What Happened When I Stopped Eating Processed Food | 10 Things I Noticed

This blog post will share exactly what happened when I stopped eating processed food. Learn what happens when you stop eating processed food.

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You've probably heard about the benefits of ditching "processed foods." Based on my experience and research, I'm here to tell you that it does indeed make a big difference for your body.

Sadly, there are more processed foods in our homes than you think! You won't believe how many chemical-laden foods we put in our mouth - seriously.

In fact, a study by Carlos Monteiro at the University of Sao Paolo found that nearly 60% of Americans' daily calories come from "ultra-processed” food.

By definition, processed food go through multiple processes and contain added ingredients and are highly modified. Examples include soft drinks, chips, chocolate, candy, ice cream, cereals, packaged soups, chicken nuggets, fries, and more.

I've seen dramatic changes to my weight, health, and how I feel once I started identifying the processed foods we had at home and getting rid of them.

What were those changes and what can you look forward to? Keep reading to find out!

What's So Bad About Processed Foods?

Ever wonder why you just can't seem to stop once you start eating a bag of chips? It's not just you. Processed foods can be highly addictive while also increasing your appetite. They are also loaded with high amounts of sugar, salt, and fat. This translates to higher calories.

How Long Does It Take to Detox from Processed Foods?

It might get worse before it gets better. You'll may experience tiredness, irritability, and cravings during the first 4-6 days after quitting processed foods.

Giving up processed foods is possible but can be difficult. So if you've noticed with my recipes, I either reduce the number of additives and/or cook with anti-inflammatory ingredients.

I've found it's a long journey but very worth it, and this blog aims to help you each step of the way.

What Can You Eat That's Not Processed?

First things first, let me clarify something. Not everything that is processed comes from a jar, can, or bag. Once you start cooking your meal, whether it be baked, fried, or boiled, you are technically processing it.

By unprocessed, I mean that the food remains in its natural and unmodified state (without any added preservatives). To be fair, completely avoiding any sort of processing would be incredibly difficult and is likely unsustainable.

But it's a great idea to make these a big part of your diet:

• Fresh fruit
• Fresh vegetables
• Eggs
• Meats
• Seafood - Try my Salmon Meal Prep yet?
• Herbs
• Beans
• Legumes
• Spices
• Whole grains
• Nuts and seeds

Can Cutting Out Processed Foods Lead to Weight Loss?

Processed foods contain a LOT of extra and empty calories that don't do you any good -- in fact, they've been linked to weight gain. So once you start cutting back on these foods, you'll naturally lose weight.

It is also highly likely that you may crave less and stop overeating. Processed foods lack nutrients that will fuel your body, so you end up being hungry again quickly. Eating more whole foods will keep you fuller, longer.

What Happens When You Stop Eating Processed Food?

I can't tell you enough how amazing I started to feel once I shifted to a cleaner diet! From more energy to less bloating, there are SO many benefits when you stop eating processed food. Here are 10 of the big ones...

1. You may be able to concentrate and focus better

Ever heard of a sugar crash? Because processed foods often contain loads of sugar, you'll have a surge of energy followed by a sharp dip. This can make it difficult for you to focus.

Sugar crashes can also lead to anxiety, heart palpitations, and fatigue. All of which makes it VERY hard to focus.

If you need help in spotting hidden sugars in food, check my blog 6 Ways To Spot Hidden Sugars.

2. You may have fewer headaches

This was actually the first thing I noticed when did an overhaul of my pantry. After snacking on more fruits and veggies instead of processed stuff, I noticed that the number of headaches I had dramatically reduced.

This comes down to the fact that salty, processed foods generally have a lot of harmful preservatives. The ways they manifest in the body are varied, but headaches are a common outcome.

3. You may feel less bloated

To continue my last point, highly processed foods with high sodium content can cause water retention. So when you start ditching the processed stuff - and actually keep yourself hydrated - you'll likely see a reduction in bloating. Check my blog on 10 Easy Steps to Reduce Bloating Fast if this is one of your top struggles.

And be sure to peep my popular post: 5 Easy Infused Water Recipes To Make Water Not Suck

4. Your mood may improve

It's important to remember that processed foods are often high in preservatives and saturated fats. This can make your brain foggy, and it's hard to be in a good mood when you feel so disconnected.

Before I changed my lifestyle, I remember being unpredictably moody most of the time. Things started changing after eating less processed foods.

With a better diet, I felt better! And not just physically. This well-being transferred nicely to my mental health and emotional health as well.

5. You may sleep better

Speaking of mental health...studies show that eating high sugar, high saturated fat (and refined carb) diet can disrupt your sleep. What happens when you lack sleep? You feel like dirt!

Lack of sleep can also contribute to weight gain because your appetite hormones can be stimulated, translating to eating more the next day (or during a midnight snack). 

6. You may see improvements in your digestive health

Processed foods do not contain much fiber. But fiber is super important. Your digestive system needs fiber to keep things moving and avoid constipation.

Plus fiber also acts as food for "good bacteria" for your digestive tract. By ditching processed foods, you'll likely experience regularity in your bowels.

If you feel inspired to act now, discover the 21 Top Foods High in Fiber.

7. Your skin may clear up

After a big serving of chips, you might notice some acne pop up here and there the next day. Whole foods lend themselves well to clear skin, not to mention anti-aging regimens.

8. You may no longer have uncontrollable cravings

I used to think that cravings were a natural signal from my body that I should try to satiate. Once I started to eat less processed foods, the urge to eat salty and sweet snacks dramatically decreased.

As I shared earlier, most processed foods can keep you craving MORE.

BUT GOOD NEWS: Read why It's OK To Eat Chocolate Every Day.

9. You may no longer enjoy processed foods

I mean, sure, a chip or two here and there is okay. But when you get into the habit of eating clean, you'll no longer want to eat processed foods anymore. In fact, you might be off-put by them! I still can't believe this is true -- that I don't even want some of the processed foods I used to love (and I'm so happy about that!).

10. Your flavor sensitivity may change

Making the switch to a lower sodium and lower sugar diet may change the way processed foods taste for you. Changing your lifestyle may also alter how strongly you taste various flavors. Suddenly your favorite donut may be WAY too sweet and your go-to pizza may be a little on the salty side. In my experience, my tastebuds adapted pretty quickly to the foods I was eating, which helped me remove more processed foods.

This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.