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The effects of a low fiber diet could be irreversible and hereditary
Comparing ourselves with previous generations, especially with our grandparents, many of us end up blaming the current health problems on a number of differentiating factors: the increasing level of stress, the hectic lifestyle and poor nutrition. A recent study conducted by researchers from the American Universities of Stanford, Harvard and Princeton supports part of this hypothesis, showing that a modern diet, low in fibers contributes to reducing the number of beneficial microorganisms in the human colon, creating irreversible and hereditary damage. Read on to find out what should not be missing from your diet and that of your family.
It’s no secret that current diets include high-fat, low-fiber, low-fat, complex carbohydrates, which break down in the colon. studied the evolution of the intestinal microbiome of 10 guinea pigs. Thus, for 6 weeks, the laboratory mice – extremely similar in terms of the body to humans – were fed complex carbohydrates, rich in fiber, and then were divided into two groups: one control, who received the same high-fiber diet throughout the study and drastically reduced the amount of fiber ingested. Although, at first, the structure of beneficial microorganisms in the colon was the same for both groups, over time, guinea pigs that received less fiber began to show changes in the intestinal microbiome, which became poorer in beneficial microorganisms. Even after returning to a high-fiber diet, these guinea pigs remained different from the control group, showing that poor nutrition affects our body in the long run, even after changing negative eating habits.
Furthermore, in order to show to what extent the change in diet contributed to the reduction of beneficial microorganisms, the study measured the number of taxonomic units in the colon and found that in the case of guinea pigs that underwent dietary changes, their number decreased by 60% ( from 208 to 84), compared to only 11% in the case of guinea pigs that had not registered food changes. The resumption of a high-fiber diet has helped the guinea pig population to recover from the loss of taxonomic units, bringing the percentage to 33%, but at the same time showing that low-fiber diets leave major scars on the microbiome, which affects us both. as well as future generations.
What can we do to make sure we stay healthy? Researchers are encouraged to switch from simple, high-carbohydrate to fiber-based diets and recommend eating foods such as artichokes, avocados, beans, pears, broccoli, lentils, and more. However, in the context of the current lifestyle, specialists know that it is impossible to take the whole amount of fiber from our diet and, therefore, recommend fiber-based supplements. Of these, Sinergin, the prebiotic that combines 10 grams of inulin and oligofructose, is the perfect choice for people who want to keep their colon happy, and their weight and blood pressure under control.