Junk food ‘kills be-slim bacteria’ but Belgian beer and coffee increase it

Junk food kills the gut bacteria that can help keep people thin, while Belgian beer and coffee increase them, a new book by a leading academic claims. Microbes that live in people’s bodies make up 90% of living cells and when disrupted could be a major cause of obesity, according to Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London. In a new book called The Diet Myth, he researched the links between microbes, food and health in an attempt to an gain insight into the burgeoning obesity crisis.

Feeding junk food to my son’s poor gut microbes - a massacre in the name of science. Burger diet reduces microbe diversity by 40% in a few days.

Prof Tim Spector, King’s College London

Prof Spector’s research also found sweeteners in diet fizzy drinks had adverse affects on metabolism, leading to weight gain, while fasting diets such as the 5:2 diet could benefit microbes and metabolism. But he found some elements were down to genetics, with a third of people naturally possessing microbes which prevented them getting fat, while genes even determined some people’s preference for salads, broccoli or garlic. A statement from the book’s publishers Weidenfeld and Nicolson said: “Only by understanding what makes our own personal microbes tick and interact with our bodies can we overcome the confusion of modern diets and nutrition to regain the correct balance of our ancestors.”

Health junk food and bacteria