But my experience is similar - I quit drinking in 2020-2021, eliminated grain from my diet, and eat probably 80% of my calories in vegetables now. Overall my body is in much better shape than it was then, but something is still wrong with my gut-brain axis. I think what the article misses is the microbiome factor. Any active microbiome is going to produce metabolites, and some of those metabolites can be destabilizing and disabling to the enteric nervous system, even if they’re not producing something as acutely toxic as a bacteria like C. Diff.
Of all the things I’ve tried, I’ve never felt as stress-free or clearheaded as I have near the end of a fast.
I had a food intolerance test. I replaced every item in my kitchen (new coffee maker [after ditching coffee for a while], new pots and pans, new cooking utensils). I did multiple elimination diets. I went to doctors (one doctor, when I said I had no issues in Europe and lots of issues immediately upon returning responded, with no mocking at all, I should consider moving to Europe) most of whom simply told me to go Whole 30 or Mediterranean diet (been there, done that).
I hoped a lot of it would subside when I eliminated the relationship in my life, too (alas, maybe.. not sure).
When I did the elimination diet the doctors said it could be a combination of things, it could be things that will take longer than a cycle of elimination to identify, etc.
They didn't know.
I guess there's always: therapy.
Wish I had a better answer, and not having answers is stressful enough. I did a lot of "letting go" and "eating freely" hoping a more carefree attitude would help. It always seemed like something else though.
My doctor friend says if he simply instructed all his patients to eliminate gluten from their diets he would still succeed with 80%+ of his patients having problems...
I'm quite a bit better, but given that my parents are European immigrants, I do think.. ultimately.. I'm better off back there in their food system.
Not trying to be smug.
But I noticed on a three week vacation, where I was walking 15K steps a day, I lost weight and had zero gut issues while eating freely in restaurants for the duration. Got home, day one the old issues came back. I definitely had a stressful association with my day job and the attendant life. I let a lot of things slip because I allowed that my situation required me to reward myself with lethargy and vices. When I’m above the baseline on self care, I don’t turn to the vices as much and my physical systems generally work better.
I got back into my “me first” routine and my gut issues subsided. For me it was like a switch.