The Dr. Hyman Show What Makes Junk Food Addictive?
Feb 12, 2024
Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Moss, author of 'Salt, Sugar, Fat', and Calley Means, an expert on the intersection of money and junk food science, as they uncover the alarming tactics of the food industry. They discuss how junk food is engineered to boost addiction with specific combos of sugar, salt, and fat. Also explored are the industry's manipulative marketing aimed at children, the connection between diet and health, and the dangers of vegetable oils. It's a compelling look at how business interests overshadow public health.
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Salt's Importance in Processed Foods
- Michael Moss visited Kellogg's R&D lab and tasted Cheez-Its, waffles, and cornflakes without salt.
- The salt-free versions tasted awful, highlighting salt's crucial role in texture, solubility, color, and masking off-notes.
Processed Food Engineering
- Processed food companies use highly refined ingredients that taste bad on their own.
- They rely on precise amounts of salt, sugar, and fat, scientifically engineered to create the "bliss point" and maximize allure.
Food as Engineering Projects
- Food companies view their products as "engineering projects" designed to maximize consumption.
- Brain scans reveal that these foods stimulate the same reward centers as addictive drugs.