The consumption of ultra-processed foods For many, it is an ideal option in the case of not having time to cook or simply because it is something they don’t like to do. The problem is that science recently issued an alert what points to the risk that exists between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and structural changes in the brain that cause us to eat even more. As if it were a true ‘vicious circle’ from which it is very difficult to escape.
The study. Using data extracted from brain scans Of almost 30,000 middle-aged participants, the team of scientists has seen the relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and markers of adiposity, inflammation, or metabolism. But what interests us in this case, above all, are the modifications in brain structure.
For this they used the data from UK Biobankmaking the average intake of ultra-processed foods among those studied 46% of the energy consumed in an entire day. But what was also interesting is that the scans measured cortical thickness, the integrity of the white matter and the microstructure of deep areas related to feeding.
Changes in the brain. High consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with changes in brain regions that play an important role in controlling appetite and the reward effectespecially the nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, putamen and amygdala.
The fact that it alters nucleus accumbens It is related to the reduction of neurons and an increase in extracellular space that is compatible with the processes associated with overeating and food addiction. But in addition, the study found that part of these changes were mediated by systemic inflammation and metabolic imbalances.
An addictive loop. Although part of the effect involves increased adiposity and inflammation, the analysis suggests direct mechanisms on brain areas that regulate compulsive eating behaviors. Specifically, the brain changes associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods could reinforce patterns of seeking out and excessive consumption of these same products, creating a loop that perpetuates eating the same thing.
This fits quite well within clinical theories about the addictive nature of some processes and their ability to “hijack” brain circuits, reward. These circuits are what generate the pleasure that opens the door for us to have an addiction to the ‘stimulus’ that presses that pleasure button that we have in the brain.
There are exceptions. Obviously, not all ultra-processed foods are the same. The research clearly differentiates between processed foods. There are some that are clearly positive, such as frozen vegetables, but others are negative, these being those that have industrial addictives and chemically modified compounds.
Specifically, it has been seen how the harmful effects are strongly linked to additives such as emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners and other compounds that promote the intestinal inflammation that we hate so much, impacting the brain directly. And we already know that attacking the microbiota of our intestine has consequences that are increasingly important.
Public health. The conclusions of the study reinforce the growing consensus in the scientific literature on the impact of ultra-processed foods on health. The accumulated evidence points to the importance of reducing its consumption and moving towards stricter regulations on the composition and also the advertising that is being done.
The authors of the study point to the need to reduce the intake of ultra-processed foods and strengthen standards within the industry to improve the health of all citizens. Something that also has an impact on them having less contact with the doctor and that can liberalize services.
Reprogramming brains. Faced with the question of whether ‘ultraprocessing’ reprograms our brain, there is still a long way to go to analyze the different pathways that exist. But clearly we are facing a first step in understanding food addiction.
Images | Kobby Mendez Shelley Evans
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