Researchers say that western diets are good; it helps to improve fat digestion, absorption

Western diets are the much spoken about ones and with good reason. They are often high in fat and simple sugar, which are dietary no-nos. But according to a new study it may just change your opinion about it. Researchers from the Midwestern University in the US found that the fat and sugar content in it may actually promote the growth of bacteria in the small intestine that increases fat digestion and absorption.

Previous studies have highlighted the side effects of a Western diet and how it can cause colon cancer, aggravate prostate cancer and cause it to spread, lead to liver problems and damage your immune system. However, this new study showcases certain benefits to it.

The study, published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe, determined if microbes were required for digestion and absorption of fats. The researchers assessed which microbes were involved, and the role of diet-induced microbes on the digestion and uptake of fats. They conducted a series of experiments to demonstrate that mice reared germ-free (GF) are protected from diet-induced obesity and are unable to absorb fat compared to conventionally-raised mice, also known as specific pathogen free (SPF) mice.

When the germ-free animals are given small intestine microbiota from high fat conditions, they are able to absorb fat, said Kristina Martinez-Guryn, an assistant professor at Midwestern University. The findings suggest that these microbes facilitate production and secretion of digestive enzymes into the small bowel, Martinez-Guryn said. Those digestive enzymes break down dietary fat, enabling the rapid absorption of calorie-dense foods, the researchers said.

“Additional experiments showed that bacteria-derived bioactive products stimulate absorptive cells in the small intestine to package and transport fat for absorption. Therefore, bacteria in the small intestine orchestrate a series of events that allow the host to efficiently absorb fat. It is expected that these diet-microbe interactions can lead to overnutrition and obesity over time”, researchers said.