A change of diet could create an ecosystem to help fight chronic diseases

Matt Orr, assistant professor at the College of Science at Oregon University published a paper this week stating that he believes chronic diseases including cancer, autoimmune disorders and obesity may defeat the efforts of medical intervention unless individuals change their diets. 

The paper published in the Quarterly Review of Biology describes a ‘restoration ecology’ approach, “Every person is like an ecosystem and effectively fighting chronic disease requires fostering the communities of symbiotic gut microbes that people need for their health.  Western doctors generally ignore diet in chronic disease, even diseases of the gut.  They do not overly encourage or support their patients to change their diet away from high fat and high sugar.” 

Orr explained how ‘restoration ecology’ techniques fall into two categories, passive and active.  Passive is removing the disturbances that harmed the ecosystem, like an unhealthy diet and then letting the ecosystem heal itself.  The next step is active restoration, in the gut this might involve probiotics, antibiotics or fecal transplants. 

NOTE:  The Quarterly Review of Biology is a peer reviewed scientific journal covering all aspects of biology.