Why are ultra-processed foods so addictive? Here’s what they do to your brain

“Ultra-processed foods affect the brain in a powerful way because they are designed to stimulate our reward system,” says Annie Davies, a functional medicine expert and clinical nutritionist at Body Fabulous Clinic. “They usually contain a combination of sugar, fat, salt and additives that cause a rapid release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and motivation.” 

Nowadays, most of us are lucky enough to have access to a wide range of different foods, but our brains haven’t caught up to that, leaving us with a massive dopamine rush when we reach for these foods, even if they might harm our overall health.

Over time, this rush starts to plateau, and this drives us even further into our cravings, Davies says. “The pleasure fades quickly,” she explains. “This makes the brain want even more, even when the body is not truly hungry; this is not about weak willpower, but how the brain responds to these foods.”

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