acai berries, 176
acidophilus, 250
Actinobacter, 69
agave syrup, 153
Akkermansia, 174
alcohol, 21, 73, 166, 169, 197, 211, 214–23
alkaline diets, 200
allergies, 202, 241–2, 250–8; and hygiene hypothesis, 256–8
almond milk, 138
almonds, 83
American Gut Project, 19, 37, 119, 220, 241, 265
anabolic steroids, 125
Anogia people, 56
antibiotic-induced disease, 62
antibiotics, 69, 120, 233, 233–50, 270, 272
ApoB protein, 41
APOC3 gene, 56
appendix, 187
aquagenic urticaria, 254
arthritis, 4, 8, 42, 84, 120, 169, 185
see also rheumatoid arthritis
atherosclerosis, 122
Atkins diet, 3, 45, 108–11, 193
attention disorders, 42
Australia, rise in allergies, 254–5
autism, 205
auto-immune disease, 108, 117, 120, 168–70, 263
auto-immune reaction, 148
avocados, 74
Avon Longitudinal Study, 244
see also gut microbes
Bacteroidetes, 51, 66, 69, 94–5, 98, 123, 136, 147–8, 201, 212, 248, 265
Bacteroidetes thetaiotaomicron, 133
baldness, 84
Bedford, Michael, 209
beetroot, 176
berberine, 102
beriberi, 224
beta-carotene, 226
bifidobacteria, 62, 64, 66, 67 112, 120, 141, 207, 220, 237, 250; C-section babies and, 241; junk-food diet and, 94, 96–7; prebiotic diet and, 188–9
biotin, 225
bisphenol (BPA), 132
blood pressure, 2, 54–5, 72–3, 81, 117, 122, 138, 158, 182, 207
blueberries, 176
body-builders, 125
Bouchard, Dr Claude, 24
brain, 38–9, 67, 119, 199; and gut microbes, 67–8, 76, 248
Bray, George, 161
bread, as main source of fibre, 184
breakfast, importance of, 174–5
breakfast cereals, 150, 152, 175
breast milk, 16–17, 140, 148, 183, 237, 255; antibiotics in, 238, 248
Brie de Meaux, 50
British Gut Project, 19, 188, 265
brucellosis, 146
Brunswick stew, 55
butyrate, 36, 98, 113, 189, 202, 208, 212
cabbage soup diet, 193
cachexins, 252
caecum, 187
caesarean sections, 238–41, 245, 250, 272
calcium, 59, 134, 138, 140, 142, 146, 229
Caloric Restriction (CR), 172
cancer, 124, 130–2, 168, 180–1, 185, 198–9, 202, 204, 211, 214, 219; low-dose anti-cancer drugs and, 270; vitamins and, 224–5, 227, 229, 231
see also breast cancer; colon cancer; liver cancer; pancreatic cancer; prostate cancer
candida, 136
Carasso, Isaac, 60
carbohydrates, types of, 166
caribou livers, 76
celeriac, 250
Chain, Ernest, 233
Charles I, King, 72
cheese, 47–60, 71, 73, 77, 84, 88, 140, 145–6, 177, 259, 263, 270
cheese mites, 49
Chicken Kiev, 184
chimpanzees, 118
China, 102–5, 217; C-section rates, 238; and lactase gene mutation, 141
Chinese Gutter Oil, 85
Chlorella, 176
chlorogenic acid, 212
cholesterol, 40–1, 44–5, 47, 53, 75, 182, 185, 208, 252; and food labelling, 43; levels in Crete, 55–6; reduction with vegetarian diet, 72–4
see also hypercholesterolaemia
choline, 122
Christensenellaceae, 201
Clinton, Bill, 45
Clostridium difficile, 62, 236–7, 266–7
cocoa nuts, 83
coconut oil, 43
colonoscopy, 186–7, 264, 266–7
colony-forming units (CFUs), 71
constipation, 51, 69, 109, 111, 181, 254
Coptis chinensis, 102
corynebacteria, 241
cotton-seed oil, 86
Danone, 60
de Gaulle, Charles, 47
Delbrueckii bulgaricus, 61
depression, 67–8, 92, 165, 204–6, 215, 229, 258
detoxing, 171
diabetes, 4, 7–8, 36, 89, 162, 182, 199, 202, 207, 228; berberine treatment and, 102; carnitine treatment and, 125; junk-food diet and, 98, 100; Mediterranean diet and, 82, 84; paleo diet and, 126–7
digestive system and process, 160–1
Dominguez-Bello, Maria, 242
