Anahad O writes for the New York Times on a new study published in Nature Magazine that confirms much of what we know about the link between good nutrition and better health. In short, our guts are filled with bacteria and other microbes that can lead to a variety of different health conditions. And, we can determine which of those microbes live with us through what we eat and drink.
You’ve surely heard it before. Diets that are filled with whole foods are best for your health. Diets filled with processed foods, foods that have extra sugar and salt and other additives undermine your health. They lead to cardiovascular and other chronic conditions.
Your genes have some role to play in your health, but much less of a role than you might imagine, a minor one. People who eat lots of vegetables, nuts, seeds and seafood have better microbes. Fiber is good for the gut. People who eat salami, potato chips, and oreos have far fewer healthy microbes.
Of note, another study published in JAMA, shows that drinking coffee helps to promote good health. People who drink coffee have a lower likelihood of getting Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Studies also show that drinking a quart of coffee a day reduces people’s risk of premature death. And, people who drink a lot of coffee, whether caffeinated or not, experience a 50 percent drop in their risk of suicide.
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