JUNK SCIENCE FOOD STUFF DISORDER literally changes brain regions that control hunger and food cravings, making victims crave more and more – NaturalNews.com

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may be doing more than just expanding waistlines—they could be rewiring the brain itself. A recent study published in Nature has uncovered a troubling link between high UPF consumption and structural brain changes that influence hunger, motivation, and food cravings.

By analyzing brain scans from nearly 30,000 middle-aged adults, researchers found that greater intake of UPFs was associated with physical alterations in areas of the brain involved in regulating eating behavior. These changes may create a feedback loop that drives compulsive overeating.

Beyond the brain, high UPF consumption was also linked to systemic inflammation and elevated metabolic risk markers, suggesting that the effects of these heavily processed foods reach deeper into overall health than previously understood.

• A large-scale study published in Nature found that consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is linked to structural changes in key brain regions that regulate hunger, cravings, and motivation, potentially creating a cycle of compulsive overeating.
• Researchers discovered that high UPF intake correlates with increased brain inflammation and elevated metabolic risk markers like CRP, triglycerides, and HbA1c—known indicators of chronic disease.
• Experts highlight that UPFs, engineered to be “hyper-palatable” through combinations of sugar, salt, and fat, can overstimulate the brain’s dopamine pathways, similar to addictive drugs, disrupting appetite control and promoting cravings.
• Additives like emulsifiers in UPFs may impact brain health independently of obesity by altering neurotransmitters, increasing neuroinflammation, and disrupting gut microbiota—suggesting UPF risks go beyond simple calorie counts.

Study published in Nature found significant link between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and structural changes in the brain

A recent study published in Nature has found a significant link between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and structural changes in the brain that may drive overeating. The research analyzed brain scans from nearly 30,000 middle-aged adults and discovered that higher UPF intake was associated with physical alterations in brain areas responsible for hunger, motivation, and food cravings.

Specifically, the study identified increased thickness in the bilateral lateral occipital cortex, a region involved in visual processing, as well as changes in the hypothalamus, amygdala, and right nucleus accumbens—key areas that regulate feeding behavior and emotional responses to food. These findings suggest that UPFs might create a neurological feedback loop that promotes compulsive eating habits.

In addition to structural brain changes, researchers found that high UPF consumption was correlated with increased systemic inflammation and elevated levels of metabolic risk markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), triglycerides, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). These biomarkers are well-known indicators of chronic disease risk and suggest that the impact of UPFs may extend beyond obesity and into broader metabolic and neurological dysfunction.

Experts like Dr. Joseph Mercola, who was not involved in the study, noted that the results support earlier research showing that UPFs can disrupt insulin signaling in the brain—a key process for energy regulation and appetite control. Since the brain consumes about 20% of the body’s energy, impairments in glucose delivery can lead to dysfunctional hunger signaling and impaired satiety, causing people to overeat.

Mercola also emphasized that UPFs are engineered to be “hyper-palatable” through carefully balanced combinations of sugar, salt, and fat, which overstimulate dopamine reward pathways much like addictive drugs, reinforcing cravings and making it harder for individuals to regulate food intake.

The study further explored how certain additives in UPFs—such as emulsifiers—might influence the brain independently of obesity by disrupting neurotransmitter activity, contributing to neuroinflammation, and altering gut microbiota. These effects highlight that the dangers of UPFs go beyond calorie content and point to deeper biochemical and neurological consequences.

Registered dietitian Avery Zenker supported the findings, stressing that not all calories are equal. She explained that the type of food we consume plays a significant role in regulating appetite and food behavior. For individuals who feel a loss of control around UPFs, this research offers validation that such responses may be biologically driven, not simply a matter of willpower.

While the study showed strong associations, the researchers acknowledged limitations, including the inability to prove direct causation. Nonetheless, they argue that the mounting evidence linking UPFs to health and brain issues should prompt regulatory reform in food manufacturing to protect public health.

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Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Nature.com

TheEpochTimes.com