I’m a Gen X-er, so ultraprocessed foods have been a mainstay of my diet since I was a kid. I was raised on bowls of sugary cereal, mac and cheese and instant ramen. I still crave them.
And that’s by design, said Ashley Gearhardt, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Gearhardt’s research suggests that some UPF ingredients, like added fats and sugars, can activate the brain’s reward centers in ways similar to those of addictive substances like alcohol and nicotine.
“The more you have, the more you want,” she said.