According to science, this diet can increase your risk of gastrointestinal cancers.
You may need to make some dietary changes if you want to protect your gut.
You're probably already thinking about how your eating habits affect your heart and blood pressure, but the effects of what you eat on your general health are more extensive than you may realize. Your nutrition can have an impact on your sleep patterns, brain health, and even sex drive. According to new research, consuming a high-fat, high-sugar diet over an extended length of time puts you at risk for gastrointestinal cancer.
Researchers examined 27,000 intestinal cells from mice, some of which were fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet meant to imitate the western diet, and others who were fed a control diet, according to the study published in the journal Nature Metabolism. The researchers discovered that the stem cells in the intestines of mice fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet divided more rapidly, adding that this rapid division can promote the development and growth of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. In summary, the mice ate a typical western-style diet, which caused their gut stem cells to divide more quickly, perhaps putting them at risk for certain cancers.
According to Yale Medicine, GI cancer refers to various cancers that affect the gastrointestinal tract, including esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer, among others. While this study was done on mice, the findings suggest that modifying your diet could help you avoid these harmful diseases.
Colleen D. Webb, MS, RDN, a nutritionist specializing in gastrointestinal health, said, "When we eat, we're not just feeding ourselves—we're nourishing the trillions of microbes living inside of our guts, known as the gut microbiota." "This 'forgotten organ' has a major impact on GI health and plays a key role in disease development and progression, with effects which extend well beyond gut. Diets rich in whole or minimally processed plants, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, are the ideal for healthy gut microbiota."