How sugar and fat affect the brain

Read the story here.

This story was born from a brainstorm about holiday season eating but became something much more—a long-form, evergreen reference piece breaking down concepts like ultra-processed foods and food addiction in plain language.

This required me to really familiarize myself with existing research and different perspectives in the field. I was really lucky to connect with researchers Alexandra DiFeliceantonio and Ashley Gearhardt. They are both so passionate about their work and patiently, clearly, answered all questions until I was really comfortable with the research landscape. I loved their message that we shouldn’t blame ourselves for bad relationships with foods inherently designed to override moderation.

In 2024, I was interviewed for this video piece inspired by the article for National Geographic’s YouTube channel, which was a really fun experience!