Hi Reader,

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Ever feel like food has power over you?

You’re not alone.

If you’ve ever tried to eat more healthily, lose weight, or “just cut back”—and found yourself elbow-deep in a bag of crisps before you even realised what was happening—this is for you.

I recently came across an article in The Guardian that stopped me in my tracks. It finally said out loud what so many of us have felt for years:

“I feel addicted to this stuff… I used to smoke cigarettes, now I have the same habit but with soda and doughnuts. I know it’s killing me; I want to quit, but I can’t.”

That sentence gave me chills.
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Because yes—ultra-processed foods (UPFs) aren’t just “unhealthy.”
They are designed to keep you hooked.

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It’s not just in your head - your cravings are being engineered

A growing number of public health experts are now calling UPFs addictive in the same way cigarettes are.

Cravings, binges, that horrible tug-of-war between your brain and your body - it’s not a willpower problem.

It’s a product design problem.

As one addiction researcher put it:

“Eventually we understand the levers that the industry can pull to create products that can really hook people.”

And these foods are everywhere.
We’re talking about:

• Diet drinks
• Flavoured yoghurts
• Plant-based meat alternatives
• Protein bars
• Pre-packaged soups and sauces
• Bread that stays soft for two weeks
• Ice cream with gums, thickeners, and emulsifiers

And here's the kicker: many of these are marketed as healthy.
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​Low-fat, sugar-free, “plant-based”... It’s all greenwashing.
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But the reality? These foods still hit the brain in ways that spike cravings and sabotage your thyroid.

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The good news? You can break the cycle

In our thyroid community, this is the kind of foundational shift we focus on - gently moving away from ultra-processed foods and supporting each other every step of the way.

Not with restriction.
Not with guilt.
Just real food. Real support. Real change.

The amazing thing is - once UPFs are out of your system, those awful cravings start to fade.
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Your brain quiets.
Your energy lifts.
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And eating starts to feel easy again.

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How to get started

Here’s what I recommend:

• Read this Guardian article. It’s powerful.
• Don’t blame yourself for craving things. Cravings are a symptom, not a character flaw.
• Start to gently swap out “Frankenfoods” for real food - what your grandparents would have eaten.
• Be wary of “diet” or “health” products with long ingredient lists - real food doesn’t need a label.
• If you’re not sure where to begin, get support. Don’t do this alone.

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You deserve to feel good. ​
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You deserve meals that nourish you and never leave you fighting your own brain.

And the first step might be as simple as noticing that it’s not you that’s broken - it’s the food!!!.

Warmly,

P.S. If this speaks to you and you’d love support around making this kind of shift, our thyroid community for women is open and welcoming - and you can join it for free here right now. 👉 Click here to join us​

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