Are You Really Choosing What You Eat? A Neuroscientist Says... Probably Not

In this episode, we dive into the mind-blowing science of why we eat what we eat—with neuroscientist Dr. Alexandra DiFeliceantonio. She joins us to explore how ultra-processed foods hijack your brain’s reward systems, how your environment influences your food choices more than you realize, and whether you’re actually choosing that brownie… or if your brain decided for you. We talk about the powerful effects of food cues, how early exposure to certain foods shapes lifelong habits, and what new research says about the link between processed food and addiction. This conversation will change the way you think about cravings, willpower, and what it really means to “eat healthy.” If you've ever blacked out halfway through a bag of chips, this one's for you. Sign up for our newsletter here! For weekly episodes, come join the Foodie Fam! Check out our book ! Chat with us on IG @foodweneedtotalk ! Be friends with Juna on Instagram and Tiktok ! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

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Are You Really Choosing What You Eat? A Neuroscientist Says... Probably Not is an episode from Food, We Need To Talk by Juna Gjata.

This episode is 43:50 long.

This episode was published on Jul 21, 2025.

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