GoKawiilVirginia Tech study finds food processing itself alters metabolism, brain response
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute found that minimally and ultraprocessed meals matched for calories, carbs, fat, protein, water, salt and weight still triggered different bodily reactions. Ultraprocessed meals led to more insulin release, higher energy expenditure, less carbohydrate burned for fuel, and distinct activity in brain regions tied to motivation and reward. The findings were published this month in Nature Metabolism.