Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The Role of Intestinal Bacteria in Obesity


Eating a diet high in sugar makes it hard to lose weight. High glycemic carbohydrates stimulate the production of insulin. And when insulin levels are high, you can't burn fat. That's why some experts call it the "fat storage hormone."
But that's not the only reason a high-sugar diet is associated with obesity. It can also alter the bacteria in your gut. This change makes it easier to gain weight and harder to lose it. And the effect can happen in just 24 hours.
Jeffrey Gordon, MD is one of the foremost experts on intestinal bacteria. He and his colleagues recently performed a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. It showed the clear connection between sugar consumption, intestinal bacteria and weight loss.
The Bacterial Connection to Obesity
Dr. Gordon had already established the connection between gut bacteria and obesity. His previous research showed that obese and lean people have different types of bacteria in their guts. The same is true in animals. Here's what he found.
Ninety percent of the microbes in your gut fall into two major classes, or phyla:
  • Firmicutes - this strain of bacteria is dominant in those who are obese
  • Bacteroidetes - this strain of bacteria are dominant in those who are lean.read on...

No comments:

Post a Comment