Discussion of chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes, has been brought to the forefront recently. What is the correlation between the health of your gut microbiome, an industrialized diet, and chronic illnesses? What can the average person do to avoid chronic illness? Could the answer be found in our food?

nutrition graduate student Liza in the Metabolic Kitchen
of the Human Nutrition Research Unit.
New Open Education ebook
Dr. Anissa Armet, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Alberta, and Dr. Jens Walter, professor of Ecology, Food and the Microbiome in the Faculty of ALES, have recently published a new open education ebook with the University of Alberta Library on the NiMe (Non-industrialized Microbiome Restore) diet that they developed through their research on the relationship between the gut microbiome, chronic illness, and an industrialized diet.
Inspired by Research
The NiMe Diet: Scientific Principles and Recipes was inspired by Dr. Walter’s research into the gut microbiomes of residents in rural, non-industrialized areas of Papua New Guinea, where the traditional diet consists of unprocessed, whole foods such as vegetables and whole grains. This diet, rich in dietary fiber, has shown lower-levels of pro-inflammatory markers that are linked to the chronic illnesses common in a highly-processed, industrialized diet.

Luckily, you don’t need to live in rural Papua New Guinea to achieve the benefits of a non-industrialized diet! The NiMe Diet: Scientific Principles and Recipes provides simple, accessible recipes using readily-available ingredients such as sweet potatoes, lentils, beans, and whole grains.
Best of all, The NiMe Diet: Scientific Principles and Recipes was published through The University of Alberta Library’s Open Education publishing program, and is available for download through the library’s institutional repository, ERA.
Dr. Armet also recently appeared on CTV Morning Live to promote the benefits of the NiMe diet, and share a simple and tasty recipe that anyone at home can cook, and get themselves started on the path to better gut microbiome health.
Thank you Kim Kemmer, Copyright Services Specialist for authoring this post.
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