Our weight is influenced not only by the calories we absorb, but also by the whole cluster of bacteria that always sits at the table with us. A growing body of research shows that the bacterial flora of overweight and obese people is different from that of lean people. What are the reasons for this? Here are 3 theories about the effects of bacteria on weight gain.

The menu of the average inhabitant of industrialized countries consists of 90% of what he eats and 10% of what his own bacteria serve every day. So you can say that every tenth dinner is "at the expense of the company". Nutrition for adults is a basic occupation for many of our bacteria. It is not indifferent what bacteria feed us - and it is absolutely not without significance what we eat. In other words: our weight is influenced not only by the calories we consume, but also by the whole cluster of bacteria that always sits at the table with us. Here are 3 theories about the effects of bacteria on gaining weight.

1. Overweight people have too many bacteria that break down carbohydrates efficiently

The first hypothesis is that a given gut flora contains too many bacteria that efficiently break down carbohydrates. The prevalence of this type of bacteria in the intestines of humans or animals is a source of problems. Lean mice simply excrete a certain fraction of unabsorbed calories - their fat relatives get rid of those calories too, but to a much lesser extent. From the same meals, their intestinal flora squeezes everything "to the last drop" and eagerly feeds you or your mouse. This mechanism would explain why some are overweight without eating more than others. It's just that their gut bacteria work more efficiently.

How is this possible? Bacteria can synthesize a variety of fatty acids from indigestible carbohydrates - bacteria that like vegetables produce acids for the local needs of the intestines and liver, while others specialize in acids with a wider range of uses that serve the entire body. That is why one banana will be less fattening than half a chocolate bar despite the same caloric content - plant-based carbohydrates are of interest to "local suppliers" of fatty acids rather than those bacteria that feed the entire body.organism.The results of studies show that the bacterial flora of overweight people is less varied and that certain groups of bacteria specialize in metabolizing carbohydrates predominate.However, weight gain must also be caused by other factors. The conducted experiments on mice resulted in even a sixty percent increase in the mass of the animals. Only the "feeding" bacteria cannot be responsible for such a jump. Therefore, in cases of high excess weight, researchers also took a closer look at another issue: inflammation.

2. Subclinical inflammation contributes to weight gain

There is a slightly increased amount of inflammatory markers in the blood of people affected by metabolic disorders such as overweight, diabetes or high cholesterol. Since their levels are not high enough to require treatment, as in the case of extensive wounds or sepsis, we call it "subclinical inflammation." And who if who, but bacteria with inflammation are well versed. There is a signal substance on their surface, which the body perceives as the command: "Light up!". In the case of injuries, the mechanism works perfectly, because inflammation allows the bacteria to be flushed out of the body and effectively combated. As long as the bacteria are in their place, that is, in the intestinal mucosa, no one is interested in their signaling substance. However, if our microbial mix leaves a lot to be desired and our food is too greasy, too many bacteria end up in the bloodstream. Our body then adjusts to function in conditions of mild inflammation, and in this situation some fat reserves for hard times will certainly not hurt. Bacterial signaling substances can also attach to the cells of individual organs and affect metabolism: in rodents and humans, they "stick" to the liver or directly to adipose tissue and force the accumulation of fat there. Their effect on the thyroid gland is also interesting - bacterial inflammatory substances make it difficult to work, which results in the production of less thyroid hormones. This, in turn, makes fat burning slower and less efficient. Unlike serious infections, which exhaust the body and make us lose weight, subclinical inflammation contributes to weight gain.

To further complicate the situation, let's add that the perpetrators of this condition are not only bacteria - other possible causes are hormonal disorders, excess estrogen, vitamin D deficiency, and excess gluten in the diet.

3. Gut bacteria affect one's appetitehost

Simply put, the attacks of wolf appetite that make us eat caramels in chocolate alternating with crackers at ten in the evening do not necessarily have to do with our rational "me", which can easily fill tax returns. It is not in the brain, but in the abdomen that there is a fraction of bacteria that loudly calls for a hamburger, because for the last three days we have been harassing her with our diet. And at the same time, she can do it in such a charming way that we can't say no to her.

