Type 2 diabetes and obesity are currently two major causes of global deaths, but the secret to ending them is in the gut, says a new research.

U.S. study researchers stress the importance of maintaining a healthy bacteria environment in the gut by eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy. However, there are two major problems.

Based on their research published in Molecular Metabolism, Frank Greenway of Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Mark Heiman of Microbiome Therapeutics revealed that the major changes in agriculture over the last five decades and highly specialized diets like Paleo reduce dietary diversity, which also affect that of the gut's microbiome.

The gut has millions of healthy bacteria that functions harmoniously in order to metabolize the nutrients derived from food and produce substances needed to send the right metabolic signals. With poor food diversity, however, the microbiome makeup changes where it is possible that only selected species thrive.

The changes in the gut bacteria landscape are also quick as it takes only a few days of religiously following a diet that eliminates certain types of macronutrients.

The researchers emphasized the significance of a diverse microbiome, which is usually present on healthy individuals.

"The greater the repertoire of signals, the more likely is the ability to maintain homeostasis when dietary intake is perturbed," the researchers said. "Furthermore, because each particular macronutrient has the potential to be metabolized by microbiota into unique metabolic signals, the greater the variety in signals, the greater the variety of responses possible."

The researchers also noted that further understanding of gut flora diversity may pave the way for a more personalized medicine for these metabolic disorders including the use of blood rather than stool to detect and adjust dietary changes, but more studies on the relationship of macronutrients and these bacteria are necessary.

Recently, there is an increased interest in gut microbiome and how it impacts a person's metabolism. A previous Irish study shared that exercise may help boost gut bacteria diversity and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Photo: Mark Goebel | Flickr