There are a lot of things we know about the gut microbiome, but there’s also a lot of things that we don’t know yet. A study that is providing us more knowledge about the gut is the American Gut Project (AGP). One of the chief researchers on this project is a gentleman named Dr. Daniel McDonald, Ph.D.
This project has come up with some fascinating information so far. Here are some of the highlights of the discoveries coming out of the AGP, other research, and my clinical experience:
1. People who predominantly eat a plant-based diet tend to have a far more diverse microbiome than people who eat a diet high in processed foods.
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2. People who eat a “Standard American Diet” are at higher risk of having inflammatory compounds in their gut. These compounds increase the chances of developing diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. The Standard American Diet includes foods like processed meats and cheeses, high-fructose corn syrup, candy, processed carbohydrates like donuts and frozen waffles, and deep-fried foods.
3. A diet that is dominated by fruits, vegetables, and proteins, such as the Mediterranean diet, is a good starting point. When you use common sense and balance your diet and make sure you eat plenty of fresh food, the large intestine will produce large amounts of short-chain fatty acids because of the diversity of the gut microbiome. These acids help establish excellent digestive health, which translates into a healthier body overall.
Diet is everything. Nevertheless, I’m not going to tell you to follow this or that exact diet. Everyone should customize their diet based on their culture, their environment, their genetics, and their likes and dislikes.
All the things I have been saying for thirty-plus years are now being confirmed by scientific research. Science is finally validating the fact that the microbiome shapes health. Your diet and how it interacts with the bacteria in your gut can make or break your health. What you eat can influence the way you think, the way you feel, how long you’re going to live, and the quality of your life.
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