All calories are not created equal

Obesity currently affects four out of 10 Americans, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many weight-conscious consumers select their foods based on calorie content alone. But an unprecedented study reveals that contrary to popular belief, not all calories are created equal. ASU and AdventHealth researchers collaborated on the study that appeared in the journal Nature Communications and found that the body reacts differently to calories ingested from high-fiber whole foods versus processed foods.

The findings show that more processed foods, which are rapidly absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, provide more calories to the human body, leaving fewer calories for the gut microbiome. In contrast, highfiber whole foods make the full journey down the digestive tract to the large intestine, where they nourish the trillions of bacteria that constitute the gut microbiome.

The new data represent a promising step forward in understanding the complex relationship between diet, gut microbes and health, suggesting that adopting a fiber-rich diet could potentially combat obesity, promote metabolic health and improve general well-being.