When feeling stressed, many people reach for comfort foods high in fat and sugar. However, a recent study from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that this coping mechanism may be counterproductive. Published in the journal Biological Research, the study found that in animals, a high-fat diet can disrupt gut bacteria, alter behavior, and affect brain chemicals in ways that promote anxiety. The motivation for this study stems from the growing recognition of the gut-brain axis — a complex communication network linking the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. Researchers have become inc…