Crave, Eat, Repeat: How Processed Foods Rewire Your Brain - AI Podcast

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Story at-a-glance

• Just five days of ultraprocessed food consumption disrupts brain insulin function and appetite regulation, even without weight gain or blood sugar changes
• Brain scans revealed damage persisted after returning to a normal diet and affected memory, decision-making and reward centers similarly to patterns seen in obesity
• Environmental cues like food marketing, smells and packaging train your brain to eat regardless of actual hunger, overriding natural satiety signals
• Ultraprocessed foods trigger dopamine pathways similar to addictive drugs, creating cravings even when you no longer enjoy the food
• Reclaiming healthy eating patterns requires removing ultraprocessed foods, eating whole foods mindfully and incorporating daily movement to regulate appetite