Re: Supposed to be in prime of my life, what happened?
I would encourage you to move toward culturing your own vegetables, which will provide you with home-made probiotics, and likely "prebiotics", as well. And in geneeral, the closer your food is to 'home', the better it will be, for you. Thus, the bacteria that will be introduced to the vegetables will be a form of 'medicine' tailor-made, as it were.
My favourite mix lately is grated brocolli, (can use stalks for this) shaved or matchsticked carrot, lemon, (diced and squeezed) garlic, and ginger. Sometimes I add some cranberries too.
Another one includes, carrot, green onions, garlic, beets, cabbage, ginger, parsnip. (yes, weird, but wonderful), and some fruit, such as firm pear, green apple, lemon, orange...
The key to it all is some good
Sea Salt , and an undsitured spot with a good container-glass or ceramic. Enough salt to keep out the "bad" guys, and to promote the good to take up the cause; and also, a provisioner of minerals to jump-start the whole process.
Also, search "kombucha".
These two 'supplements', along with kelp and a few other things like the D.E, nettles, BSM, and so forth, have made a world of difference in my health.
best, C