To understand the meaning of this hypothesis, we need to take a closer look at the eating process. If we are left with a choice, we usually choose the dish we want the most. In turn, the feeling of satiety determines how much we want to eat. In theory, bacteria have ways of influencing both, both the craving for food and the feeling of being satiated. At present, we can only suspect that they also have something to say about our food preferences. It wouldn't be that stupid - after all, what and how much we eat is a matter of life and death for many of them. In the three million years they have evolved together, even simple bacteria have had enough time to adapt to the people with whom they share their fate. To create a craving for a certain type of food, you need to get into your brain. It is by no means simple. After all, the brain has a cover in the form of solid meninges. All the blood vessels in it are protected even more carefully. Only a few substances penetrate through all these safeguards, for example pure sugar, minerals, and all compounds as small and easily soluble in fats as the messenger substances. For example, nicotine has free access to the brain, which gives us a sense of satisfaction or relaxation, and at the same time greater clarity of mind.

Bacteria also produce substances that can break through the "grids" of blood vessels in the brain. These substances are, for example, tyrosine and tryptophan. These two amino acids are converted into dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Dopamine? Sure, it's instantly associated with the "pleasure center" of the brain. We have heard about serotonin more than once. Its deficiency accompanies depression, and abundance can cause a sense of satisfaction and drowsiness. Let us recall, for example, the last family Christmas dinner. After eating, many of us have probably taken a nap on the couch, full, lazy and fully satisfied with life.

The third theory is therefore:bacteria reward us for providing them with a solid amount of food . It is about having a very pleasant feelingmakes us like certain foods. Not only because of what it contains, but also because it stimulates the secretion of certain neurotransmitters. The same principle applies to the feeling of satiety. The results of many studies show that messenger substances that signal the feeling of satiety are produced in the body much more abundantly when we eat according to the needs of our bacteria. In order to satisfy them, we eat food that reaches the large intestine undigested. Meanwhile, neither pasta nor white bread, unfortunately, do not belong to this group of foods.

In general, there are two sources of satiety signals: the brain and the rest of the body. The whole process is quite complicated and can lead to various disturbances. Overweight people, for example, may have certain genes damaged, which in turn do not make them feel full. The egoistic brain theory, on the other hand, is based on the assumption that the brain is not getting enough from food, so it arbitrarily decides that it is still not full. However, not only our body and brain are dependent on food - our bacteria also want to be properly nourished. It may seem that their role is marginal - they are so small, all together weigh only two kilograms. What can such particles have to say? However, if we think about how many functions our gut flora has, it becomes clear that it too can express its wishes. After all, bacteria are the most important trainers of our immune system, they help us digestion, produce vitamins, and they masterfully detoxify moldy bread or medications we take. The list goes on, but it is enough to understand that bacteria also have a say as to whether or not we have eaten enough.

It is not yet clear if certain bacteria express different cravings. For example, if we do not eat sweets for a long time, we will not miss them so much after some time. Is this a sign that we are starving the bacterial fraction of chocolate and fruit jelly lovers? We can only speculate on this at the moment.

First of all, one should not imagine the functioning of the human body in terms of a simple cause-and-effect sequence. The brain, the rest of the body, bacteria, and food components interact in complex relationships. Understanding all these relationships will surely take us a long way. Bacteria, however, are much easier to manipulate than our brain or genes - which is why researchers are so interested in them. What the bacteria feed us does not only affect the build-upfatty tissue in the abdomen or hips, but also, for example, in the blood cholesterol level. This is truly revolutionary information: overweight and elevated cholesterol are closely related to the greatest he alth problems of our time - hypertension, atherosclerosis and diabetes.

This will be useful to you

The text comes from the book " Internal History. Intestines - the most fascinating organ of our body" by Giulia Enders(Feeria Publishing House). It is a very witty guide to the human digestive system. The author - a German doctor - illustratively discusses the structure and operation of the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine as well as the transport of food through all these places and the accompanying ailments. The next part of the book is devoted to gut bacteria and their effect on the functioning of other parts of the body.

"I am full of appreciation for the author and for how hilarious and simple she presented the operation of the intricate machine, which is our digestive system. Dr. Giulia Enders did something amazing - thanks to a humorous convention she broke the taboo of digestion and arrived with reliable medical knowledge under thatch. I hope there will be more such books to popularize medical topics "- wrote prof. dr hab. n. med. Adam Dziki, founder of the Society of Bowel Surgery.

The book is a bestseller in Germany, with over a million copies sold. Poradnikzdrowie.pl is its media patron. We recommend!

Important

Poradnikzdrowie.pl supports safe treatment and a dignified life of people suffering from obesity. This article does not contain discriminatory and stigmatizing content of people suffering from obesity.

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Obesity