Bryan Johnson, a biohacker and longevity guru, announced that he suffers from autoimmune gastritis (AIG), a chronic disease that attacks the parietal cells of the stomach. This results in a decrease in stomach acid and affects the absorption of vitamin B12. Johnson appeared on his Instagram to explain that “my stomach is eating itself.”

The 48-year-old technology entrepreneur based in Los Angeles shared details about his childhood, where he ate unhealthy foods, reported Fox News Digital. Throughout his life, the accumulation of stress and poor diet led him to gain weight and experience chronic depression. He highlighted how these circumstances contributed to the development of his autoimmune disease.

Johnson notes that, as a child, he ate sugary cereals, drank sugary sodas, and “devoured fast food.” “I became a young father of three and started building a business,” he continued. "Juggling that stress and hard work, I neglected my health and gained 18 kilos. In a few years I fell into a deep chronic depression," he stressed.

Diagnosis and symptoms

AIG can be difficult to diagnose and often manifests itself years after damage has already occurred. Johnson experienced iron and B12 deficiency, linking his low ferritin levels to his illness. Despite several attempts to increase his iron, frequent errors in diagnosis meant that a decade passed without adequate treatment.

“Low iron levels are normalized and rarely investigated when anemia has not yet manifested,” Johnson wrote. “That blind spot was what hid the diagnosis from me for a decade.”

“But none of them explained the fundamental problem: despite taking iron orally, trying all the formulations and using all the timing tricks, none of the iron stayed in my system,” he told Fox.

Despite his diagnosis, Johnson expressed his ambition to achieve immortality by the year 2140. His approach includes the use of artificial intelligence and innovative treatments that seek to challenge the aging process. Johnson emphasizes that no condition should be considered incurable without a solution having been attempted using current technologies.

Johnson ended his statement by urging others to take care of their health and well-being, highlighting the importance of life and caring for the planet. This reflects his constant quest to promote healthier living for himself and the community at large.

Symptoms of autoimmune gastritis

Common symptoms of autoimmune gastritis combine digestive discomfort with signs of anemia due to lack of iron and vitamin B12. Many people can go years without clear symptoms until these deficits appear.

Common digestive symptoms:

A typical example is the person who describes rapid “fullness,” burning or pressure in the pit of the stomach accompanied by recurrent nausea.

Manifestations due to anemia and lack of iron:

These discomforts often make the condition look more like “chronic anemia” than typical gastritis.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency:

Glossitis (red, smooth, painful tongue) and, in some cases, mild jaundice (yellowing) may also appear.

Evolution and “silent” characteristics

That is why it is common for the diagnosis to be made by studying anemia or a vitamin B12 deficiency rather than by stomach pain.

Intermittent fasting: autophagy method

In healthy people, intermittent fasting itself does not usually cause gastritis or AIG directly, but it can worsen digestive symptoms if there are already previous problems or if it is done inappropriately. There is no solid evidence that autophagy induced by fasting alone generates gastritis or AIG, although in people with a “delicate” stomach it can trigger discomfort such as heartburn, reflux or pain.

What is known about fasting and gastritis

Fasting, autophagy and gastric mucosa

Risks and situations where it can get worse

About AIG (autoimmune gastritis)

How to make it safer if you decide to fast

If you already have frequent gastric discomfort, a diagnosis of gastritis or suspicion of AIG, the most prudent thing to do is to speak with a gastroenterologist before continuing or starting intermittent fasting, to adapt fasting times, type of diet and check if your particular case tolerates it well.

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