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Feb. 23, 2026 – “Cigarettes and UPFs are not simply natural products but highly engineered delivery systems designed specifically to maximize biological and psychological reinforcement and habitual overuse,” a team of researchers from Harvard, published in the journal Milbank Quarterly,Refined carbohydrates stimulate dopamine release via the vagus nerve, whereas fats do so through intestinal lipid sensing,” they wrote. “… UPFs with high levels of refined carbohydrates and added fats are some of the most potently rewarding substances in the modern diet. Notably, this refined carbohydrate-fat combination is almost nonexistent in nature.”
The rapid delivery of feel-good chemicals to the brain can give these foods addictive potential, similar to cigarettes. They note that while cigarettes are engineered to deliver nicotine within seconds, ultra-processed foods are engineered for rapid digestion and absorption because they have little to no fiber, making it easier for the body to process sugar and fat more quickly.
