Junk Food Could Mess With What You're Craving

The weird way processed foods messes with your brain and body

August 29, 2014

You have access to tons of processed foods that are loaded with fat and sugar to make them more crave-able—and research has shown that the more junk food you eat, the more your body wants it and the less you're able to resist its allure. Now, new research published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology also reveals that a junk-filled diet may affect the way your brain experiences and regulates cravings.

Researchers say that past animal and human data indicates eating too many highly palatable, calorie-rich foods can alter how your brain perceives satiety and reward (this effect is has been observed across species). In this new study, rats were placed into two groups: The "chow" rats were given standard lab food to eat over the course of two weeks, while the "cafeteria" rats were given the chow in addition to commercially available processed foods like pies, cookies, and cakes. After eating junk food, researchers found the "cafeteria" rats no longer responded to satiety cues and no longer opted for variety in their diet. When they exposed the rats to only one of two flavored solutions and then gave them the option to drink either flavor, the rats on the "chow" diet consumed more of the flavor they hadn't yet had. (This is because, just as you might eat a piece of sweet fruit and no longer craving anything sugary, the rats no longer wanted the flavor that they'd already experienced.) On the other hand, after eating junk food, the "cafeteria" rats no longer responded to similar craving cues and drank the same amount of both solutions. This behavior was also seen a week after they took the rats off of the cafeteria diet, suggesting the effects of eating junk food may linger even after you've stopped consuming it.


This was an animal study, so it's unclear whether eating junk food would have the same effect on humans. Still, it's another potential item to add to the long list of reasons you should avoid junk food. Can't quite kick the habit? Check out these easy ways to control food cravings.

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