I could have been eating peanut butter and chocolate all along?
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. What follows is my personal experience, shared for information and inspiration only.
Healing is rarely a straight path. It twists, circles back, and invites us to listen more deeply to the body’s quiet wisdom. My own health journey has been long and winding, and I’m sharing this story to leave a few breadcrumbs for anyone walking a similar road.
Where It All Began
Since childhood, I’ve dealt with frequent stomach upsets and a tendency toward constipation. Over time, I started eliminating more and more foods. First a few, then many of my favorites, because my body would react badly. Before I knew it, I was living on a very limited diet and missing the joy of eating.
Recently, a stool test revealed that I had H. pylori, a common bacterial infection, and also that I wasn’t digesting protein or fats properly. When I began researching H. pylori, I discovered that in its early phase it often causes ulcers. That connected a major dot. I had an ulcer at ten years old. Back then, the treatment was simply antacids.
Later phases of H. pylori can lead to reduced stomach acid. That’s how the bacteria survive. Low stomach acid then prevents food from being digested properly. This can lead to more food sensitivities. I also lost my gallbladder in 2009, which further explained why fats were such a problem for me. I couldn’t help but wonder if my gallbladder issues were actually related to having H. pylori all along.
The less I digested, the more foods I cut out. Eventually, I eliminated even my beloved peanut butter and chocolate. It is a sad existence when you need to discipline yourself from eating your favorite foods to try to feel okay.
The Turning Point
Determined to change things, I asked my primary care doctor for the H. pylori elimination protocol. It involved lowering stomach acid further to break down biofilms, taking two antibiotics, and adding Pepto Bismol to protect the stomach lining. It wasn’t fun. I made it four days before extreme gut pain forced me to stop, but it seems that was enough. For about ten more days my stomach produced too much acid, and I felt awful for three days. It might have been a die-off reaction.
Then, the clouds cleared.
The Healing
My stomach acid found harmony just in time for a long-planned trip to France. I supported every protein meal with Pepsin HCL, and for the first time in years, I could eat freely. I still avoided dairy and gluten, but everything else was fair game. Nuts, chocolate, espresso, gluten-free breads, and desserts. It was glorious. And my body handled it all beautifully.
When I returned home, I added one more supplement to help digest fats. The difference was remarkable. Peanut butter cups and mocha lattes are back in my life, and I’m happier than happy again.
Looking Forward
This experience reminded me how deeply the body wants to heal when we finally give it what it needs. Every symptom was a signal, not a setback. I’m grateful for what this journey taught me about trust, patience, and listening to my own inner compass.