Most people think their struggle with junk food and 'food noise' comes down to discipline, but the truth is far more complex and relieving! Ultra‑processed foods are engineered to override appetite, disrupt satiety, and create reward pathways that take on a life of their own.

In this episode, I break down how salt, sugar, and fat are deliberately combined to trigger the brain’s reward system, why these foods generate 'food noise,' and how they disconnect you from your natural hunger and fullness cues.

We explore the science behind engineered cravings, their role in compulsive eating, and why willpower has nothing to do with it. If you’ve ever felt addicted to junk food or stuck in cycles of overeating, this conversation will help you understand what’s actually happening in your body, and how to begin restoring regulation, nourishment, and trust in your appetite again.

Episode Chapters: 

0:01 - Introduction

0:59 - It's not your fault

1:41 - What is 'food noise'?

3:12 - From the book Salt, Sugar, Fat: How The Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss

4:43 - The 'Bliss Point' of foods

5:53 - Engineering foods to decrease satisfaction and increase consumption

10:08 - Putting this bliss point to the test in the supermarket

11:40 - Are you their perfect customer?

12:45 - Genetic propensities to excess junk food consumption

14:00 - Hyper-palatable food as an emotional regulator

16:55 - The difference between junk food and whole foods on appetite, and natural 'food noise' as it was designed to be

19:30 - We are overfed, and under-nourished

21:11 - It's all for profit

Thanks for listening!

See you next week.

Jen X