Humans & Gorillas: Same Biology. Same Mistakes. Same Heart Disease.

Humans and gorillas share ~98% of their DNA.
In the wild, gorillas do not develop heart disease.

In captivity, it?s now one of the leading causes of death. Their genetics didn?t change.

Their environment did. Diet shifted away from what they evolved to eat just like humans.

Processed foods
No variety
Daily movement dropped.
Energy balance changed.
Gut microbiome profiles shifted.
We?re seeing the same pattern in humans.
This is not simply genetic risk.
It?s a gene?environment mismatch.

A system built for:

Nutrient-dense foods
Constant movement over distance
Stable circadian rhythms
?is now exposed to:

Processed, calorie-dense diets
Sedentary behavior
Disrupted biological signaling

The downstream effects are predictable:

Altered gut microbiome
Chronic low-grade inflammation
Insulin resistance
Endothelial dysfunction
Loss of metabolic flexibility

Same biology. Same inputs. Same outcome.

What can we learn?

Return to real whole foods.

Move throughout the day over distance with speed
Support the microbiome.
Reduce the gap between modern life and human biology.

We keep looking for complex solutions.
But this is about inputs.
Change the environment?
the biology follows.

Lifestyle is Medicine – Nature Got it Right