Ultra-Processed People: How Big Food Is Rewiring Our Brains | Chris Van Tulleken

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Apr 16, 2025

In this discussion, Dr. Chris Van Tulleken, an infectious disease physician and BBC broadcaster, reveals the shocking parallels between ultra-processed foods and cigarettes. He shares his personal experiment of a month-long ultra-processed diet, uncovering how these foods hijack our brain's reward system and regulate hunger. The conversation delves into misleading food labels, the addictive nature of processed foods, and corporate influence on public health, ultimately advocating for policy changes to address the global health crisis.

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INSIGHT

Ultra-Processed Food Prevalence

Ultra-processed food, like Doritos or Twinkies, is easily recognizable.
It comprises a large percentage of calories consumed by both adults and children.

ANECDOTE

Personal UPF Experiment

Chris Van Tulleken consumed 80% of his calories from ultra-processed foods for a month.
This experiment was part of a larger clinical trial.

INSIGHT

Experiment Results

Van Tulleken gained significant weight, experienced brain changes, and altered satiety hormones during the experiment.
These changes persisted even after returning to a normal diet.

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Ultra-processed food is the new cigarette—and it's fueling a global health crisis hiding in plain sight.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Chris van Tulleken—infectious disease physician, BBC broadcaster, and author of Ultra-Processed People—to expose the truth behind ultra-processed foods and the industries driving their consumption. To find out what this food is really doing to us, Dr. van Tulleken became the first subject in a groundbreaking clinical trial—eating 80% of his calories from ultra-processed food for a full month.

We unpack what makes ultra-processed food fundamentally different from real food—even when the ingredients look similar, and why its impact on your brain, metabolism, and long-term health is far worse than anyone thought…

You’ll learn:

How ultra-processed food hijacks your brain’s reward system
The science behind food addiction and satiety hormones
Why food labels and front-of-package claims are designed to mislead you
What the latest data says about UPFs and 32 chronic diseases
The global policy movements and lawsuits now underway to fight back

This episode is part science, part exposé, and a wake-up call for anyone who thinks food is just about calories and willpower. If you care about your health, your kids, or the future of our food system, you need to hear this.

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https://linktr.ee/ultraprocessedpeople

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