This Is Your Brain on Junk Food
Here are some effects ultra-processed foods may have on cravings, learning and mental health.
It probably comes as no surprise that diets high in ultra-processed foods or “junk” foods aren’t great for your body. These foods, often filled with a lot of calories, fat, carbs, sugar and sodium but with limited nutritional value, can make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. They may also raise your risk of health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. But ultra-processed foods may affect more than just your body – they may affect your brain, too.
Recent research suggests that ultra-processed foods can act like addictive substances, much in the same way as alcohol, nicotine or drugs such as cocaine. They may also affect how we learn and remember. Additionally, it is believed that eating too much ultra-processed food may affect how we feel and may even raise our risk for mental health problems.
What are ultra-processed foods?