Highlights:
- Indian American cites lifelong digestive issues with US food
- Says vegetarian diet worsened problems due to processed ingredients
- Expresses frustration with US healthcare and medical responses
- Reddit post sparks widespread discussion and shared experiences
- Many users link gut issues abroad to food quality and lifestyle changes
An Indian American has gone viral on social media after sharing an unusual and deeply personal reason for wanting to move to India: persistent digestive problems experienced while living in the United States. The individual’s Reddit post, titled “Moving to India due to digestive problems,” quickly gained traction, sparking widespread discussion about food quality, health, and lifestyle differences between countries.
The 20-year-old, who was born and raised in the US, said they have followed a vegetarian diet all their life. Despite this, they claimed that neither they nor their family members can digest several commonly consumed American food products, particularly milk and processed foods. According to the post, these issues have significantly impacted their physical health and emotional well-being.
“I am a 20-year-old Indian American who was born in the US I was raised vegetarian and still am,” the user wrote. “But neither me nor my entire family can digest American milk, so my life is hell.”
The individual described feeling constantly unwell and malnourished, saying their body reacts poorly to staples such as rice, processed flour, and pasta. They also shared that their health struggles have contributed to social isolation and a diminished quality of life.
“I feel so sick and malnourished. I live such an abnormal life here. I have no friends,” they wrote, adding that most of the food available to them in the US feels overly processed and difficult for their body to handle.
The user said they plan to relocate to India once they save enough money, largely in hopes of being able to eat food comfortably again. While acknowledging that India is “far from a perfect country,” they said they had previously lived there for three years and felt that being able to digest food normally would make the move worthwhile.
The post also revealed growing frustration with the US healthcare system. The individual claimed that doctors failed to offer helpful solutions, with one allegedly suggesting they had an eating disorder and prescribing anti-anxiety medication.
“I’ve run out of patience with doctors,” the user wrote. “I can’t afford to keep searching for the right one or experimenting anymore.”
As the post gained popularity, it prompted a flood of responses from other users. Some suggested possible medical explanations, including vitamin B12 deficiency, which can affect vegetarians. Others shared similar experiences of developing digestive problems after moving to the US or other Western countries.
Several commenters pointed to the prevalence of frozen and highly processed foods, especially in college dorms and workplace cafeterias, as a major contributor to gut health issues. Others said their digestive problems improved when they returned to India or began cooking fresh meals at home.
The viral post has reignited conversations around food quality, cultural dietary differences, and how modern eating habits may affect health, particularly for immigrants and international students adapting to new food systems.
