Latest news with #TheWalterandElizaHallInstituteofMedicalResearch
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Cheat meals taste so good — new evidence suggests they are so bad for your body
So much for weekends of caloric abandon. New research confirms that just two days of eating a high-fat diet can compromise critical immune cells in the gut and weaken the intestinal barrier, suggesting the impact of our daily dietary choices is more immediate than previously believed. 3 Consuming a high-fat diet led to the rapid suppression of specialized immune cells in lab mice. Home-stock – Advertisement Published this month in the journal Immunity, the research followed mice fed a regular diet, a high-fat diet and specialized diets enriched with saturated and unsaturated fats. The high-fat diet led to the rapid suppression of specialized immune cells called ILC3s, which produce a protective substance called interleukin-22 (IL-22). This suppression is disastrous for the digestive system. Within the gut, IL-22 typically shields the intestinal barrier by generating protective elements that prevent bacteria, toxins, undigested food particles and inflammatory pathogens from breaching the bloodstream. Advertisement When a high-fat diet limits the production of IL-22, that intestinal barrier becomes more permeable, a condition known, inelegantly, as 'leaky gut.' While not a formal diagnosis, leaky gut is known to cause bloating, constipation, indigestion, acid reflux and potentially intestinal pain. What's worse, when toxins leak beyond the gut, they trigger widespread inflammation, leading to issues like skin problems, brain fog, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular stress and even fertility challenges. Advertisement 'The more saturated fats we eat, the more inflammation that builds up,' said study author Cyril Seillet from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Australia. 'This inflammation build-up is initially silent, remaining hidden in our bodies until years later, where it can present as chronic inflammation.' Seillet and his team discovered that different fats have wildly different effects on overall gut health. They found that unsaturated fatty acids, found in olive oil and avocados, helped support normal IL-22 production and gut barrier function. 3 The study authors discovered that different fats have wildly different effects on overall gut health. Cell Press Advertisement In contrast, saturated fatty acids, present in palm oil, butter and fatty animal meat, deliver a one-two punch by seriously hindering immune cell function and increasing intestinal inflammation. After just two days on high-fat diets, researchers observed that certain subtypes of ILC3 immune cells already exhibited reduced IL-22 production. A week into the high-fat diet, all ILC3 subtypes were compromised. Further, within a week on the high-fat diet, the gut microbiome had rapidly shifted, exhibiting a decline in beneficial bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids and a proliferation of harmful bacteria. Using specialized equipment, the research team discerned that one week on a high-fat diet correlated to 'leakier' mice intestines, a permeability that allowed more potentially dangerous substances to pass through. There is a bit of silver (intestinal) lining to be found in this latest batch of research — the gut-compromising consequences of a high-fat diet aren't permanent. The research team found that after resuming a regular diet, gut function improved after just two days and returned to normal after seven days. This quick correction suggests dietary interventions could rapidly restore gut health. 3 Blessedly, researchers found that the gut-compromising consequences of a high-fat diet aren't permanent. littlepigpower – Advertisement In addition, researchers found that saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are processed in entirely different ways. Saturated fats are processed through a pathway called fatty acid oxidation, which impairs immune function, while unsaturated fats like oleic acid form protective lipid droplets in the cells, helping to maintain proper immune responses. To demonstrate how the processing of these fats influences intestinal inflammation, the research team induced colitis in the mice. The mice fed saturated fats showed greater tissue damage than those that ate unsaturated fats or adhered to a regular diet. Advertisement Results were similar when the team exposed isolated human immune cells to different fatty acids. Essentially, unsaturated fats support immune function while saturated fats suppress IL-22 production. Researchers believe these rapid and profound changes in gut health could explain why people experience digestive discomfort when they veer from their regular diets during the holidays or on vacation. Conversely, these results serve to explain why diets rich in olive oil and unsaturated fats, such as the lauded Mediterranean diet, are associated with lower levels of inflammation and improved gut health. Advertisement How important is gut health? Research reports that Parkinson's disease may begin in the gut. A 2022 study from New York's Clarkson University even found a possible link between a person's gut health and personality.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Guts don't lie: Study explains how a weekend of cheat meals can lead to leaky gut
Cheat meals do not take years or months to show an impact on our gut health, as previously thought. According to a new study, published in the journal Immunity and led by Cyril Seillet, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, even a weekend of high fatty foods can disable immune cells that help in protecting the intestinal carrier. Also read | Study links cheat meals with these different eating disorders in women, men, transgender, others The study, published on May 13, 2025, was conducted on mice who were fed different kinds of meals to understand the impact of fatty foods on their gut. Some mice were fed chow, while others were fed food items with 36 percent or 60 percent fat content. The researchers observed that after a few days of high fat consumption, their gut health demonstrated damage. Study author Cyril Seillet from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, in a statement said, 'The more saturated fats we eat, the more inflammation that builds up. But this inflammation build-up is initially silent, remaining hidden in our bodies until years later, where it can present as chronic inflammation.' The researchers observed that consuming a high fat diet suppresses specialised immune cells called ILC3s. This in turn produces a crucial protective substance called interleukin-22. Interleukin-22 helps in maintaining the intestinal barrier by producing antimicrobial peptides, mucus, and tight-junction proteins. These components prevent harmful bacteria and toxins from getting inside the bloodstream. But when IL-22 production is suppressed by high fat diet consumption, the gut becomes permeable. This condition is referred to as the leaky gut. Also read | All about Neeraj Chopra's diet: From snacks to cheat meals to fitness routine, know how the Olympian keeps fit This study further explains why people experience digestive discomfort shortly after having a high-fat meal. This also explains why Mediterranean diets rich in olive oil and other sources of unsaturated fats are known for having long-term health benefits for gut health and can lower inflammation. The effects do not take years to show; it can provide instant intestinal comfort. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
