to our health if we eat a lot long term. Fruit is high in fructose which is processed through the liver so can cause damage there is eaten in high amounts. Moderation is rubbish along with lowering cholesterol. Our bodies make cholesterol every day. Cutting it down only leads to dementia. If you don't like the idea of learning from anecdotal evidence then find the doctors and dieticians who changed their lives by changing their diets to meat centric. There are enough out there to prove it works for health. Very low carb in particular (some fruit and veg) has been used for over a century to treat epilepsy and is now being used to stabilise type 1 diabetics. Type 2s can get into remission as well. Worth the couple of weeks of "flu" to get the rest of your life illness free

 

[eatmeatandlift]

I used to eat a high carb, high sugar UPFs diet years ago. Now I am on a low carb, meat based diet, lots of red meat, fish, eggs and select fruit and veg. My health is excellent at 61 yo, healthy body weight, no medical conditions and zero medications. Sugar and other high carb foods such as bread are addictive, I also avoid seed oils and use butter, tallow, ghee and olive oil.

 

[Lizzie1149]

I love how they pick people who have issues with doing this. If you go very low carb you will get withdrawal symptoms similar to flu. It's usually low electrolytes. Also many don't up the salt intake when they stop eating a lot of sugar and this is an issue. Sugar is poison, salt is healthy. Then there tissue the little but pointed reference to vegan meat. Why would you eat vegan meat. It's so full of chemicals. I don't know which is worse. Highly processed stuff or vegan processed foods. They are both full of chemicals. Many of us have had varying degrees of success on low carb/keto/carnivore but the most stand out thing is the blood work tends to be excellent. We need to realise that we need salt and the nutrients in real meat, vegetables have oxalates in them which are detrimental to our health if we eat a lot long term. Fruit is high in fructose which is processed through the liver so can cause damage there is eaten in high amounts. Moderation is rubbish along with lowering cholesterol. Our bodies make cholesterol every day. Cutting it down only leads to dementia. If you don't like the idea of learning from anecdotal evidence then find the doctors and dieticians who changed their lives by changing their diets to meat centric. There are enough out there to prove it works for health. Very low carb in particular (some fruit and veg) has been used for over a century to treat epilepsy and is now being used to stabilise type 1 diabetics. Type 2s can get into remission as well. Worth the couple of weeks of "flu" to get the rest of your life illness free

I used to eat a high carb, high sugar UPFs diet years ago. Now I am on a low carb, meat based diet, lots of red meat, fish, eggs and select fruit and veg. My health is excellent at 61 yo, healthy body weight, no medical conditions and zero medications. Sugar and other high carb foods such as bread are addictive, I also avoid seed oils and use butter, tallow, ghee and olive oil.

Yes best way to go. I haven't lost much weight but initial 16 kg. Long time on low carb. Now looking at ideas to help me toward better health. Blood markers very good. On meds for Afib but think this might be an electrolyte issue. Going to really work on it from new year. Glad you have had such success.

 

[DLHM]

Basing a diet of low carbs and high intake of animal meat may be beneficial for a few but it’s wrong to advocate that type of diet for everyone.

Many diseases and adverse conditions are not always due to diet. Some are more susceptible to diseases than others. Even the young and unborn can succumb to situations that Nature chooses to inflict.

 

[Veggiepatch]

If I undertake a diet comprised entirely of cucumbers, I will experience a rate of weight loss greater than any known diet.

The last time I ate cucumber, I lost 9 kgs in five days. Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig cannot possibly obtain such results! That was 46 years ago.

Keep it up and I will experience severe dehydration, kidney failure and eventual death. But some of you may wish that!

At least I won't have to worry about dieting ever again!

 

[DLHM]

If I undertake a diet comprised entirely of cucumbers, I will experience a rate of weight loss greater than any known diet.

The last time I ate cucumber, I lost 9 kgs in five days. Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig cannot possibly obtain such results! That was 46 years ago.

Keep it up and I will experience severe dehydration, kidney failure and eventual death. But some of you may wish that!

At least I won't have to worry about dieting ever again!

You’re safe at home @Veggiepatch. We never have cucumber in our home for that very reason.

 

[Veggiepatch]

What a terribly misleading and poorly reported story. UFP's are extremely harmful to one's health in every way, shape and form, period.

One can only then surmise that one of these big companies 'fund' the SDC in some way.

Of course there was no such conditions as obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes before the advent of ultra processed foods. FMD!!

How hard is it to remove your foot from your mouth when your head is firmly planted in the sand?

 

[Still Ebby]

Basing a diet of low carbs and high intake of animal meat may be beneficial for a few but it’s wrong to advocate that type of diet for everyone.

Many diseases and adverse conditions are not always due to diet. Some are more susceptible to diseases than others. Even the young and unborn can succumb to situations that Nature chooses to inflict.

Heard too much red meat is bad especially beef best stick to lamb and organic chicken [tastes better than RSPCA approved]

 

[eatmeatandlift]

Heard too much red meat is bad especially beef best stick to lamb and organic chicken [tastes better than RSPCA approved]

Don't listen to the propaganda, beef island superfood.

 

[Still Ebby]

Don't listen to the propaganda, beef island superfood.

Well you eat it then but l'm not a great meat eater myself

 

[RobbyNotTheRobot]

Eat clean people

The problem is where do I find clean people to eat.

 

[Littleboy8]

How can it be an exclusive insider story when this was taken from the U.K. daily mail word for word.

 

[Lizzie1149]

Basing a diet of low carbs and high intake of animal meat may be beneficial for a few but it’s wrong to advocate that type of diet for everyone.

Many diseases and adverse conditions are not always due to diet. Some are more susceptible to diseases than others. Even the young and unborn can succumb to situations that Nature chooses to inflict.

Sorry don't believe this. Mostly it is what we put in our mouths. It can take many years but between the jabs and ultra processed foods the young are now suffering from young age diabetes and ending up obese (I don't consider obesity a disease but a product of disease) and cancer. When you see what the hospitals serve up as "food" it's no wonder people are sick.

 

[Littleboy8]

Sorry don't believe this. Mostly it is what we put in our mouths. It can take many years but between the jabs and ultra processed foods the young are now suffering from young age diabetes and ending up obese (I don't consider obesity a disease but a product of disease) and cancer. When you see what the hospitals serve up as "food" it's no wonder people are sick.

I was in frankston hospital for 3 months when I broke my hip, we had 3 nutritious meals a day plus fruit and snacks. And I didn’t leave a thing I put on weight I was so thin so I left healthier than when I went in. So no complaints here about the food.

 

[Lizzie1149]

I was in frankston hospital for 3 months when I broke my hip, we had 3 nutritious meals a day plus fruit and snacks. And I didn’t leave a thing I put on weight I was so thin so I left healthier than when I went in. So no complaints here about the food.

This is possible but would what you ate actually give you good health long term. Fruit and snacks can be problematic. We should not be eating all day. We need one to two meals, very nutrient dense. We should not either snack or feel we need to snack. Any straight sugar or carbs can cause a demand for more and so snacking come into the picture. Age and long term type of eating will affect how we age. Diabetes that turns up in your 60s starts in your 30s