What causes food cravings?

By Gabrielle Weidemann and Justin Mahlberg

Many of us try to eat more fruits and vegetables and less ultra-processed food. But why is sticking to your goals so hard?

High-fat, sugar-rich and salty foods are simply so enjoyable to eat. And it’s not just you – we’ve evolved that way. These foods activate the brain’s reward system because in the past they were rare.

Now, they’re all around us. In wealthy modern societies, we are bombarded by advertising which intentionally reminds us about the sight...