Can You Guess: Why I Had Horrible Gut Pain
By
Nate Rifkin
Posted May 4, 2015
On April 6th, I slogged through the first day of the workweek feeling far more tired than usual…and didn’t know why.
I went to a bar that evening with a few friends from Laissez Faire and Agora Financial.
We talked about living in Thailand…gossiped about past company editors and the nutty things they wrote…and attempted some dart games (nobody’s wounds were mortal).
Figuring the worst of my fatigue was over, I had a turkey dinner and a beer…
Then…judging from the feeling in my gut…realized it was going to be a rough night.
I excused myself…walked home…visited the bathroom a couple times…and then crawled onto my bed in the fetal position, wracked with dull abdominal pain.
After a couple hours of tossing and turning, the aching abated and I slept.
The next day, I decided to give my stomach a break and fast for at least 24 hours. “Probably a bug,” I figured. The day without food was easy – hardly any appetite – and I flew to Orlando on Wednesday morning, which was an easy excuse to extend my fast.
Jasmine and I were attending the Ingredient Marketplace expo, searching for more powerful ingredients to help boost your health. We grabbed some lunch soon after we arrived. I practically inhaled a hefty sandwich and felt…okay.
But not great.
“Oh well, it takes a few days to recover 100%” I figured.
Hmmm…
During the expo, I discovered…much to my dismay…that things were not getting better. In fact, it seemed every single time I ate a meal, my gut would cry out in pain starting roughly 30 minutes after, and continued to do so for a couple hours.
My appetite wasn’t affected. Nor did I ever feel nauseous. Just pain.
Ginger ale didn’t help much, although I noted there’s a big difference between fresh ginger and the sugar-laden drinks I gulped down.
But still…what was going on? Maybe my body needed a couple more days to beat the bug?
Once I got home, I began doing something most doctors absolutely despise:
My own research. And experimentation.
Here are some of the results (get your deerstalker hat on, because we’re going to find out how good a detective you are):
- I felt pain in my intestinal region about half an hour after I finished a meal, which lasted for a couple hours. Some fatigue too…but mostly because pain sucks. It wasn’t localized to any side either.
- Liquids like water, coffee, and even alcohol felt fine to my gut.
- I never had any nausea or loss of appetite, other than the psychological fear of eating.
- Over-The-Counter digestive soothers didn’t help.
Can you guess what I had?
Think for a moment, because I’m about to give a major hint, which resulted from a breakthrough one day at work:
As I walked home that evening, I stopped at a local organic food shop and bought a loaf of cinnamon and raisin bread.
The next day, I ate the entire loaf…and felt fine.
Right then, I knew exactly what was going wrong.
And how to fix it.
So what’s the answer?
…Tune in Wednesday.
Until then,
Nate Rifkin
Underground Health Researcher
P.S. I’ll talk more about my method for figuring out health problems. It can be applied to many situations and, as Jasmine LeMaster said in a Laissez Faire Today interview, nobody cares more about your health than yourself. So being able to take charge of yours is one of the best things you can do.
Written By Nate Rifkin
Nate Rifkin is an obsessed health and mind-power researcher and author. To hear more from Nate, sign up to receive Living Well Daily for free, here.
View More Free Articles
Two-Week Diet Switch Transforms Your Health
You know how you feel sluggish and “off” after a vacation filled with fast foods and processed snacks? Well, it’s not all in your head (or merely guilt). When you switch to an unhealthy Western-style diet, there are physical consequences—and they kick in faster than you might think… The Western diet is characterized by ultra-processed...
WARNING—Your Water Bottle Is Hiding a Disgusting Secret
Recently, a few people have asked me if it’s true that their water bottle has more germs than a toilet seat. It’s a shocking comparison that’ll make you think twice about everyday objects you use without much thought. So, is this claim true? Well, I must warn you that you might not like the answer…...
Research Reveals 3-for-1 Brain Protection "Checklist"
Age-related brain diseases—including stroke, dementia, and depression—threaten our quality of life. They can take the shine right out of your Golden Years. But you don’t have to take these threats lying down. While there are no guarantees in life, there are steps you can take to turn the odds in your favor—especially when it comes...
Mailbag: Your “Healthy Diet” Might Leave You Running on Empty
“Do supplements really work?” Hopeful Skeptic Hi Hopeful, That’s a fantastic question! It gets straight to the heart of a vital fact about human biology. Our bodies are incredible machines. But they don’t work in a vacuum. They require outside help to function. For example, they can’t manufacture most vitamins and minerals on their own....
Forgotten 80s Superfood Reemerges as Artery Superstar
Do you remember when vitamin E was the talk of the town? This common nutrient had a surge of popularity in the 80s and 90s. But now I can’t remember the last time I had a patient ask me about it. Well, it turns out this forgotten 80s superfood deserves another moment in the spotlight....
Strokes CAN Strike Twice—This Simple Fix Cuts Your Risk 20%
They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place. But that old adage couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to strokes. If you’ve had a stroke, you might think you’re out of the woods once you recover. But the reality is far different… A comprehensive study published in JAMA revealed the...
Can Your Diet Defend Your Brain From Aging?
Our brains work hard every day, helping us solve problems, create memories, and connect with loved ones. But as we age, they face new challenges that can quietly chip away at our vitality. One of those challenges? The buildup of iron. Though iron is essential for many functions, too much can harm your brain, contributing...
Common Deficiency DOUBLES Risk of Your Body Attacking Itself
Most of us know vitamin D as the “sunshine vitamin.” And many think of it mainly for bone health as we age. But research now suggests that this nutrient may be just as crucial for supporting our immune system throughout life, beginning as early as childhood. In fact, a lack of vitamin D, especially in...
What Is a Healthy Night’s Sleep? Three Critical Criteria
We’ve all heard the advice about how important getting enough sleep is to your health. Heck, I have even given this advice countless times. But here’s what the so-called sleep experts aren’t telling you—that perfectly uninterrupted eight hours of sleep they keep preaching about? It’s a myth. In fact, if you wake up several times...
Can Your “Poop Schedule” Predict Disease?
We all do it. If you’re alive, you poop. Some of us are so regular that we could set a clock based on our bathroom habits. Others, not so much. And yet, talking about bowel movements remains one of those taboo topics. Even your doctor skims over it during your annual checkup! But the truth...