Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth 1557: How Food Is Engineered to Make You Addicted & Fat With Michael Moss
May 20, 2021
Michael Moss, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, reveals the processed food industry's tricks to keep us hooked on unhealthy options. He discusses how food is engineered to exploit our biology, creating addictive products loaded with sugar, fat, and salt. Moss explains the emotional ties to food, particularly for children, and the manipulative marketing tactics that shape our cravings. He also touches on the alarming growth of the obesity epidemic and shares insights into the science behind our eating habits, pushing for more mindful food choices.
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Initial Skepticism on Food Addiction
- Michael Moss was initially resistant to the idea of food addiction, questioning the lack of extreme behaviors like robberies for food.
- His perspective shifted after research revealed how processed foods exploit our biology, creating a mismatch between our instincts and modern food.
Processed Foods Hijack Satiety
- Heavily processed foods hijack our satiety systems, leading to increased calorie consumption.
- These foods exploit our natural attraction to calorie-dense options, overriding our biological tools for regulation.
Speed of Food's Effect on the Brain
- The speed at which a substance affects the brain correlates with its addictiveness.
- Processed foods, with their salt, sugar, and fat, rapidly reach the brain, triggering compulsive eating.
