Appetite for Destruction
Eating too much and too often alters intestinal microbiome, upends metabolism
The gut microbiome is a dynamic community of over a thousand types of bacteria and other microorganisms that live predominantly in the intestines. These are the good guys — they help break down food, absorb minerals, and even influence mental health. Importantly, they also crowd out disease-causing “bad” bacteria.
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that our lifestyle choices directly impact our microbiome and scientists are beginning to draw tangible lines between imbalances in the gut flora and chronic disease.
According to microbiologist Amir Zarrinpar, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, how and when we eat are among these factors.
“It’s important to realize that the gut microbiome is constantly changing, not only based on what we’re eating, but also based on the time of day,” said Zarrinpar.
Zarrinpar led a team of researchers that analyzed the relationship between food intake and gut health through a new lens.
“Most researchers are getting snapshots of this constantly shifting environment, which makes it hard to understand what is going on in the gut,” explained Zarrinpar.
