Cell Breakthrough: This newly developed diet produces immediate results in 3 weeks!

Compiled by: Gong Zixin

Industrial diet

High in processed foods and low in fiber

Leading to obesity, diabetes and heart disease in many countries

Chronic diseases have increased dramatically

A new study published in Cell on January 23 showed that a newly developed diet that mimics non-industrial eating habits brings significant metabolic and immune improvements, which can significantly reduce the risk of multiple chronic diseases.

In just 3 weeks, it promoted weight loss, lowered bad cholesterol by 17%, reduced blood sugar by 6%, and reduced C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation and heart disease) by 14%.

These improvements were associated with beneficial changes in participants' gut microbiota, which is home to trillions of bacteria and plays a critical role in health, influencing digestion, immunity and metabolism.

The study was led by Professor Jens Walter, Chief Scientist at University College Cork, Ireland, and Principal Investigator at the APC Microbiome Research Centre in Ireland, with human trials being conducted at the University of Alberta in Canada.

"Industrialization has significantly impacted our gut microbiota, potentially increasing the risk of chronic diseases," Walter explains. "To address this, we developed a diet that mimics traditional, non-industrial eating habits and is consistent with our understanding of diet-microbiota interactions. In a carefully controlled human trial, participants followed this diet and consumed Lactobacillus reuteri, a beneficial bacterium that is prevalent in the gut of Papua New Guineans but is rarely found in the industrialized microbiome."

Effect of Lactobacillus reuteri on plasma metabolomic profiles This study shows that a new diet named NiMe (Non-Industrialized Microbiome Restoration) can enhance the short-term persistence of Lactobacillus reuteri in the intestine.

However, it also improved microbiome features that have been disrupted by industrialization, such as a reduction in pro-inflammatory bacteria and bacterial genes that degrade the intestinal mucus layer. These changes were associated with improvements in cardiometabolic markers of chronic disease risk.

Examples of foods served to participants during the recovery diet

Although participants did not consume fewer calories on the NiMe diet, they lost weight, and the diet itself has significant cardiometabolic benefits.

In previous research, Walter's team studied the gut microbiome in rural Papua New Guinea and found that individuals there had a more diverse microbiome, were rich in bacteria that thrive on dietary fiber, and had lower levels of pro-inflammatory bacteria associated with a Western diet. This information was used to design the NiMeTM diet.

Key Features of the NiMe Diet:

• Plant-based, but not vegetarian: Consists primarily of vegetables, legumes, and other whole plant foods. Eat one small serving of animal protein (salmon, chicken, or pork) each day;

• No dairy, beef or wheat: excluded simply because they are not part of the traditional food intake of rural Papua New Guineans;

• Few processed foods high in sugar and saturated fat;

• Rich in fiber: Contains 22 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories, exceeding current dietary recommendations.

Effects of Restorative Diet on Chronic Disease Risk Markers

“Everyone knows that diet affects health, but many people underestimate its importance,” Professor Walter said.

Commenting, Professor Paul Ross, Director of Microbiome Ireland at APC, said: “This study shows that we can target the gut microbiome through specific diets to improve health and reduce disease risk. These findings could influence future dietary guidelines and inspire the development of new foods and ingredients, as well as therapeutics that target the microbiome.”