Processed Food Seduces the Brain

Stephan Guyenet, Ph.D., describes how the brain plays a role in regulating appetite and maintaining body weight. A few systems are at play here: the energy homeostasis system, the reward system, and the hedonic system. It seems as though the body does a better job defending against weight loss than it does weight gain.

Eating overly processed, highly palatable foods can short-circuit these systems, leading to excessive weight gain by forcing the body to protect a body weight that is overweight or obese. What is the simple, yet challenging, solution? According to Dr. Guyenet, it is to “return to a diet of simple home-cooked food, made from minimally refined ingredients.” In other words, eat meat, vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar.