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How Junk Food Hijacks Your Brain | Serving Up Science

Season 3 Episode 301 | 6m 32s

Why are we drawn to fatty, sugary, and salty snacks and drinks? We’re putting junk food under the microscope to explore the science behind our affinity for processed foods that pack a lot of calories and have little nutritional value. When we eat foods that contain lots of fat and sugar, it's the natural chemical dopamine that gives us a rush of elation and desire for more.

Aired: 11/18/22
Extras
Unearth the world beneath our feet and soil's vital role in our food system.
Uncover the secrets behind "sell by," "best by," and "use by" food date labels.
Get ready to reevaluate everything you thought you knew about sugar and hyperactivity.
Unearth the history of insect eating and explore the protein-packed world of insects.
Discover the Truth Behind Egg Labels and the differences between them all.
Would you eat steak grown in a lab? Chicken from a petri dish? It's not science fiction!
What does caffeine do to our bodies that makes us perk up and give us a mood boost?
Not all oils are created equal. With so many options, what’s a home chef to do?
Think your truffle popcorn has real truffle? Think again.
We’re challenging some serious carnivores in the ultimate burger brawl.