How the Processed Food Industry Tricks You into Unhealthy Eating Habits

When it comes to gaining the drive to alter our eating habits, I discovered a particularly useful aspect that seems rather uncommon. What truly inspired me to cut out processed foods was understanding the manipulative tactics employed by the processed food industry to encourage excessive consumption and maximize sales.

Once I became aware of how I was being influenced to purchase foods that were harmful to my well-being, both physically and mentally, I made the decision to resist.

Many of us may not realise it, but processed foods are designed to target the reward centre in our brain, making us want to consume more. At the same time, these foods

often increase calorie content or make it easier for us to overeat. After eating processed food, we stay full for a shorter time and receive less fibre and fewer micronutrients, all while possibly consuming more fat and/or refined carbohydrates. Selling food is a business, and to move the most product, it needs to contain just the right mix of sugar and fat to light up the brain’s reward centre—a mechanism that evolved to help our ancestors seek out energy-dense foods like honey and animal fat to survive.

However, the availability of such foods was limited in the past, so those survival mechanisms, once crucial for our ancestors, now make it hard for us to eat only nutritious, appropriate amounts of food. Unfortunately, less tempting products will struggle to compete in the marketplace unless enough consumers have both the knowledge and willpower to demand healthier options.

Take foods like white flour, white bread, white pasta, and white rice—they’ve had much of their fibre removed. Fibre slows the stomach’s emptying process, which helps us feel fuller for longer by keeping the stretch receptors in our stomach active. It also slows the absorption of glucose in the small intestine, which in turn helps maintain stable blood sugar levels, keeping hunger at bay for longer periods.

In addition to processed foods, we have to be mindful of soft drinks that pack in large amounts of calories, like fruit juices, fizzy drinks with added sugars, and even smoothies. Processing strips food of its ability to keep us full for long, encourages overeating, and manipulates our brain’s reward system, prompting us to seek out the food again. This is where advertising and packaging come into play. Images of food on packaging or in ads trigger the brain’s reward system, reminding us of the pleasure we felt when we last consumed that product. Even when we don’t go actively searching for processed food, it finds its way to us.

There’s also the convenience factor. Ready meals can be heated in minutes, and fast food is almost instant. On top of that, phone apps and delivery services now allow us to get these meals delivered right to our door, so we don’t even need to make the effort to pick them up.

All in all, processed foods are highly tempting and contribute to expanding waistlines by being higher in fats, refined carbohydrates, and lower in fibre and essential nutrients, all while decreasing overall health.

Next time you feel the urge to purchase or indulge in tempting foods that do not support your goals, consider the various tactics employed by processed food companies to entice consumers. Making a knowledgeable choice is key. While consuming processed foods in moderation is acceptable, making it an occasional occurrence rather than a habit will aid in reaching our objectives and promoting a healthier way of living.