A study from the University of Colorado Boulder showed that high-fat foods can disrupt gut bacteria, change behavior and increase anxiety due to the gut-brain connection.
EXPERIMENT WAS DONE ON MICE
Professor Christopher Lowry and his team conducted an experiment on adolescent mice to understand the effects of high-fat diets. The first group of mice, divided into two groups, was fed a standard diet containing about 11 percent fat, while the other group was fed a high-fat diet containing 45 percent fat, consisting of saturated animal fats.
RELATED TO STRESS AND ANXIETY
The researchers monitored the mice’s gut bacteria through fecal samples for nine weeks and evaluated their behavior. As a result of the research, it was determined that mice fed high-fat diets gained more weight compared to the control group. Mice fed the high-fat diet were observed to have higher expression of three genes involved in serotonin production and signaling, especially in the brainstem region known as the dorsal raphe nucleus. It has been stated that this area is associated with stress and anxiety.
IT NEGATIVELY AFFECTS THE HUMAN BODY
Scientists explained that this study reveals the complex relationship between diet, gut health and mind. It has been reported that foods high in carbohydrates and fats, although they provide short-term comfort, cause anxiety and depression, and their long-term effects on general health negatively affect the human body.
Experts stated that choosing a balanced diet is important to protect both physical and mental health, and also reported that foods containing unhealthy fats are associated with chronic diseases. It was also stated that such foods, in addition to affecting intestinal health and anxiety, can cause inflammation in the body.