08/25/2026
We still think of processed food as calories, NOT information — and that’s totally backwards.
If it fits your calories, it’s “fine.”
If it fits your macros, you’re “healthy.”
If you’re not gaining weight, what’s the problem?
But your body doesn’t experience food as a number…..
Ultra-processed food sends biological signals that can influence:
* Blood sugar: cravings & energy crashes
* Appetite: constant hunger, poor satiety, food noise
* Gut: bloating, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion
* Inflammation: fatigue, aches, skin issues
* Cardiometabolic health: high triglycerides, high & blood pressure
* Brain: poor mood & brain fog, ADHD
* Hormones: irregular cycles, PMS, PMOS
* Skin: acne, breakouts, poor tone
PLUS, the consequences go far beyond day-to-day annoyances & symptoms. We’re looking at:
* Cardiovascular disease → ~44% of U.S. women are living with some form of heart disease
* Cognitive decline → 1 in 5 women 65+ has mild cognitive impairment
* Depression → ~16% of women currently experience depression
* Anxiety → ~21% of women report recent anxiety symptoms
* Hormonal dysfunction → PCOS affects an estimated 10–13% of reproductive-age women
* Skin dysfunction → acne affects nearly half of women with PCOS
We’ve become obsessed with asking “Will this make me fat?” instead of: “What is this doing to my biology?”
A food can fit your macros and still be a terrible input for your body.
Calories tell you how much energy food contains. They don’t tell you what that food is telling your body to do.