Americans’ love for foods stuffed with sodium, sugar, and saturated fat has reached the level of addiction, in some cases.

“They are engineered to promote increased eating,” said Dr. Mary Krebs, president of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, who points to how fast, easy, and cheap pre-packaged, ultra-processed meals have become.

“They are super tasty,” she said. “But they are not filling.”

These foods lack fiber, protein, and water that is more abundant in traditional, homemade meals that provide a feeling of fullness in a healthy manner. As a result, consumers tend to eat more of what is not good for them. Some ultra-processed foods can push a release of dopamine, a pleasure-producing hormone that says, “Let’s do it again.”

A University of Michigan study released in September fou

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