Articles

Common diets and their impact on gut microbiota

Complex carbohydrates have a big influence on the human gut microbiota. MAC or microbiota-accessible carbohydrates are carbohydrates that are resistant to digestion by the human body, and are made available for gut microbes, as prebiotics, to ferment or metabolize into beneficial compounds, such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The amount of carbohydrates accessible to gut microbes is affected by common dietary patterns that either increase, reduce or exclude specific nutrients.

The Western diet (high in animal protein and fat, low in MACs)

  • Leads to a decreased richness and diversity of total bacteria, especially beneficial Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Eubacteria
  • MAC restriction leads to the use of intestinal mucus as the main source of energy by gut microbes due to compromised gut barrier integrity and reduced production SCFAs

Keto diet, with carbohydrate consumption of less than 10% of total caloric intake

  • The preclinical effects of Keto diet on beneficial gut microbes seems to indicate an overall reduction in gut microbiota diversity
  • Further studies are needed for exploring the diet’s long-term safety

Low FODMAP diet is a frequent treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

  • The low-FODMAP diet may decrease beneficial bacteria including Bifidobacterium and Clostridium Cluster IV levels by limiting availability of fermentable carbohydrates
  • FODMAP restriction should be implemented in the short term, followed by reintroduction and personalization, with the support of medical professionals and dietary specialists

Mediterranean diet, characterized by greater vegetable intake vs animal protein

  • Shown to be the most adequate diet for preserving the diversity of gut microbes
  • Following the regular Mediterranean-like diet .
  • along with a prebiotic supplement may emerge as a potential dietary approach for improving abdominal pain and bloating
  • Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been related with increased levels of fecal SCFAs and Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Eubacteria, along with decreases in Clostridium
  • The diet’s beneficial impact on the gut microbiota could be explained by its capacity to improve lipid profile and inflammation

On the whole, sufficient inclusion of a variety of plant-based foods, rather than restrictive diets that exclude entire food groups, is the key to shaping high microbiota diversity.

Join the conversation at: https://www.facebook.com/gettcandorapp

Related Posts

indian thali

Revitalizing Digestion: Step-by-Step Strategies in an Indian Diet Guide for IBS Relief

Essential Guidelines for Following an Indian Low FODMAP IBS Diet – Embrace Probiotics: Make it a daily habit to incorporate probiotics into your diet to promote a healthy…

crohns vs ulcerative colitis

Crohn’s vs Ulcerative Colitis

What is Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and irritation in the digestive tract. Most commonly, Crohn’s affects the small intestine and the…

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – an overview

If you have been recently diagnosed with IBS, here’s everything you need to know about symptoms and potential triggers for the condition. In a gist, IBS is a…

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – potential treatment options and management strategies

The most common way is to manage one’s diet. It is helpful to keep track of food intake and any associated symptoms or flareups for a timeframe (4-6…

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – an overview

IBD is a complex disease which arises as a result of the interaction of environmental and genetic factors leading to immunological responses and inflammation in the intestine. IBD…

low fodmap diet

Low FODMAP Diet – origin, key takeaways and considerations

The FODMAP concept was first published in 2005 as part of a hypothesis paper. In this paper, it was proposed that a collective reduction in the dietary intake…