Throughout recent memory, the focus on foodborne illnesses has diverted our attention from a more persistent problem: the slow, subtle effects of modern diets high in processed foods. While foodborne illnesses often grab attention with alarming headlines and are usually acute conditions that can be diagnosed and treated quickly, chronic diseases caused by modern diets have gradually become the main contributors to poor health in the Western world. These diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and certain cancers, are not caused by pathogens but by the foods we consume daily. Since the diseases take decades to render their devastation, the cause has been elusive.

Naming the Epidemic of Diet-Induced Chronic Diseases

Before we dive deeper into the causes and solutions, it's important to name this phenomenon. Unlike foodborne illnesses, which are well understood and frequently discussed, chronic diseases caused by diet don't have an agreed-upon name. However, several terms could help frame this discussion:

Dietary-Induced Chronic Diseases (DICD): This term emphasizes that these diseases stem directly from the quality of one's diet, particularly the intake of processed foods and unhealthy fats in the form of vegetable oils.

Metabolic Syndrome Diseases: While this term is more specific to metabolic dysfunctions like insulin resistance, it's also linked to diet-induced issues that can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Modern Diet-Related Diseases: This general term can refer to the wide range of chronic health problems associated with the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods.

Processed Food Syndrome (PFS): A more specific term that could reflect the role of ultra-processed foods in creating a range of metabolic and chronic health conditions.

Toxinutrition Diseases: This creative term highlights the toxic effects of poor nutrition, particularly focusing on processed foods and synthetic ingredients that disrupt normal metabolism and health.

Nutritional Degenerative Disorders: This could describe how poor diets lead to the degeneration of bodily functions, manifesting in diseases like Alzheimer's, cancer, or diabetes.

Chronic Processed Food Disorders (CPFD): A more direct label emphasizing the chronic nature of diseases caused by long-term consumption of processed foods.

Western Diet Syndrome (WDS): A term that has been used to describe health issues linked to the typical Western diet, which is high in processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats.

All of these names capture the central idea: many of today’s chronic diseases can be traced back to modern, highly processed foods. These diseases don't happen overnight, like foodborne illnesses, but they build up over time, making them even more dangerous as they fly under the radar of many medical diagnoses. My personal favorite is processed food syndrome.

The Rise of Chronic Disease and the Role of Processed Foods

Since the mid-20th century, there has been a stark rise in chronic diseases. Rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer have surged, coinciding with the increasing consumption of processed foods. This correlation is too striking to ignore, and researchers and health experts are now investigating the various chemicals and ingredients in processed foods that contribute to these conditions.

One of the biggest culprits is high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is found in countless processed foods and beverages. Dr. Robert Lustig, a well-known advocate for health reform, has shown through his books and research how HFCS is linked to insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. In his book Fat Chance, Lustig breaks down how HFCS disrupts the body’s ability to manage sugar, leading to a cascade of metabolic issues.

Vegetable oils are another major player in the chronic disease epidemic. Dr. Chris Knobbe’s The Ancestral Diet Revolution explains how these oils, particularly seed oils like soy, corn, and canola, contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress, which are precursors to many chronic conditions, including heart disease and cancer. His work provides substantial evidence that seed oils meet the Bradford-Hill criteria for the causation of chronic disease, meaning they are not just correlated but likely a direct cause.

Atrazine, Glyphosate, and Other Toxic Additives

In addition to HFCS and vegetable oils, herbicides like atrazine and glyphosate (Roundup) have become prevalent in our food supply. These chemicals are sprayed on crops to kill weeds, but they also have harmful effects on the human body. Research suggests that these chemicals disrupt endocrine function and may be linked to obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. Atrazine, in particular, is known for its hormone-disrupting properties, which can lead to long-term metabolic imbalances.

Calley and Casey Means: Fighting Processed Food and Chronic Disease

Calley and Casey Means have been at the forefront of exposing the dangers of processed foods and how they contribute to chronic disease. Casey, a physician who left traditional medicine, and her brother Calley, an advocate for food system reform, argue that processed foods ruin the body’s ability to convert calories into energy efficiently. In essence, the modern diet is leading to a slow death, where the body becomes less capable of functioning optimally.

They argue that chronic diseases caused by processed foods create an energy deficit within the body, where people feel exhausted, unhealthy, and chronically fatigued. It’s not just about gaining weight; it’s about how these foods affect the very machinery of our bodies, impairing our ability to function on a cellular level.

Smoking and Sun Exposure: A Dangerous Combination with Modern Diets

While the processed foods we consume are a major factor in chronic diseases, it's also important to consider other lifestyle factors like smoking and sun exposure. What’s surprising is that some traditional populations, like the Trobriand Islanders and the Kitavans, have higher smoking rates yet experience virtually no heart disease or cancer. In contrast, in Western countries where smoking is combined with a diet high in processed foods, we see dramatically higher rates of these diseases.

The same applies to sun exposure. Populations like the Massai and Tokelauans are exposed to the sun daily, yet they don’t experience the high rates of skin cancer seen in Western countries. The difference, again, is in the diet. Processed foods—especially those laden with vegetable oils—seem to amplify the risks of lifestyle habits like smoking and sun exposure, while whole-food diets protect against these risks.

Exercise and Sleep: The Real Factors at Play

Another interesting factor in these traditional populations is their relatively low levels of physical activity. While they certainly aren’t sedentary, many don’t engage in vigorous exercise routines like those promoted in Western cultures. Despite this, they remain healthy and free from chronic disease. This challenges the Western belief that exercise is the primary factor in staying healthy. It suggests that diet may play a more significant role than exercise when it comes to preventing chronic diseases.

Sleep is also critical. In many of these traditional populations, people get more natural, restorative sleep than those in Western societies. Proper sleep is essential for maintaining hormonal balance, managing stress, and supporting overall health, yet sleep deprivation is rampant in Western countries, further exacerbating the chronic disease crisis.

The Role of Whole Foods and Weston Price's Work

The answer to the modern chronic disease epidemic lies in returning to a whole-food diet devoid of processed carbohydrates and vegetable oils, which includes animal-based foods with their natural fats. This type of diet promotes metabolic health and reduces inflammation, protecting the body from the harmful effects of processed foods.

Weston A. Price's work also supports this conclusion. Price, a dentist, studied Indigenous populations around the world and found that those who ate traditional diets rich in whole foods had strong teeth, no cavities, and well-developed jaws. In contrast, those who adopted Western diets high in processed foods experienced rampant tooth decay and poor health.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

In conclusion, the rise of chronic diseases linked to modern diets is undeniable. While foodborne illnesses are well understood and dealt with swiftly, the slow destruction caused by processed foods is far more damaging in the long run. As research continues to highlight the dangers of high-fructose corn syrup, vegetable oils, and toxic additives like atrazine, it's clear that the path to better health lies in adopting a whole foods diet that includes animal-based foods with their inherent fats. By eating foods in their natural form, free from industrial additives and vegetable oils, we can avoid the chronic diseases that are all too common in today's world.