dopamine, 92
drugs, prescribed, 260
Dukan diet, 3
dumplings, Chinese, 85
eczema, 256
eggs, 43, 73, 117, 177, 229, 252; fake, 85
Ehrlich, Dusko, 112
Ehrlich, Paul, 59
Eisenhower, Dwight D., 44
Elinav, Eran, 201
epigenetic changes, 67, 82, 131–2, 141, 195, 219, 225, 228
Epoisse cheese, 50
Escherichia coli, 13, 83, 120, 146
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, 103, 112, 166
fast food, see junk food
fasting, 3, 19, 67, 172–6, 174–6, 264, 268–71
fats, 40–5; anti-fat campaigns, 43–5
see also saturated fat; unsaturated fat
fibromyalgia, 229
Finnish Twin Registry, 221
Firmicutes, 51, 94–5, 194, 207, 265
fish allergies, 253
Fleming, Alexander, 233
Florey, Howard, 233
food industrialisation, beginnings of, 86
food intolerance, 254
food labelling, 22, 39, 41, 43, 150, 152, 154, 181, 215, 233
food subsidies, 4
France, antibiotic use, 249; cheese consumption, 47; mortality statistics, 46, 54; vegetarianism in, 116
Franco, General Francisco, 77, 173
free radicals, 36
Freelee the Banana Girl, 168
fructans, 195
fruit, 74, 83, 117, 168, 176, 183–4, 187, 196, 207, 219, 250, 254
Full and Slim, 125
fungi, 15, 18, 48–50, 106, 136–7, 221, 259
Funk, Casimir, 224
galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS), 143, 183
Gandhi, Mahatma, 169
garlic, 25, 30, 83, 177, 183–5, 187, 195–6
gastric bypass surgery, 9, 268
Ge Hong, 101
General Foods, 87
genistein, 130
ghee, 88
GI diet, 3
GLP-1 hormone, 200
glycaemic index (GI), 23
GM crops, 272
Goldacre, Henrietta (cat), 10
gout, 111
gut microbes, 19, 36–8, 51–2, 65–7, 82–3, 94–5, 97–8, 105–6, 112–13, 123, 165–6, 173–4, 178, 220–1, 231, 240–1; and allergies, 255–6; and antibiotic use, 248–9; brain and, 67–8, 76, 248; and C-sections, 240–1
heart attacks, 36, 40, 44, 54, 72, 81, 122, 165, 169, 218
heart disease, 41, 44–5, 52–4, 56–7, 85, 87, 121–3, 125, 131, 158, 182, 204, 206, 211, 214–15, 217–19, 226–9, 229; and French paradox, 46–7, 50, 54, 218; Mediterranean diet and, 80–2, 84, 168; paleo diet and, 126; rates in Crete, 55–6, 78; risk factors, 32, 35–6; risk reduction, 72–3
Helicobacter pylori, 83
Henrietta Maria, Queen, 72
hepatitis B, 102
high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), 155
HIV/AIDS, 136
Homo erectus, 118
horizontal gene transfer, 133–4
hormone replacement treatment (HRT), 204
Huangdi Neijing, 104
hunter-gatherers, 26–7, 75, 108, 118–20, 126, 128, 159, 266
hydrogenation, 86
hygiene, obsession with, 256–8, 272
hypo-cuisson methods, 167
hypothalamus, 199
immune-deficient patients, 94
insulin, 22–3, 54–5, 97, 101, 106, 112, 160–2, 194; prebiotic diet and, 188–9; sweeteners and, 200–1
Inuits, 76
iron, 116
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 68–9, 187, 195; prebiotic diet and, 268–70
Japan, 217; fish-eating and longevity, 124; heart disease rates, 44, 78; obesity rates, 7; seaweed consumption, 132–5; soy consumption, 129
Jobs, Steve, 168
juicing, 169–71, 178, 264; and tooth decay, 177
junk food, 89–97, 131; and gut microbes, 94–5; increased consumption in China, 104–5; and inflammatory response, 95–7
Kalahari bushmen, 180
Kaprio, Jaako, 221
Kazakhstan, 139
Kellogg, John Harvey, 76
ketogenic diets, 110
Keys, Ancel, 44, 52, 55–6, 78, 156
Kingsolver, Barbara, 263
K-rations, 44
Kroc, Ray, 90
lactase gene mutation, 140–3, 144–6
