Eating steak and fries for dinner could make you ANXIOUS

A palm-sized dinner of steak and fries could increase stress and raise your risk of anxiety, a new study has found.

Researchers at the University of Colorado tested mice fed either an average diet or one in which almost half of their daily calories came from fat in junk food.

They found that the latter group had more active genes known to alter levels of the “feel good” neurotransmitter serotonin, which directly impacts heightened anxiety in the mice.

People who ate a diet higher in fat also had a lower diversity of gut bacteria, which are known to aid digestion and nutrient absorption and are good for overall health.

The fat found in burgers, steaks and fries not only increases the risk of obesity, but is also known to damage the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart and is strongly linked to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, digestive problems and diabetes.

The mice were followed for nine weeks and split into two groups: one group ate a diet that was 11 percent fat, and the other group ate a diet that was 45 percent fat, mostly saturated fat found in red meat.

The researchers collected fecal samples and then, nine weeks later, investigated how the diet affected the mice’s behavior by dropping them into an escape maze, placing them in boxes separated by bright light and darkness (more time spent in darkness indicates more anxious behavior), and in an open field to measure their exploration and reactions to new environments.

The researchers then injected mice with short strands of DNA that complemented specific gene sequences to better understand how genes involved in serotonin levels are activated.

By measuring the expression levels of genes, researchers can learn how changes in genes affect serotonin function.

Not only did the group on the high-fat diet gain weight, they also had higher expression of three genes (tph2, htr1a, and slc6a4) involved in the production and signaling of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is involved in both anxiety and depression.

These genes were particularly active in areas of the brainstem associated with stress and anxiety, suggesting that their higher expression may be associated with elevated levels of these emotions.

The average American’s diet is made up of about 36 percent fat, consuming about 80 to 120 grams of fat per day. Most of this daily fat intake can be achieved by eating a bowl of fries and one 8-ounce ribeye steak.

Click here to resize this module

The recommended intake of 2,000 to 3,000 calories for the average American male weighing about 200 pounds should come from macronutrients including 45 to 65 percent carbohydrates, 10 to 35 percent protein, and 20 to 35 percent fat.

For the average American woman weighing about 170 pounds, it’s recommended that she consume about 2,000 calories per day with a similar macronutrient breakdown.

The recommended fat intake is lower than the average chow and the 45 percent fat diet fed to mice.

“It’s surprising to think that a high-fat diet alone would change the expression of these genes in the brain,” said Dr. Christopher Rowley, a professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder.

“The high-fat group’s brains essentially had the molecular signature of a heightened state of anxiety.”

Scientists don’t fully understand how a high-fat diet affects anxiety-related behaviors, but changes in the gut-brain connection are thought to be key.

The brain’s serotonin system is important for regulating emotions such as anxiety. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) is the brain’s main source of serotonin, and its serotonin pathways influence a variety of emotional behaviors and thought processes.

Activation of serotonin-producing neurons in certain parts of the DR can increase anxiety-like responses.

The findings, published in the journal Biological ResearchThese results suggest that the high-fat diet affected gut microbiota diversity and community composition throughout the 9-week dietary treatment.

The gut microbiota plays an important role in health and disease, including anxiety, in both experimental models and humans.

Dr Rowley said: “We all know these are not healthy foods, but we tend to think of them only in terms of making us gain a little weight.”

“When you understand that they also affect the brain in ways that contribute to anxiety, the danger becomes even greater.”

The gut microbiota is dominated by two types of bacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroides. Research results showed that mice fed a high-fat diet had an increased Firmicutes/Bacteroides (F/B) ratio.

A high ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteriodetes bacteria is associated with a typical Western diet and high rates of obesity.

When the growth of Firmicutes outweighs the growth of Bacteroidetes, the efficiency of nutrient extraction from food decreases, leading to weight gain.

A high ratio also affects your metabolism and the way food is stored as fat, leading to more fat storage in the body.