Do you have ultra processed foods use disorder?

Here are the symptoms.

Baked Raspberry Doughnuts with yoghurt glaze

In recent years, the term “ultra processed foods” has garnered increasing attention in discussions about nutrition and health. These foods undergo extensive industrial processing, typically containing additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. They’re high in sugar and fat and are scientifically delicious. They’re also extremely addictive, with many experts recognising the newly coined “ultra-processed food use disorder.”

And it’s more than just fancying a little treat. Increasingly, researchers are validating genuine junk food addiction in approximately 14 percent of adults and 12 percent of children presented.

We have known for a long time that food high in sugar and fat affects mood and behaviour – what is new though, is that we’re beginning to understand the extent to which it affects our cognition, and just how hard it is to kick the habit.

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Salt & vinegar burger. Source: delicious

The effects of ultra processed foods on the brain are almost identical to those of nicotine, while many articles suggest they may even be more addictive than cocaine.

Symptoms of ultra processed food addiction to look out for include irritability, headaches, mood swings, and intense cravings for high-sugar and high-fat foods during the initial stages of eliminating these products from your diet. Anyone who has started their “today’s the day” diet on Monday knows exactly how this feels come Thursday afternoon.

Additionally, consuming ultra processed foods can quickly affect our brains. Recent studies published in the British Medical Journal and the Journal of the American Medical Association have shed light on the potential cognitive consequences of consuming ultra processed foods, with one notable study from 2017, published in the Public Library of Science (PLOS) finding that just four days of eating a high-ultra processed diet resulted in impaired cognition among participants. This impairment included decreased attention span, poorer memory recall, and reduced problem-solving abilities.

Beyond short-term effects, research suggests that long-term consumption of ultra processed foods may contribute to various health issues, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders. These foods are often calorie-dense and nutrient-poor, leading to overconsumption and malnutrition. Moreover, their impact on cognitive function raises concerns about their role in cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases later in life.

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Originally published as Do you have ultra processed foods use disorder?