“The early bird catches the worm.” This saying can be analyzed in several ways. My key takeaways from this idiom are that having a strategy and the ability to predict a positive outcome by acting early can result in the highest reward. The same concept can be applied to nutrition and lifestyle. It takes years for permanent metabolic injury to occur and for diseases to manifest themselves, as proven repeatedly in various research publications. What our wise ancestors naturally understood and practiced, even without “scientific” proof, is what all of us should do, starting from the time we are developing in the womb. Hence, the health and well-being of our parents (due to epigenetic mechanisms, in addition to known genetic factors) play a crucial role in our own health. We should practice the basic principles of healthy living: balanced nutrition from whole, organic food sources, sufficient sleep, stress reduction, and avoiding oxidative factors such as drugs, smoking, and alcohol. It’s no surprise that many cultures and religions emphasize healthy and modest living, as a healthy body is undoubtedly closely connected to inner calm and spirituality, as well as a “clear head.”
To convince you that early intervention is key in preventing the development of chronic diseases and a progressive cascade of cellular injury, I will use the example of type 2 diabetes mellitus, one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide. Multiple trials have proven the concept of “metabolic memory.” Notable trials include the Diabetes Complications and Control Trial (DCCT), the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications, the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, the Steno-2 study, and the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial. All of these trials have demonstrated that early aggressive therapy and blood glucose reduction in the early stages of diagnosis led to a significant decrease in the development of long-term complications of diabetes, such as neuropathy, kidney disease, and eye problems.
Scientific evidence indicates that chronically high glucose levels contribute to oxidative stress by generating reactive species and damaging mitochondrial proteins (the “energy factories” of cells). This results in cellular aging over time. Chronic cell injury triggers an inflammatory response that prompts epigenetic changes and activates genes responsible for producing more inflammatory proteins. The body remains in a state of high alert, continuously combating inflammation and attempting to protect itself from forming more mutated cell lines, which contributes to further inflammation and bodily damage. This essentially accelerates aging and leads to a permanent disease state. Altered sleep patterns also play a role in promoting inflammation and can exacerbate cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and aid the growth of cancer cells.
Understanding the science of inflammation is vital for comprehending why it’s crucial to embrace a healthy lifestyle from early development. As a specialist, I receive referrals for patients in advanced disease stages, and reversing cellular injury and eradicating chronic diseases becomes challenging without extreme and aggressive measures. Once again, using diabetes as an example, a person with no insulin resistance can easily exhibit an appropriate insulin response and avoid a significant rise in glucose levels after a carbohydrate-heavy meal. In contrast, a person with diabetes, due to chronic cellular injury, may experience a high glucose level even with a small amount of carbohydrates in their meal. Given the difficulty of following a primarily ketogenic diet, most patients require medications to manage their disease, and some may even become insulin-dependent, underscoring the importance of early intervention.
I hope you find this article helpful, and I plan to write more in the future to educate the general public about the significance of early intervention. For now, stay safe and healthy.