Can processed foods become addictive?

Experts say that eating ultra-processed foods can become an addiction just like cigarettes.

According to media reports, researchers from the United States, Spain and Brazil jointly published their research in the British Medical Journal, which revealed that eating highly processed foods is as addictive as cigarettes or alcohol. takes the form of

Researchers reviewed 281 studies from more than 35 countries to measure food addiction, using 11 different criteria for analysis. The study included participants who had been eating ultra-processed foods for the past few years.

Researchers found an average increase in food addiction in 14 percent of adults, 12 percent of children and 32 percent of obese people. Ultra-processed foods contain pure carbohydrates and added fat. Both of these release dopamine in the brain similar to that released during smoking or drinking alcohol, which increases feelings of satisfaction.

However, natural foods, on the other hand, have little or no fat or carbohydrate levels. For example, apples contain carbohydrates but very little fat, and fish contain fat but zero carbohydrates.