Research published in the journal “nature medicine” has shown that a high fibre diet can reduce inflammation in the lungs. It was shown that the nutrients absorbed in the gut due to the extra fibre altered the immune system. The researchers showed that due to the shift in eating processed foods we all eat due to convenience has led to an increase in developing asthma.
The airways in an asthma sufferers show that their airways are more sensitive to irritation and are more likely to be inflamed this leads to a narrowing of the airways and makes it harder for them to breathe.
The researchers found that the human cell count is more than out numbered by the trillions and trillions of microbes found both in the gut and on the gut.
The evidence found showed that the bacteria found in the gut have a huge impact on health. The researchers at the university of Lausanne in Switzerland showed that both high fibre and low fibre diets alter the types of bacteria that live in the gut.
Bacteria in the gut are able to consume soluble fibre, the type found in fruit and vegetables this leads to the production of short chain fatty acids, this type of fatty acid is absorbed into the blood.
These fatty acids acted as a signal to the immune system and resulted in the lungs being more resistant to irritation.
When a low fibre diet was consumed the researchers found the opposite effect and the subjects became more vulnerable to asthma.
More research is being conducted and a shift to a high fibre diet is being thoroughly researched before pushing these findings to the general public.