lactobacilli, 49, 52, 60–3, 66, 67, 70, 82, 88, 97, 112, 136, 140–1, 166, 207, 248, 258; C-section babies and, 241; and junk-food diets, 96; protect against tooth decay, 159
Lactobacillus casei Shirota, 60
Lactobacillus reuteri, 63
lactose intolerance, 138, 141–3
Landsfeld, Countess of, 175
Lautropia, 94
Leonardo da Vinci, 169
leptin, 248
leukaemia, 228
Liping Zhao, 99–100, 102–3, 105, 269
lipoproteins (HDL and LDL), 40–1, 56, 73–4, 109–10, 208
listeriosis, 146
liver cancer, 139
liver disease, 89
Lucozade, 152
Lustig, Robert, 149
lutein, 231
lycopene, 168
Mac Twins (Alana and Lisa), 233–5
McDonald’s, 85, 87, 90, 92–3, 105
macular degeneration, 227, 231
malaria, 248
margarines, 86
meat, 73–7, 113–14, 121–3, 127–8, 263, 270; antibiotics in production of, 249; decline in consumption of, 108; and L-carnitine, 122–3; saturated and unsaturated fat in, 74–5
Médecins sans Frontières, 260
Mediterranean diet, 80–4, 106, 168, 196, 221, 263
melanoma, 230
Meta-Hit project, 112
Methanobrevibacter, 113
mice, sterile (germ-free), 17–18, 63, 70, 96–100, 201, 248
microbiome, see gut microbes
milk, 54, 57, 60, 125, 138–48; antibiotics in, 247; contaminated, 85; correlation with height, 144–6; and gene mutation, 140–3, 191–2, 195; pasteurisation, 146–7
Mimolette cheese, 49
monosodium glutamate (MSG), 29, 135, 202
Montignac diet, 3
Mosley, Michael, 172
multiple sclerosis (MS), 229
myoglobin, 75
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), 87
niacin, 225
nickel allergy, 254
Nietzsche, Friedrich, 270
nitric oxide levels, 176
nuts, 74, 81–3, 177, 183, 187, 196, 263, 265, 270
oat bran, 182
obesity, 4, 7–8, 12, 25–8, 36, 243, 255; and antibiotic use, 243–5, 248–9; manual workers and, 33; and preference for sugar, 153–4
obesity (FTO) gene, 194
oestrogen receptors, 131
oligofructose, 183
olive oil, 42, 47, 74, 77–84, 177, 196, 259, 263, 270; extra virgin, 79, 82–4, 188
osteoporosis, 33, 130, 146, 229–31
O’Toole, Paul, 165
paleo diet, 3, 108, 117–20, 126–7, 167–8
palm oil 43
pancreas, 199
parathyroid hormone, 231
pasta, 160, 183, 194, 196, 260, 263
penicillin, 233
pets, keeping, 258
phytates, 131
pizza, 54–5, 57–8, 77, 84, 191
polychlorinated biphenyls (BCPs), 124
polyphenols, 80, 82–3, 134, 184, 195–6, 206–9, 212, 219, 221–2, 228, 252
pomegranates, 176
potatoes, and digestion of starch, 194–5
Pottenger, Francis, 147
Prader-Willi syndrome, 101
prebiotics, 99, 101–3, 143, 181, 183–4, 186–9, 191, 219, 237, 250
pregnant women, 98, 227–8, 255
preservatives, 202
Prevotella, 95, 120, 123, 147–8, 212, 220, 248, 257
probiotics, 61–6, 69–70, 96, 205, 258, 273; and candida infections, 136; and food allergies, 258; and junk food diet, 88; protect against tooth decay, 159
processed foods, 4, 19, 74, 87, 91, 106, 128, 130–1, 191, 224, 264, 270; and ‘added vitamins’, 231; and preservatives, 202
see also junk food
pseudo-membranous colitis, 236–7
PYY hormone, 248
quinoa, 177
rats, brain activity and junk food, 91–2
ready-meals, introduction of, 184
red wine, 47, 50, 73, 83, 196, 218–21
restrictive diets, 19, 190–1, 268
rheumatoid arthritis, 147, 234, 254
rickets, 225
Roederer, Mario, 66
Roquefort cheese, 50
Runner’s World magazine, 34
salt, 73, 87, 91, 95, 106, 135
Sanderson, Jeremy, 186
saturated fat, 46–61, 71, 74–5, 138, 148; and French paradox, 46–7, 50, 54
sauerkraut, 91
selenium, 135
Selfmade exhibition, 58
