The Natural Living Newsletter — July 2025 Welcome to our very first issue!

 

Hi,
I’m Dr. Andres Digenio, and I’m glad you’re here. If you’ve recently subscribed, thank you — you’re now part of a growing community committed to cutting through the noise, questioning what we eat, and reclaiming health in a world dominated by ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

In this first monthly update, I want to give you a quick, curated overview of where we started in June — and where we’re heading next.

 

Why It Matters: America’s Ultra-Processed Food Crisis

We kicked things off with a sobering fact: Americans now consume more ultra-processed food than any other country. These products — industrially formulated, chemically flavored, and nutritionally hollow — are not just convenient. They’ve become foundational to our diets, driving obesity, diabetes, and chronic illness on a massive scale.

“It’s not just what we’re eating — it’s what we’re no longer eating.”

🔗 Read the full article

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🧒 What Our Kids Are Really Eating — And Why California’s Bold Move Matters

From brightly colored cereals to pizza and fries in school lunch trays, our children are growing up immersed in ultra-processed foods. But there’s hope: California lawmakers recently advanced a bill that could ban the most dangerous UPFs from public schools — a major policy shift with national implications.

“It’s a bold stand against the food industry’s grip on the next generation.”

🔗 Read more

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🍕 What We’re Really Eating — The 10 Most Common UPFs in Our Diet

We followed up with a practical breakdown: which ultra-processed foods are shaping our everyday lives the most? From sugary cereals and packaged snacks to "healthy" flavored yogurts, I explored the ten biggest offenders — and why they’re so hard to give up.

“The problem isn’t one product. It’s the pattern.”

🔗 Read the full list

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🕒 Too Busy to Eat Right?

If UPFs are so harmful, why do we keep choosing them? Time is often the biggest reason. In this piece, I addressed the common myth that eating healthy takes too long — and offered a real-world mindset shift.

“We don’t need perfection — we need better defaults.”

🔗 Read the article

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🔍 Where We’re Going Next — Two New Series

June laid the groundwork. Now we’re diving deeper — with two ongoing series designed to inform and empower:

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📦 Series 1: Inside the Pantry
We’re unpacking each of the 10 most common UPFs — starting with sugary cereals — and exposing what’s really inside: the additives, the marketing strategies, and the psychology behind their appeal.

🔗 Start with Part 1: Sugary Cereals

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🧃 Series 2: Breakfast Reclaimed (and Beyond)
For every UPF we spotlight, we’ll also show a real-food alternative — practical, fast, and family-friendly. These aren’t aspirational meals. They’re simple changes you can make now.

🔗 Try these 3 real breakfast swaps

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📌 Coming in August

• More UPF breakdowns: Think frozen dinners, fruit-flavored yogurts, protein bars, and beyond

• Real-food recipes for school lunches, weeknight dinners, and satisfying snacks

• Community tips: How others are making the switch — and how you can too

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Thanks again for joining this mission. If you find value in these stories, I hope you’ll share this newsletter with a friend or family member. We’re just getting started.

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To real food,

Dr. Andres Digenio
Physician • Author of The Natural Diet (January 2026)