Recent research published in the journal Cell showed that adhering to a specific diet inspired by traditional dietary habits may reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and help with weight loss.
The proposed diet is based on the food commonly found in rural areas of Papua – New Guinea. It includes the consumption of nutrient-rich plant-based products, such as vegetables, tubers, and nuts, with minimal amounts of processed foods.
Participants in this program also consume one small portion of animal protein per day, such as fish or chicken, and abstain from dairy products, beef, and pork. Examples of dishes include sweet potato and black beans for breakfast, almond and dried fruit as a snack, and quinoa and vegetable salad for lunch, followed by pear.
Professor Paul Ross, director of APC Microbiome Ireland, noted: "This research shows that with the help of specific diets, it is possible to improve gut health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. These results could serve as a foundation for developing guiding principles for nutrition and new food products."
The conducted study showed that the proposed diet led to significant improvements in the health status of participants. Even with the same caloric intake, they managed to achieve a larger weight reduction compared to the group that continued to consume a standard diet.
Researchers noted that health improvements were linked to positive changes in the microbiome of the gut – specifically, populations of beneficial bacteria, which have significant effects on overall health. Thus, the levels of harmful cholesterol decreased by 17%, the level of sugar in the blood dropped by 6%, and the level of C-reactive protein, indicating inflammation and heart disease risk, was reduced by 14%.
The results of the study indicated that changing dietary habits towards traditional unprocessed products may have a positive impact on the body, contributing to the overall health improvement and clinical indicators.
