Health
Why Certain Foods Spike Cravings After 40
Health Points
- Ultraprocessed foods loaded with sugar, salt, and fat are linked to powerful cravings.
- Common culprits are chips, cookies, candy, frozen pizza, and fast food.
- Opting for meals with protein, fiber, and healthy fat can help curb food urges.
For many, taking GLP-1 medications finally quiets the constant “food noise”—but food cravings often stem from our modern diet and highly engineered foods.
Dietitians highlight that ultraprocessed foods, stripped of fiber and packed with sugar, fat, and salt plus additives, can trigger the brain’s reward centers and make us crave more.
Lisa Young, Ph.D., a registered dietitian at New York University, explains, “It’s thought that the sugar, fat and salt might stimulate the brain’s reward center — somewhat similar to substances that are addictive.”
Highly processed items are convenient and calorie-dense, making them easy to overeat.
“They’re made to be very craveable,” says Wesley McWhorter, a registered dietitian and public health expert.
Research from the National Institutes of Health discovered that people ate 500 more calories a day when given ultraprocessed meals versus unprocessed ones, resulting in faster eating and weight gain.
“We’re not really sure 100% yet what’s going on,” Young adds, noting the impact of various additives in processed foods.
Homemade foods with fewer ingredients, like simple ice cream, pose less risk than commercial versions filled with additives.
Ashley Gearhardt, Ph.D., a psychologist focused on overeating, shares, “These ultraprocessed, highly rewarding foods have way more in common with a cigarette than they do with an apple or an orange or black beans.”
Her research notes pizza, chocolate, chips, cookies, and ice cream as top triggers for addictive-like eating behaviors.
The debate continues about whether food can be addictive, but frequently indulging in ultraprocessed options may create compulsive eating habits, according to experts.
Types of foods likely to cause cravings include those combining sugar, fat, and salt (like chips and fast food), items high in added sugar (such as soda and candy), foods rich in fat (like fried foods and ice cream), and those high in refined carbs (like white bread and sweet cereals).
“That is one of the biggest problems in the U.S. — we don’t get enough fiber,” says McWhorter, linking low fiber intake to increased cravings.
To manage urges, dietitians recommend building meals with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, limiting purchases of highly tempting foods, and practicing mindful portion control.
Small changes, like adding nut butter to bread or filling your kitchen with nourishing options, can help keep those cravings at bay.
Discover more on this topic and practical ways to support your health at any age by exploring our source below.
