Researchers have highlighted that consuming junk food such as samosas or burgers during periods of stress can actually heighten feelings of anxiety, according to findings released on Monday.
When individuals are stressed, they often turn to calorie-dense foods for comfort.
A study conducted by scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder revealed that in animal models, a diet rich in fats disrupts the balance of gut bacteria, alters behavior, and affects brain chemicals in ways that exacerbate anxiety.
Christopher Lowry, the lead author and a professor of integrative physiology at CU Boulder, emphasized the profound impact of a high-fat diet on the expression of certain brain genes.
“The high-fat group essentially had the molecular signature of a high anxiety state in their brain,” Lowry added in the study published in the journal Biological Research.
Lowry further elaborated on their findings in the study published in the journal Biological Research, pointing out that animals consuming the high-fat diet not only gained weight but also showed reduced diversity in their gut bacteria compared to the control group.
Moreover, the high-fat diet group demonstrated increased activity of three genes responsible for the production and signaling of serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to stress and anxiety.
While serotonin is often recognized as a "feel-good brain chemical," certain serotonin neurons can trigger anxiety-like responses in animals when activated.
Lowry suggested a potential mechanism involving the gut microbiome, speculating that an unhealthy microbiome might compromise the gut lining, allowing bacteria to enter the body's circulation and communicate with the brain via the vagus nerve—a pathway from the gastrointestinal tract to the brain.
“If you think about human evolution, it makes sense,” Lowry said.
Reflecting on human evolution, Lowry remarked, “We are hard-wired to really notice things that make us sick so we can avoid those things in the future.”
The researchers clarified that not all fats are detrimental, noting that healthy fats found in foods such as fish, olive oil, nuts, and seeds can have anti-inflammatory properties and benefit brain health.
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