Feb 22, 2025
Junk food is carefully formulated to hit the 'bliss point', the perfect balance of sugar, fat, and salt that maximises pleasure. This combination triggers dopamine release in the brain, making us crave more with every bite.
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Eating junk food stimulates dopamine, the brain’s feel-good chemical. This reward response makes us associate these foods with pleasure, leading to repeated cravings. Over time, our brain builds a habit, reinforcing the desire for more junk food.
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Junk food is designed to be 'hyper-palatable', meaning it tastes so good that it overrides our natural fullness signals. The carefully balanced flavours and textures trick our brains into wanting more, even when we’re not hungry.
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Our ancestors relied on calorie-dense foods for survival, and our brains still crave them. Junk food is packed with calories but requires minimal effort to chew and digest, making it an easy and tempting energy source.
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Sugar and salt trigger pleasure receptors and enhance flavour. Sugar spikes blood sugar levels, giving a quick energy boost, while salt stimulates the brain’s reward system. This combination makes junk food deeply satisfying and hard to resist.
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The crispy, crunchy textures of chips and fried foods contrast with smooth, fatty layers, creating a sensory experience that keeps us hooked. This contrast excites our taste buds, making each bite more enjoyable than the last.
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Junk food provides emotional comfort by reducing stress hormones like cortisol. Many people turn to sugary or fatty foods for emotional relief, reinforcing a cycle where food becomes a coping mechanism for stress and sadness.
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Certain junk foods evoke memories of childhood, celebrations, or happy moments, strengthening emotional connections. These nostalgic links make us crave specific snacks when we seek comfort, reinforcing the habit over time.
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Junk food often lacks fibre and protein, which help us feel full. Instead, its refined ingredients lead to quick digestion and blood sugar spikes, leaving us hungry again soon after eating, which encourages overeating.
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Junk food companies use bright packaging, catchy ads, and convenience to make their products irresistible. Easy availability and constant exposure increase cravings, making it harder to resist highly processed foods.
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