The quantity and type of food we eat and the consistency with which we follow a healthy diet are key factors influencing human health, a new study using artificial intelligence reveals.
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne say what food we eat and how regularly we eat it are the most critical factors in determining gut health.
Studies routinely link diets that are rich in fibre, fruits, vegetables, and nuts to higher gut microbe diversity and better digestive health.
Gut microbes are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that inhabit our digestive system. Some support health while others can be harmful.
The new research, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows, for the first time, that consistency in following a healthy diet is as vital for gut health as the type or quantity of food we eat.
The study, driven by AI analysis, suggests that regularly eating fruits, vegetables and grains is crucial for developing a healthy gut microbiota. “This research clearly shows that you cannot binge on vegetables on your healthy day and then eat in an unhealthy way for the rest of the week or month,” Marcel Salathé, one author of the study, said.
“In fact, our study suggests that irregular consumption of healthy foods undoes many of their beneficial effects on the gut microbiota. This is a real incentive for future studies to not just look at what people are eating but the patterns of what they’re eating over time.”