09/24/2025
TLDR recap; Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) are designed to keep you hungry.
They’re cheap, convenient, and everywhere — which is why they make up so much of the American diet.
Breakfast cereals. Instant soups. Deli meats. Mass-produced breads. Bottled drinks. Fast food. Etc.
We're stressed out, sleep-deprived, usually in a hurry, and even if budget isn't a major factor (which, let's be real, it usually is) we frequently don't have the energy or mental space to focus on basic self-care like planning a menu, shopping for ingredients, and cooking wholesome meals.
But here’s the problem: in gold-standard trials, people eating UPFs ate 500–1000 extra calories per day compared to when they ate real, whole foods.
500 calories a day = about a pound a week. Without feeling like you were “overeating” at all.
That’s because many of these foods are made with additives that prevent your body from telling you it's time to stop eating.
In other words, the deck has been deliberately stacked against you. While telling you it's all your fault. Gaslighting, much?
Look, I get it, nutrition can feel overwhelming.
Everyone says something different, the science is complicated and constantly changing, and most of us are just trying to get through the day with some grace.
Here’s the simplest, most practical advice I’ve ever heard (from Michael Pollan):
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
What questions do you have on eating for wellness? I've got time today to answer them. 🙏🏻
A leading nutrition researcher overturns nutritional myths that have led to fat-shaming in his new book, “Food Intelligence.” Here’s who to blame instead.
