Three months have passed.

Morning natto, naturally brewed miso soup, a nightly mixing of the nukadoko. Before I knew it, those things had woven themselves into my daily life like they’d always been there.

Today I want to write honestly about the physical changes over these three months.

What Hasn’t Changed

First, the honest part.

My weight hasn’t changed. My blood pressure hasn’t changed. I can’t measure my health checkup numbers until the next exam. I absolutely cannot say “dramatic transformation in three months!”

But Something Is Definitely Different

It’s hard to put the changes into precise words.

One thing is that I feel like I get tired less easily. Before, I’d often feel completely drained by the end of a workday. Lately my body doesn’t feel that heavy. It might be all in my head — but I have more days where I think, “I’ve still got something left in the tank.”

The other thing is what’s happening in my stomach.

After meals, my belly has started making that low rumble — the sound of my gut moving. And I’ve also been passing gas more frequently than before. Writing that out feels a little embarrassing, but apparently that’s a sign that the bacteria in my gut are more active. Health books on gut care say that more gas means your gut is livelier.

I’ve stopped finding it unpleasant. Instead I think, “Good — things are moving in there.”

I Realized: Simple Is Fine

After three months, I find myself thinking again about how none of this is complicated.

Morning natto, daily nukadoko mixing, homemade miso soup. That’s all.

No special ingredients, no expensive supplements, no complex recipes. I never expected such a simple diet of nukadoko pickles and miso soup to get my gut moving like this.

”Keeping It Going” Might Be the Greatest Effect of All

What three months taught me is that fermented foods don’t work like medicine — they don’t kick in fast.

They change your gut environment a little at a time, every day. The meaning is in the accumulation. That’s similar to how fermented foods themselves are made. Rush it, and you won’t get anything good.

“Maybe if I keep going a little longer, something more will shift.”

Being able to feel that way might be the biggest change of all after three months.

---

Next time: What I discovered by nurturing my nukadoko every day.

※ This article is based on personal experience and publicly available information. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease. If you have health concerns, please consult a doctor or registered dietitian. See our Disclaimer.