Beware of low-fiber diets! They alter the gut microbiota, causing inflammation and infections. Confirmation in a study
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousBeware of low-fiber diets! They can alter the gut microbiota, causing inflammation and infections. Confirmation in a Portuguese study
Those who mainly consume foods low in fiber are much more exposed to the risk of intestinal inflammation and infections. This is because the reduced fiber content can cause a genetic alteration of the bacteria present in the intestine. This is confirmed by a recent study carried out by a team of Portuguese researchers from Gulbenkian Science Institute (IGC). Scientists have found that low fiber intake makes people's gut much more vulnerable because the "protective shield" that lines its walls is weakened.
Our gut is inhabited by a diverse community of microbes, the intestinal microbiota.- experts explain - This community, made up of hundreds of different species is essential for our health: it affects our immune system, protects us from infections and helps us digest food. However, many factors, such as medications, inflammatory responses to infections, and lifestyle can alter the composition of the microbiota and reduce its diversity, leading to disease.
Read also: Here are the signals your body sends you if you are deficient in fiber
The details of the study
The research, published in the scientific journal Cell Host & Microbe, was conducted on mice to evaluate the behavior of the bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, present in our intestinal microbiota.
Specifically, the researchers provided two different diets for rodents: one rich in vegetables but low in fat, the other with few vegetables but rich in ultra-processed foods, simple sugars and fats.
Bacteria in mice fed a low-fiber diet led to mutations that favored the degradation of intestinal mucus, showing that these microbes evolve and adapt based on the type of diet. reflect the subject's diet, these emerging mutations could be used as biomarkers of dietary differences between individuals.
The results that emerged underline that intestinal bacterial evolution represents an important mechanism involved in the formation of the microbiota and its consequences are not to be underestimated. Furthermore, the research points out that genetic alterations can also be caused by other factors, including the abuse of antibiotics or other major lifestyle changes.
The consequences of an unbalanced diet can be much more permanent than previously assumed because the diet not only affects the composition of the microbiota, but also leaves long-lasting genetic alterations in the gut microbes as well. - concludes Dr. Karina Xavier, who led the research - Although not addressed in this study, our results indicate that these alterations can be passed on to subsequent generations, with long-term consequences.
In short, all reasons to consume more fruit and vegetables and less ultra-processed foods!
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Fonte: Cell Host & Microbe /IGC
Read also:
- 7 Foods Surprisingly High in Fiber
- Eating 30 grams of fiber each day reduces the risk of diabetes and heart attack
- What is the right amount of fiber for weight loss?
