Doctor switched to an 80% ultra-processed diet for 30 days and the results left him stunned
More often than not he woke up at night with a severe headache and heartburn.
Dr. Chris van Tulleken, a UK doctor, wanted to understand the effects of an ultra-processed food diet on the human body. So he switched from a healthy diet to an 80% ultra-processed food diet, and he was shocked to see the results a month later. His experiment with food was documented by the BBC, and Dr. Chris' journey was shared on YouTube.
For 30 days, he ate everything he wanted and whenever he felt hungry. He started his morning with fried chicken wings and relished extra cheesy lasagna, burgers, and everything that's basically junk. In the first few days, Dr. Chris realized he was craving food more than usual. Previously, he used to have three meals a day with occasional snacking, but since switching to an ultra-processed food diet, he found himself eating more frequently. By Day 10, the man started experiencing constipation. "I am definitely going to get piles," he said.
Despite challenges, Dr. Chris decided to continue with his diet and went on a camping trip. He spent the entire day eating junk, and the next morning, he said he experienced something like a hangover. The man realized it had all been happening because of excessive salt, sugar, and chemicals in the ultra-processed food items, and also because he'd not pooped for 48 hours. Some foods that appear healthy often contain chemicals and are considered ultra-processed foods. To check if they are truly healthy, Dr. Chris included one of those apparently healthy options in his diet but found multiple chemicals mentioned in its ingredients list.
All the junk negatively affected his health, as more often than not, he found himself waking up at night with a severe headache and heartburn. Somehow, he managed to complete the 30 days and challenge, and it was time to come face to face with the aftermath of the diet switch. In only a month, he had physically grown bigger; in fact, Dr. Chris could see his stomach bulge out, he had gained more than 6 kgs, his body fat went up by 3 kgs, and his body mass index increased, leaving him in the overweight category.
Apart from physical changes, it was found that Dr. Chris's hunger hormone went up by 30%, and the hormone that makes us feel fuller or content decreased, explaining why he felt hungry so often. The switch in his diet had also affected his brain. "Eating ultra-processed food has become something my brain simply tells me to do without me even wanting it. Shockingly, this is something you might see in a person with addiction," Dr. Chris shared. He added, "Children's brains are still developing, and they are much more malleable than mine, which means the changes are likely to be even greater."
He is right! In fact, a survey of 10,645 children aged 12‑16 in a UK city confirmed that food addiction is real. The study found that 17.2% reported consuming junk food every single day, and only 2.9% of those surveyed said they never eat junk food regularly. They also found that those who eat unhealthily daily are at a higher risk of poorer mental and physical health.
Meanwhile, reacting to Dr. Chris's experiment, @juliusr3643 commented, "Wow, that’s quite astonishing. A friend of mine quit processed food, changed nothing else in his lifestyle other than that (mostly buying fresh food at farmers' markets), and lost 40 kg in a year. Now he isn’t overweight anymore. I used to blame people for being fat, when in reality it’s a food industry crime." @poulthomas469 said, "This needs to be expanded into a 60-minute show. This information needs to be spread far and wide as it touches on so many lives and so many aspects of society."
@amyg3406 wrote, "It’s absolutely mind-blowing how processed foods can become SO addictive. I had a major traumatic life event last year and I turned to food afterwards for comfort. I QUICKLY became addicted to eating and now fit into the class 2 obese category. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to change the way I eat entirely, and it has been so good! I’ve lost 6.6 lbs, and more importantly, I’ve begun to control my eating in relation to my emotions, and I am taking back my power over food instead of food taking power over me."
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