Here\'s the reason why I\'m asking: I\'ve heard that it takes some time for pets
ID: 31012 • Letter: H
Question
Here's the reason why I'm asking: I've heard that it takes some time for pets(cats/dogs) to adjust to a different dry feed, where the new feed has to be mixed with the old one, slowly replacing the old one. I'm wandering if this advice has any truth in it, and if so, does this apply to humans as well?
For example, a cat eats the same kind of food for months at a time, but humans vary their diet much more dramatically. Are there any benefits to eating the same kind of food over extended period of time? I'm interested in knowing if the digestive system/symbiotic bacteria in the gut adapts to the food, resulting in better digestion/absorption of nutrients.
Explanation / Answer
I think it would depend on the benefits you are looking for.
If you ate the same thing everyday, it's possible your intestinal flora, and the rest of your GI tract would optimize themselves for maximal nutritional extraction. It is known that the flora in you GI do affect nutrition. I recall reading about obese patients who had gut-bacteria which made more nutrients available.
However, if you were in an environment where your diet could change unexpectedly, this optimization could actually be detrimental, since you wouldn't be ready to switch foods when necessary.