Hyperpalatable foods are often criticized for their hedonic addiction potential & negative impact on public health.

Experts argue that hyperpalatable foods are engineered to hyper-stimulate our brain’s reward center by loading & layering a combination of ingredients rich in salt, fat, & sugar, triggering the need & desire to consume them, & also creating a powerful, rewarding stimulus in the brain that promotes continued eating even in the absence of energetic requirement and hunger.^1-3  

Hyperpalatable foods stimulate dopamine, serotonin, and opioid neural expression triggered by the 5 senses that creates an association with the reward potential of a food. Hormones involved in appetite regulation can also be modulated in response to food reward conditioning.^1-4

Does your mouth ever water when you smell the aromas of a Cinnabon? Does a special location ever cause you to reminisce over a delicious meal? Have you ever felt the pang of desire when you pass the delicious display of a bakery?

These addictive properties of these foods are often compared to those associated with drugs, tobacco, & alcohol. In rodent models, hyperpalatable foods reflect similar reward-related neural changes, and even illicit behaviors related to withdrawal, tolerance, and continued use regardless of the awareness of negative consequences.^3,4

Although many studies surrounding the addiction-potential of hyperpalatable foods are tested on animal models, some smaller human clinical trials & related anecdotal evidence suggest that these foods may be associated with negative eating behaviors, such as binge eating, and obesity.¹

Consuming these foods in excess could lead to a calorie surplus and influence unwanted increases in bodyweight.

So how is corn related to these foods? Processed foods are very distant cousins of whole foods. Industrial corn and soy are the primary contributors of individual ingredients that contribute to the palatability of these foods, creating a calorie dense, powerfully flavored food product that delivers a satisfying mouth feel that is easy to eat & practically melts in your mouth.

References:

1. Gearhardt AN, Grilo CM, DiLeone RJ, Brownell KD, Potenza MN. Can food be addictive? Public health and policy implications. Addiction. 2011;106(7):1208–1212. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03301.x
2. Kessler DA. The end of overeating: Taking control of the insatiable American diet. New York, NY; Rodale, Inc: 2009.
3. Gearhardt A, Davis C, Kuschner R, Brownell KD. The addiction potential of hyperpalatable foods. Current Drug Abuse Reviews. 2011; 4(3):140-145.
4. Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Baler RD. Reward, dopamine and the control of food intake: implications for obesity. Trends Cogn Sci. 2011;15(1):37–46. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2010.11.001