Evidence continues to emerge that the gut-associated microbiome plays a central role in mediating the effects of diet on human health. A recent review of this field published in Nutrients, "The Western Diet-Microbiome-Host Interaction and Its Role in Metabolic Disease", advances several dimensions of the diet-gut microbiome interaction that have received limited investigation. The intent of this editorial is to focus attention on components of processed foods, the consumption of which may alter the gut-associated microbiome in a manner that accounts for impacts on the immunity-inflammation axis that underlie the pathogenesis of obesity associated metabolic diseases. While examination of the issues that the authors articulate will take time, they unveil a simple fact-eating whole foods is an achievable path to health now. In saving this important observation until the end of their review, Zinöcker and Lindseth missed an opportunity to promote an important research strategy: use whole foods as the positive control in discerning those aspects of food processing that are detrimental versus being without effect.
Keywords: Western diet; acellular nutrients; additives; dietary guidelines; food industry; inflammation; metabolic disease; microbiome; ultra-processed foods; whole foods.