The new 'unindustrialised' diet: how a diet from the past reduces chronic disease risks

Tests have shown that this diet can significantly reduce the risk of a number of chronic diseases - and researchers are already preparing simple recipes for publication that everyone can use.

Source: Cardiometabolic benefits of a non-industrialised-type diet are linked to gut microbiome modulation, Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.12.034.

Why is industrialised food dangerous?
In high-income countries (e.g. Ireland), lifestyle diseases are rapidly increasing: obesity, diabetes, heart problems. The main cause is industrially processed foods with excess sugar, saturated fat and a lack of fibre.
To understand how to influence this negative trend, scientists conducted a study published in the journal Cell. They tested a new diet centred on the eating habits of non-industrialised peoples and recorded impressive results in three weeks:

• Participants lost weight despite an unchanged calorie intake.
• "Bad" cholesterol (LDL) dropped by 17%.
• Blood sugar levels dropped by 6%.
• The concentration of C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation and cardiovascular disease) decreased by 14%.

All of these improvements were accompanied by positive changes in the gut microflora. The participants not only "replanted" the beneficial bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri, commonly found in Papua New Guineans, but also reduced the number of harmful strains associated with inflammation.

What is the essence of the "non-industrialised" menu?
This diet is called "NiMe" (Non-industrialised Microbiome Restore). It consists mainly of whole plant foods (vegetables, legumes), allows only a small portion of animal protein (fish, chicken or pork) per day, and excludes dairy products, wheat and beef - because some communities do not have them in their traditional diet. The prerequisite is an almost complete avoidance of processed foods rich in sugar and saturated fat, as well as high levels of fibre (22g per 1000 calories).

Many people underestimate how powerfully diet affects health. "We have shown that dietary changes not only improve weight and cholesterol levels, but also 'reshape' the gut microbiome for the better," explains Professor Jens Walter, study leader and professor at University College Cork.

Recipes for everyone
The researchers emphasise that the results can be used to develop new dietary recommendations and create microbiome-friendly products. They already plan to publish the "NiMe Diet" recipes on their social media accounts (@nimediet on Instagram and Facebook) and release an online cookbook in the public domain.

'We want as many people as possible to be able to change their diet without much difficulty and improve their health,' says nutritionist and study co-author Dr Anissa Armet. - All it takes is feeding your gut the right foods, not industrial substitutes.