Gut bacteria's hunger linked to chronic illness.

The gut microbiome and mitochondria remain hungry for nutrients missing in the American diet, which is linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Research has consistently shown that whole food diets are associated with better health and longer lives, while ultraprocessed foods and drinks are linked with poor health outcomes. 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, providing a way to reduce the burden of chronic disease.