UPFs trigger systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, independent of weight gain.
Processed foods hijack dopamine pathways, reinforcing cravings and overeating.
MRI scans reveal cellular damage in brain regions controlling appetite.
Stricter food regulations and public awareness are needed to curb UPF-driven health crises.
A groundbreaking study analyzing brain scans of nearly 30,000 people has uncovered alarming links between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and measurable structural changes in the brain. Published in NPJ Metabolic Health and Disease, the research—conducted by an international team from the University of Helsinki and McGill University—reveals that UPFs may rewire neural circuits involved in hunger, reward processing and impulse control. These changes could trap individuals in a vicious cycle of overeating, metabolic dysfunction and inflammation, regardless of obesity status.
Using MRI data from the UK Biobank, researchers identified disturbing alterations in key brain regions—including the hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens and amygdala—among high UPF consumers. Even small dietary shifts (just 10% more UPFs daily) correlated with measurable brain changes, equivalent to eating two extra chicken nuggets per day....<<<Read More>>>...
