Burgers and ready meals kill off good bacteria vital to gut health, says study

JUNK food kills the bugs in our gut that keep us healthy, according to new research.

Burgers, sausage rolls, ready meals and fizzy drinks trigger inflammation and drive “good bacteria” from the intestine’s microbiome.

And that increases the risk of developing a host of potentially deadly conditions ranging from obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer to Alzheimer’s.

The findings are based on a food frequency survey of 1,425 people.

Processed products including meats, chips, mayonnaise and soft drinks were associated with harmful bacteria across all participants

Corresponding author Professor Rinse Weersma said: “In the absence of fibre, they turn to the mucus layer of the gut to feed off, leading to an erosion of the integrity of the gut.”

Eating plenty of fruit, vegetables and oily fish such as salmon and mackerel had the opposite effect.

A Mediterranean diet dampens inflammation, the Dutch team said.

Processed and animal-derived foods were consistently linked with species of bacteria that increase inflammation.

Nuts, oily fish, fruit, vegetables and cereals, on the other hand, boosted “friendly” types that combat it.

Prof Weersma, of the University of Groningen, said: “These bacteria are known for their antiinflammatory effects in the intestine through fermentation of fibre.

“A dietary pattern that is traditionally high in these foods is the Mediterranean diet which has been linked to a lower Ibd-risk.”

They are rich in healthy fats that protect the gut lining. Red wine, coffee, buttermilk and yoghurt had a similar affect.

Prof Weersma said: “Accumulating literature demonstrates an anti-inflammatory role of polyphenol-rich foods such as coffee, tea, red wine and fruit.”

Red wine has been been shownto reduce inflammation and cholesterol levels.