If you’re in the habit of frequently eating fast food or junk food, then facing stomach-related issues shouldn’t come as a surprise. A new medical study has revealed that diets high in fat and salt have immediate and negative effects on stomach health.
Published in the journal Immunity, the study found that consuming fast food even a few times can increase inflammation in the body, which may eventually develop into a chronic condition. This is the first study of its kind to scientifically demonstrate how quickly fast food can negatively impact stomach health.
According to researchers, the findings highlight how directly our diet affects our stomach. In particular, foods rich in fat elevate inflammation levels, weaken the stomach’s natural defenses, and increase the risk of chronic inflammation.
Experts noted that the inflammation initially builds up silently, with symptoms often appearing years later. During the research, scientists conducted experiments on mice and observed that even limited intake of high-fat food begins to affect the stomach’s condition.
The study also discovered that such diets reduce the production of an important protein called IL-22 in the stomach, which plays a key role in controlling inflammation.
Researchers believe these findings will help raise awareness among people and make it easier for them to adopt healthier dietary habits.