Food intake has many direct effects on body physiology. Consuming food, for example, affects the gut and its microbiome but also directly influences cellular processes in the liver and adipose tissue. In the long run, poor dietary choices may induce or aggravate disease conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or obesity. At the same time, dietary interventions can in some cases slow or halt disease progression.

Diets differ in composition and contain varying quantities of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, and protein) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber). These nutrients all have distinct effects on health and disease. Additionally, not only what we eat but also when we eat has many downstream effects on our bodies and these effects may in part be intertwined with circadian rhythm (disruption). Similarly, prolonged periods without food intake – fasting – affect physiology, for instance by activating cellular processes that promote repair and cell survival.

We aim to investigate the complex impact diet has on cardiovascular disease. Specifically, we hypothesize that some of dietary choices’ effects on the immune system mediate their consequences for cardiovascular disease.