Why are Humans So Easily Addicted to Processed Foods?

It's How We are Designed

In the past, humans ate whatever food was available. When a food was in season, humans would eat it all because it wouldn’t be available again for a year. As a result, humans are conditioned to eat all of whatever is available.

We are also designed to eat the most calorie-dense foods we can find. So, if there is a choice between fatty salmon or grass, our brains urgently directed us to eat the salmon. This is a crucial survival behavior. This is called a craving, and it’s a perfectly normal part of our perfect brains.

When food is scarce, this survival mechanism works great. Our ancestors survived famines, and now here we are with the genes we need to survive shortages and famines too.

So What's the Problem?

The problem today is that we don’t experience a lot of food shortage or famine. 

In today’s world, the processed food industry has actually used these natural human mechanisms for their own profit.

Through repeated exposure to cues and the addictive formulation of processed foods, the food industry has made us hyper-reactive to calorie-dense foods.

A hyper-reactive human brain produces loads of addictive neurotransmitters when processed foods are available. This explosion of neurotransmitters drains the energy from the rest of the brain and we can’t make decisions or remember why overeating is a bad idea. Neither can we exercise restraint. 

What If I Don't Have a "Food Problem?"

Even if we don’t experience hyper-reactive brains, eating a diet filled with processed foods can lead to many diet-related diseases such as obesity, depression, anxiety, irritability, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, autoimmune disease, ADD, dementia, and skin problems. 

It’s wise to protect yourself and your family from these diseases. 

How Can I Find Out More?

If you would like to learn more about the difference between healthy unprocessed foods and toxic processed foods, let’s set up a time to talk.