A high intake of fat is a source of cholesterol which can cause gallstones. Prof. Ari Fahrial Syam, MD, MMB, PhD, FACP, FACG explained that basically, foods containing cholesterol could be a source of calories, but if the amount is excessive, it can gather in the gallbladder. Cholesterol that accumulates in the gallbladder is initially like sand but eventually becomes a stone in the gallbladder.

Bile, produced by the liver and distributed throughout the body, is the body’s response when fat sources enter the body. If the body consumes fatty foods in large quantities, the bile also produced increases, and risks being accumulated in the gallbladder. Bile is generated to help digest fat in the body.

In addition, a high-fat diet can create an imbalance in the good microbiota. A high-fat diet will reduce Bacteroidetes levels and increase Firmicutes levels driving inflammation and obesity. Research shows that eating too much-saturated fat not only changes the community of good bacteria in the gut but also increases inflammatory markers.

The composition and proportions of the gut microbiota are related to human health. Disrupted intestinal microbiota balance can lead to enteric dysbacteriosis and various gastrointestinal and systemic diseases.

Too much fat in the digestive tract can also cause digestive problems like diarrhea, which occurs when unabsorbed fat collects in the small and large intestines, where water is drawn in and causes diarrhea. If it becomes chronic, diarrhea can lead to malnutrition because the body cannot absorb the nutrients it needs.

Source:

InfoSehat FKUI. (2022). Awas Gemar Makan Tinggi Lemak Picu Kolesterol Tinggi Hingga Batu Empedu. Retrieved 12 January 2023. From: https://fk.ui.ac.id/infosehat/awas-gemar-makan-tinggi-lemak-picu-kolesterol-tinggi-hingga-batu-empedu/

Gutsy by Nutrition. (2020). Why Fat Matters to Your Gut and General Health. Retrieved 12 January 2023. From: https://gutsybynutrition.com.au/gutsy-by-nutrition-blog/2020/8/18/why-fats-matter-to-your-gut-and-general-health

Zhang, M., & Yang, J. (2016). Effects of a high-fat diet on intestinal microbiota and gastrointestinal diseases. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 22(40), 8905-8909. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v22.i40.8905

Orlando Health. (2021). How Fat Affects Your GI Tract. Retrieved 12 January 2023. From:  https://www.orlandohealth.com/content-hub/how-fat-affects-your-gi-tract

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