Fast Food Fever: Reviewing the Impacts of the Western Diet on Immunity by Ian A. Myles explores how the Western diet, characterized by excessive consumption of refined sugars, salt, and saturated fat, negatively impacts immune function. The review discusses mechanisms through which these dietary components contribute to immune-mediated diseases, with particular attention to the gut microbiome and the transmission of dietary effects to offspring. The paper also examines artificial sweeteners, gluten, and genetically modified foods, highlighting gaps in the literature regarding their immune impacts, with a focus on distinguishing between evidence from animal/in vitro models and human trials. The study concludes that while the modern diet may prevent certain nutrient deficiencies, it also increases inflammation, hampers infection control, and raises the risk of cancer, allergies, and auto-inflammatory diseases.
Source: Canva