What Foods Trigger the Greatest Cravings, Leading to Overeating? Researchers at the German Center for Diabetes Research have found that just five days of overeating ultraprocessed snack foods can alter how insulin functions in the brain—even before you notice a single pound gained. Insulin isn’t just about blood sugar; it’s a hormone that helps the brain manage hunger, satisfaction, and that all-important feeling of self-control after eating. When insulin’s signaling breaks down, that gentle nudge telling you “enough for now” goes silent. Suddenly, you find yourself craving more food, regardless of real hunger or need. What really surprised me about this study, published in Nature Metabolism, is how the negative effects on the brain outlasted the unhealthy eating itself. After returning to a regular diet, the brain scans revealed lingering disruptions in areas tied to memory, decision-making, and reward—actually resembling patterns seen in obesity. This tells us that even short encounters with ultraprocessed foods can leave a mark, echoing long after the bags and boxes are emptied. The environment doesn’t help matters. The smell of cookies in the air, a well-placed ad, or even the crinkle of packaging works like Pavlov’s bell, triggering the brain to seek out food, hunger or not. All of this manipulates our natural satiety cues, teaching us to eat for reasons other than nourishing our bodies. Even more, these ultraprocessed snacks light up dopamine pathways in the brain, similar to addictive drugs, driving us to crave more—even if the reward fades with each bite. Restoring a healthy relationship with food begins with honest, mindful choices. I’ve seen it firsthand; swapping out ultraprocessed snacks for whole foods, slowing down to appreciate each meal, and adding some daily movement can reignite your body’s natural signals. It’s a process that’s as much about tuning into your own experience as it is about nutrition science. After all, reclaiming your appetite isn’t just about food, but about finding satisfaction and control in the everyday moments at the table. Here are some examples of ultraprocessed foods. Ready-to-eat meals and snacks: Frozen pizzas, instant noodles, ready-made pasta dishes, and packaged soups. Sweet and savory packaged snacks: Chips, chocolate, candy, biscuits, and pastries. Breakfast cereals and bars: Often sweetened with additives and preservatives. Processed meats: Cold cuts, ham, sausages, hotdogs, chicken nuggets, and fish sticks. Mass-produced bread and baked goods: Including packaged breads, buns, and pastries. Carbonated drinks: Soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks. Ice cream and frozen desserts: Often containing numerous additives. Sweetened and flavored dairy products: Such as fruit-flavored yogurts. Sauces and condiments: Ketchup, mayonnaise, and other packaged sauces.
What Ghost Poops Say About Your Digestion and Gut Health. Ghost poops, also known as “no wipers,” are those rare, deeply satisfying bowel movements that leave no residue behind when you wipe and sink straight to the bottom of the toilet. To me, that’s not some fluke of nature; it’s a sign your gut is truly thriving. Experts like Dr. Ira Leeds and Julia Barten actually describe these as “nirvana poops”—the kind of thing we should all strive for, not dread. It’s about what you don’t see or feel after using the bathroom. No endless wiping. No evidence left on the bowl. Just a clear sign your digestive system is firing on all cylinders. It’s not as simple as luck or genetics, though. Over the years, I’ve seen people struggle with their gut because of stress, dehydration, lack of movement, or a diet that doesn’t quite suit their needs. These factors can all disrupt the gut microbiome, making the elusive ghost poop almost impossible to achieve. Gut health, I’ve learned, is about much more than just how often you go; it’s about how well your body processes what you eat and drink. A surprising insight? Many people try to fix their digestion by piling on the fiber, but if your gut’s already out of balance, that can make symptoms worse. From personal experience and plenty of research, I’ve found that increasing digestible carbohydrates (usually 200 to 350 grams per day) helps heal the gut more effectively. And don’t underestimate the power of posture; using a footstool or leaning forward can open up the colon and lead to more complete, easy elimination. Signs like floating or sticky stools are red flags—that your body isn’t absorbing fats properly or that there’s gut inflammation. But hitting those regular ghost poops? That’s the body’s way of telling you everything is humming along just as it should. For anyone seeking a clear gauge of gut health, skip the fancy tests and look for what’s not left behind.
As we’ve seen, our gut health has a huge impact on our overall well-being. And while there are many factors that can affect it, maintaining regular and healthy bowel movements is one of the most important things we can do for our digestive system.
But beyond just physical health, having a happy gut also means feeling more energized, focused, and emotionally balanced. It’s no coincidence that the phrase “gut feeling” exists – our gut is often referred to as our “second brain” because of the strong connection between the two. So next time you’re experiencing bloating or discomfort in your stomach, remember that it’s not just about finding temporary relief. It’s about taking care of.
Allergy season is now longer and more intense due in part to our milder winter weather. Warmer weather and higher carbon dioxide levels help plants produce more pollen for longer periods, which means spring allergies start earlier and last into fall. Pollen counts in North America have jumped more than 20% in the past 30 years, and the season itself is about two weeks longer than it was two decades ago.
Doctors recommend beginning allergy precautions like saline nasal sprays, before symptoms hit. Keeping your room pollen-free, shutting windows, and changing clothes after being outdoors can also help manage symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and congestion. Chiropractic care may offer notable benefits for individuals dealing with allergies. By focusing on the alignment of the spine and the functionality of the nervous system, chiropractic adjustments can help reduce stress on the body, which in turn may support a more robust immune response. Since the nervous system plays a key role in regulating the immune system and its reactions, enhancing its function through spinal adjustments may help the body respond more effectively to allergens. Additionally, chiropractic care can alleviate tension in the neck and upper back, where sinus drainage and nasal passages are often affected, potentially reducing symptoms like congestion and sinus pressure. While it’s not a direct cure, chiropractic care can be a helpful part of a comprehensive strategy to manage allergy symptoms.
COVID-19 Treatment News: J. Hatfill, a seasoned virologist with a history of advocating for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as an early treatment for COVID-19, has stepped into a major public health role as the special adviser for pandemic prevention at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For those who followed his previous tenure as a White House adviser during the Trump administration, you might recall his controversial—but steadfast—defense of using HCQ based on thousands of peer-reviewed studies, some of which he personally referenced in a recent interview. Hatfill points to the fact that even President Trump took the drug under doctors’ guidance, standing by its safety when administered appropriately.
Hatfill is now just beginning his work at the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), where he’s eager to join forces with other experts. The agency operates several centers focused on tackling pandemics—including those on biomed research and our national stockpile. This new role, as he expressed, isn’t just about COVID or influenza but encompasses preparedness for emerging global threats of all kinds. Throughout his career, Hatfill has advocated for thoroughness and awareness in pandemic science; it appears he’s bringing that same mindset to HHS as he helps our country brace for whatever comes next. Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, an ear, nose and throat specialist in Houston, Texas, reported, “I treated over 6,000 COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, a large number of those patients took hydroxychloroquine.
