'I cut out processed food for a week and was surprised by one sudden change'

Lydia Royce isn't new to healthy eating. The Wales Online reporter has followed many diets over the years, and she says learning what's good for her body whilst finding out what helps her maintain a healthy weight.

But that doesn't mean she sometimes slips off the wagon, as many describe it, from time to time, reverting back for processed foods which she is a self confessed 'sucker' for. But she discovered those foods mostly leave her feeling groggy and bloated.

So, for one week, she decided to cut processed food out of her diet completely, and for Lydia, it felt like hitting the reset button.

To cut out those foods, Lydia followed Michael Mosley's 5:2, which consists of five days a week on 1,500 calories and two days on 800 calories. Whilst this is a calorie restricted diet, she chose not to be to strict with measurements, as for her this was more about cutting out certain foods.

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The Michael Mosley 5:2 and Fast 800 plans all consist of Mediterranean style meals which are all chosen for you and come with a handy shopping list. It was full of foods like walnuts, almonds, chia seeds and oats as well as vegetables, lean meats, fish cheese and yoghurts.

For breakfast, she typically starts with a bowl of cereal but, contrary to what big brands want you to believe, it is not the best way to start the day.

Almost all cereal is ultra-processed and packed full of sugars, artificial flavourings and colourings as well as preservatives. There's been a lot of chatter recently about the impact that artificial sweeteners and ultra-processed food has on your gut, and research points that an excessive amount of these foods can leave your gut health in a poor place.

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