Here’s yet another reason to watch your sweets intake: A study at the University of Alberta revealed that sugar binges may increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and negatively impact your immune health.
Researchers found that mice had greater susceptibility to chemically induced colitis and more severe symptoms after only two days of a high-sugar diet compared with those eating a balanced diet. According to study leader Karen Madsen, results parallel the fact that many colitis patients struggle with IBD symptoms after making small diet changes, and that it’s all about gut bacteria and how foods affect them.
The high-sugar diet caused intestinal tissue damage and a defective immune response by the mice.
“Surprisingly, our study shows that short-term sugar consumption can have a detrimental impact, and so this idea that it’s OK to eat well all week and indulge in junk food on the weekend is flawed,” Madsen explains.
Once mice were fed good-bacteria foods, the symptoms subsided.
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