Seventh Day Adventists, 114–15, 125
Sheiham, Aubrey, 158
Shirota, Minoru, 60
shotgun meta-genomics, 112
shrimps, 254
sofrito, 83
soups, 178
South Beach diet, 3
soy milk, 130–2, 138, 149–50, 239
Speakman, John, 27
spina bifida, 227
sports drinks, 162
staphylococci, 241
starch, 166, 191–2, 194; resistant, 183, 192
Steves, Claire, 165
stevia leaf, 203
Strachan, David, 256
stroke, 41, 72, 229; Mediterranean diet and, 80–1; vegetarian diet and, 115
Subway, 90
sugar, 4, 149–63; fructose metabolism, 161–3; genetic preference for, 153–4; replacement for sweeteners, 202–3; and tooth decay, 152, 157–60
sweeteners, artificial, 198–203
synbiotics, 183
testosterone, 84
tetracycline, 260
thiamine, 61
thyroid levels, 111
tobacco companies, 87
TOFIs (thin outside, fat inside), 162
tooth decay, 83, 152, 157–60, 177
Treg cells (T-regulatory cells), 66, 68, 96, 165, 257–8
trimethylamine (TMA) and TMAO, 122–4
tryptophan, 205
tuberculosis, 146
turmeric, 83
Turnbaugh, Peter, 52
twin studies, and acne, 234; and aggressive behaviour, 216; and allergies, 254, 257; and amylase gene, 192–4; and bone strength, 230; and C-sections, 240; and chocolate consumption, 207; and chocolate preference, 206; and circadian rhythms, 175; and depression, 67; and exercise habits, 31–2; and food preferences, 30, 154; and fussy eating, 178; and garlic eating, 185; and gut microbes, 19, 65–7, 97–8, 166; and height, 147–8; and lactose intolerance, 142–3; and mosquito bites, 58; and per cent heritability, 65–6; and preference for coffee, 212; and religious belief, 115, 216; and vegetarianism, 114–15; and weight gain, 6, 11–12, 24–5
United Kingdom, antibiotic use, 235; decline in meat-eating, 108; dental extractions, 160; dietary fibre consumption, 181, 184; incidence of coeliac disease, 190; lactose intolerance rates, 142; obesity rates, 7, 12; soy consumption, 129; sugar consumption, 151, 155–6; vegetarianism, 114–16
United States, antibiotic use, 235, 244; average height, 145–6; cheese consumption, 58, 145; childhood allergies, 257; corn-sugar industry, 154–5; dietary fibre consumption, 181, 184; incidence of coeliac disease, 190; industrial farming, 245–6, 258; lactose intolerance rates, 142; meat consumption, 75; obesity rates, 7, 28, 243; rate of C-sections, 238; soy consumption, 129; spending on fast food, 90–1; sugar consumption, 155, 161; vegetarianism, 114–15
US Department of Agriculture, 49, 58, 246
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 49, 63, 86, 181, 189, 200
uric acid, 109
vegetable shortening, 86
vegetables, 25, 30, 74, 83, 177–8, 183–5, 187, 195–6, 227–8, 250
vegetarianism (and vegans), 45, 73–4, 95, 107, 113–17, 123, 128, 225, 247
visceral fat, 22, 24, 60, 97, 104, 112, 162
vitamin B12, 59, 116–17, 137, 177, 225, 231
vitamin C, 76, 151–2, 157, 225
vitamin D, 135, 140, 142, 146, 225, 229–31
vitamin E, 226
vitamin K, 177
walking, 31
weight gain, genetic factors in, 24–5
Whelan, Kevin, 183
whey protein, 60
white cells, 59
Yakult, 60
yeasts, 48–9, 52, 130, 136, 219
yoghurt, 59–65, 70–1, 84, 91, 120, 140, 150, 177, 259, 263, 270; as breath freshener, 185; drinks, 250; enemas, 76; and junk food diet, 88; sugar in, 59, 64, 150; as treatment for candida, 136
zeaxanthin, 231
Zeffini, Ele, 56
Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang, 102
zobellia, 133