TheTerrifyingImplicationsoftheMicrobiome

Attended the #SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School in Boston. It was excellent to hear about the cutting-edge research happening in the field; here is my take on it:

The microbiome lectures are terrifying in their implications. Whether one accepts the theory of evolution or believes in a divine plan, the fact of the matter is that we have changed our diet drastically since the invention of television.

One of the lecturers reported data showing how a limited diversity of organisms in a patient’s intestinal tract has a profound impact on survival when faced with chemotherapy complications. This gut organism limitation is often brought about by excessive antibiotic use and a lack of fiber-containing whole foods in the diet.

As we continue to emphasize at The Science Desk, we are not just interested in your financial health. Your biological foundation is your most important asset. In order to market packaged and non-locally sourced restaurant foods, it is often necessary to add preservatives and, in many cases, sterilize the food entirely. On the other hand, fresh and organic foods are far more likely to contain large amounts of natural fiber and beneficial organisms. Remember, even penicillin was discovered floating on some old orange juice; nature provides the defense we often strip away.

People who ingest whole organic foods cultivate a much more diverse microbiome. As I have mentioned in previous posts, most so-called "Western diseases", including appendicitis, hemorrhoids, gallbladder disease, obesity, ischemic heart disease, and maturity-onset diabetes, are significantly more common in those who ingest mainly processed foods.

In summary: You are much less likely to develop serious illness on a well-balanced, minimally processed diet. Furthermore, if you do face a serious illness, your probability of recovery will be significantly aided by ingesting a healthy, high-fiber, fresh food diet.