A growing body of research shows that junk and processed foods can affect the brain and lead to addiction.
Children (and adults) love junk food
According to a recent survey more than half of young and very young people (55.3%) feel attracted to snacks, snacks, drinks and soft drinks, and 75.8% prefer unhealthy foods. Of the parents, they say they follow and support the Mediterranean diet. It’s not just the taste, it’s also the effect these foods have on the body and mind.
Is the food bad?
In addition to making these foods attractive through packaging, advertising, mascots and advice, the ingredients can also have additional effects. For some time now, the salt, additives, sugar and fat found especially in overly processed foods can irritate the palate and leave us wanting more. A few months ago, a study conducted in the United States over five years concluded that junk food causes addiction to cigarettes and drugs such as cocaine.
Education: Junk food is as addictive as cigarettes and drugs
As the New York Times reported, overly processed foods are often “cheap, convenient and delicious.” They have made a lot of money from the food industry, but in the end, for many people, they are not only appealing but also addictive. Certain receptors produce dopamine. This is the happiness hormone that makes people want to be happy, but when its effects occur, they cause discomfort. This can lead to a vicious cycle of constant pleasure, like drug or cigarette use.
The dopamine effect of junk food
A study published in the British Medical Journal found that 14% of adults and 12% of children showed signs of addiction to ultra-processed foods after analyzing 281 studies conducted in 36 different countries. To analyze the effects of these foods, researchers used the Yale Food Addiction Scale, which is used in the scientific community to measure addiction. However, the results of this study raised questions in the scientific community.
What are processed foods? “When we clarify what we’re talking about, whether it’s supplements or the market for nutrients, there’s certainly a lot of work that goes into it.
Sugar, chocolate and fat: how much do you need?
“Sugar and chocolate are two foods that are often demonized. In the first case, for example, we know that it is rich in tryptophan, which stimulates the central nervous system, and that if it is not really addictive, it will at least have a pleasurable effect. But chocolate itself should not be demonized and should not contain sugar: Our brain eats glucose, which is essential for red blood cells, but it is clear that too much of it is harmful. The same goes for fats, which can cause mild pain when consumed in large quantities. But we must not forget that 25-30% of all calories are needed, or twice as much as protein,” Piretta observes.
Cravings: How to get rid of them
A psychology professor at the University of Michigan, explained to the Times that the “salt, thickeners, sweeteners and other additives” in processed foods manipulate things like texture and mouthfeel, comparing them to cigarettes. Experts say to avoid side effects, reduce your intake enough and stick to natural fats. Piretta agrees: “If we follow the Mediterranean diet, we’ll never have the problem of ‘moderation’ of overly processed foods.”
