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Due to this pandemic linked to Covid-19, we want more than ever to benefit our loved ones. Christmas and the New Year’s Day are ideal occasions to meet again. We’ll do our best to offer a delicious dinner with different meals, chocolate, alcohol, etc. Many factors that can disrupt the intestinal microbiota balance.
However, did you know that food is not the only cause of the imbalance of your gut bacteria? And that another of these reasons may be due to your environment?
During the holiday season, we make excesses with rich and alcoholic meals, and a late bedtime… It happens several times in order to draw out the festive period with all the family and friends. The intestinal microbiota, which is sensitive to changes can suffer but not only from these factors. A particular situation could amplify the phenomenon of dysbiosis: having time with the in-laws.
According to a clinical trial, eating the Christmas turkey in his in-laws causes stress that would be deleterious for the intestinal microbiota.
Slightly higher calorie intake
The researchers recruited 24 volunteers during the holiday season in order to see if there were any differences depending on the family environment:
- 16 saw their in-laws;
- 8 spent Christmas with their families.
The subjects’ stools were collected on December 23 and 27 to analyze the microbiota composition and the volunteers answered a questionnaire on their diet.
According to the results, alcohol consumption and macronutrient intake remained close between the two groups. A higher consumption of saturated fat and protein is observed in all subjects, explained by richer meals during the end of the holiday season. Nevertheless, researchers found a slightly higher overall calorie intake in people who attended a meal with their in-laws.
Therefore, spending Christmas time with your parents or in-laws has little impact on our diet.
Composition differences depending on a Christmas dinner with parents or in-laws
The stool analysis showed a significant difference in the composition of the gut microbiota between the two groups. A strong reduction in Ruminococcaceae bacteria has been observed in individuals eating in their in-laws. This family of bacteria decreases in subjects with chronic stress or suffering from depression. As a result, a meal with the in-laws can induce a high level of stress, reducing the presence of Ruminococcaceae in the intestines.
Microbiota changes are also observed in people who have eaten in their own family. This may be explained by some physical contact with our loved ones.
Although these results are interesting, we must remain clear about the limits of the study: the small population recruited, the individual factors (age, weight etc.), the pets’ presence, the meals composition, etc.
However, nothing prevents you from trying this argument to avoid the traditional Christmas meal in your in-laws!
LC
