Research

Energy balance

Chronic systemic low-grade inflammation, driven by Western lifestyle factors (diet, stress, inactivity), causes insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome by triggering an evolutionary energy reallocation mechanism that prioritizes glucose for the brain and immune system over peripheral tissues.

Focus on reducing chronic inflammatory triggers rather than just managing symptoms. Prioritize anti-inflammatory dietary patterns (high omega-3, fiber, antioxidants), stress management, sleep, and physical activity to resolve the evolutionary conflict between your modern lifestyle and ancient genome.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
The underlying triggers are an abnormal dietary composition and microbial flora, insufficient physical activity and sleep, chronic stress and environmental pollution. The disturbance of our inflammatory/anti-inflammatory balance is illustrated by dietary fatty acids and antioxidants... driving us to a state of chronic systemic low grade inflammation that eventually leads to typically Western diseases via an evolutionary conserved interaction between our immune system and metabolism.
Begoña Ruiz-Núñez et al. · The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry · 2013

Why this rating

This is a review paper arguing an evolutionary hypothesis; it cites observational and mechanistic studies but lacks large-scale RCTs for the specific 'chronic low-grade inflammation' causality in healthy populations.

Source

Lifestyle and nutritional imbalances associated with Western diseases: causes and consequences of chronic systemic low-grade inflammation in an evolutionary context

Begoña Ruiz-Núñez et al. · The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry · 2013

DOI 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.02.009

narrative_reviewCited 248×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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