Chronic diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cancer are prevalent in the US, with nearly half the population struggling with prediabetes or diabetes, over 40% overweight or obese, and one in nine people over 65 affected by Alzheimer’s. A poor diet is to blame for many of these conditions. However, research suggests that feeding the gut microbiome and mitochondria – the energy-producing compartments of cells – with essential nutrients could lead to happier cells and a healthier body.
The American diet is often high in ultraprocessed foods, which strip vital nutrients from food. Adding back these nutrients may be crucial for overall health. Studies have consistently shown that whole food diets like the Mediterranean diet are associated with better health outcomes, while processed foods are linked to poor health.
A 5% of the US population gets sufficient fiber, a prebiotic nutrient essential for metabolic, immune, and neurologic health. Americans are likely also deficient in phytonutrients, potassium, and certain healthy fats linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Fermentation is nature’s version of processing, creating foods with natural preservatives, flavors, and vitamins. Recent research suggests that fermented foods can improve gut microbiome diversity and dampen systemic inflammation.
Understanding how nutrients affect the gut microbiome and mitochondria could help determine which ingredients to add to the diet and which to temper. The microbiome sends biochemical signals that regulate the immune system, energy production, and cognition. When these cues are missing in ultraprocessed diets, mitochondria function less well, leading to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
By shining a light on the connection between diet, health, and the microbiome-mitochondria axis, we can work towards reducing the burden of chronic disease. A brighter future is possible where unhealthy aging isn’t an inevitability of growing older.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/hangry-bacteria-gut-microbiome-linked-151036196.html