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Study: Junk foods rewire brain structures linked to cravings

By avagrace // 2025-06-23

• A study of 30,000+ participants found that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) change brain structures linked to hunger, cravings and self-control, creating a cycle of increased consumption.
• UPFs loaded with artificial additives directly manipulate brain regions like the hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens, leading to inflammation and tissue degeneration.
• High UPF consumption correlates with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), suggesting body-wide inflammation that may impair decision-making and intensify cravings.
• Even in non-obese individuals, UPFs worsen blood sugar, cholesterol and brain function – indicating harm beyond weight gain.
• Researchers urge stricter food labeling, additive regulation and public education, emphasizing that reducing UPFs is critical for long-term brain and metabolic health.

The packaged snacks, frozen meals and sugary drinks lining grocery store shelves may be doing more than expanding waistlines – they could be rewiring the brain itself. A groundbreaking international study involving over 30,000 participants has found that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) alter critical brain structures responsible for hunger, cravings and self-control. Published in npj Metabolic Health and Disease in April, the research suggests these foods create a vicious cycle, making people crave more of the very products harming their health. With UPFs now accounting for nearly half of the average American diet, the findings raise urgent questions about food industry practices, public health policy and personal responsibility in an era of skyrocketing obesity and chronic disease. UPFs are not merely cooked or preserved. They are industrial concoctions stripped of natural nutrients and packed with artificial additives, emulsifiers and flavor enhancers. From chicken nuggets to breakfast cereals, these products dominate modern diets and are prized for their convenience and addictive taste. But the new study reveals a darker side to these empty foods. Their engineered irresistibility may stem from direct neurological manipulation. (Related: Global food policy is controlled by ultra-processed food giants Coke, Nestlé and Pepsi.)

How UPFs warp the brain

Using MRI scans and dietary data from the U.K. Biobank, the study authors examined brain structures in 33,654 middle-aged adults. They discovered troubling changes in regions like the hypothalamus (which regulates hunger) and the nucleus accumbens (a key player in the brain’s reward system). These areas showed signs of inflammation, reduced tissue density and abnormal water content markers of potential degeneration. Changes in the brain may also be explained by the ingredients, emulsifiers and other additives used to prepare ultra-processed foods. The study identified elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, in high UPF consumers. This inflammation didn't stop at the gut, however. It appeared to reach the brain – particularly the nucleus accumbens, where it may disrupt decision-making and amplify cravings. Researchers suspect additives in UPFs trigger this cascade, turning the body against itself. While UPFs are notorious for fueling weight gain, the study found their harm extends further. Even in participants without obesity, brain changes persisted alongside worsened blood sugar and cholesterol markers. This suggests UPFs damage health through multiple pathways: promoting overeating and directly impairing brain function. The shift toward UPFs mirrors the postwar explosion of industrial food production, marketed as symbols of progress. Yet today, they underpin epidemics of diabetes, heart disease and dementia. In the study, nearly half of participants' calories came from UPFs – a trend replicated worldwide, with some populations exceeding 56 percent UPF consumption. The study's lead author, Arsene Kanyamibwa of the University of Helsinki, urges action at all levels –clearer food labeling, stricter regulation of additives and public education. Kanyamibwa believes that the unhealthy effects of UPFs should be given more attention as part of personal food choices, food regulation and nutrition policy alike. But he also acknowledges nuance; not all processed foods are equal. The findings underscore a harrowing reality: UPFs may hijack the brain's wiring, making willpower alone an inadequate defense. Ultimately, reducing UPFs isn't just about dieting. It's about safeguarding the very organ that defines choice itself. Watch this video about how UPFs can pass as health food and what can be done. This video is from the 100% Clean Food Lifestyle channel on Brighteon.com.

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Packaged food and beverages in the U.S. are ultra-processed and ultra unhealthy. Most packaged food in American grocery stores is ultra-processed, study shows. Researchers link ultra-processed VEGAN food products to heart disease risk and early death. Common food additive in ultra-processed foods no longer considered safe by the European Food Safety Authority. Replace ultra-processed foods with these HEALTHY alternatives. Sources include:  StudyFinds.com Nature.com Med.news.am MedicalXpress.com Brighteon.com

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