Cheeseburgers and other high fat foods can help fight off dangerous bacteria and stomach complaints, say Dutch scientists.


A study published in the USA’s Journal of Experimental Medicine shows that eating high fat foods may help ward off infection and soothe gut inflammations.


Eating fat-rich foods causes cells in the small intestine to produce a hormone called cholecystokinin, or CCK. According to researchers from the Netherlands’ Maastricht University fat-induced CCK lessens inflammation in the gut, as rats fed a high-fat diet were protected against lethal bacteria-induced shock whereas those fed a low-fat diet were not.


It suggests triggering CCK in patients might reduce inflammatory complications during the crucial post-op period.