Ultra-processed food disrupts and dysregulates our systems by causing harm, including cancers, cardiometabolic disease, anxiety, depression, dementia, early death, inflammatory disease, and weight gain. The food's physical processing, high energy density, and soft texture lead to rapid calorie consumption, surpassing the body's natural signals to stop eating.
Doctor and journalist Chris van Tulleken wanted to know how ultra-processed foods affect us, so for a month he ate almost nothing but UPFs. His book Ultra-Processed People examines how the food we eat today is dramatically changing our bodies and minds.
This episode was produced by Siona Peterous, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Isabel Angell, engineered by TK, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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