The Deadly “Addiction” Killing Seniors

You’ve tried your best to live a clean life.

You’ve stayed away from unhealthy, addictive substances.

No tobacco – and you make sure you don’t overdo it on the booze.

But, unfortunately, that might not be enough…

New research is showing that there’s a deadly addiction developing among America’s seniors.

It’s been linked to diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer.

And here’s the worst part – you might not even know you have it.

There’s a reason we seem so much sicker than previous generations.

And there’s no doubt in my mind that the reason is ultra-processed food.

These factory-created fake foods really started catching on in the 1970s and 1980s, and they’ve now been linked to just about every disease under the sun.

Now, research is showing that ultra-processed foods aren’t just deadly – they are addictive.

And seniors are especially at risk.

A new study just published in the journal Addiction took more than 2,000 volunteers and applied a common addiction test that measures things like craving, loss of control, and continued use despite known harm.

The researchers found widespread addiction to ultra-processed foods. And the problem was particularly serious among middle-aged and older women.

A whopping 21% of women between the ages of 50 and 64 were addicted to ultra-processed foods.

That makes sense, too, because this is the generation that would have grown up while these foods were skyrocketing in popularity.

I’m sure some folks in Big Food will scream bloody murder about this study, and the comparisons between their foods and drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

But who are they kidding? They know darned well that their ultra-processed foods are specifically designed to be addictive.

The sugar, refined carbs, fat, and salt in ultra-processed foods cause large, rapid dopamine releases in the brain’s reward pathways. And over time, that can become addictive.

Because these foods are addictive, quitting them isn’t easy. I recommend starting with one swap at a time.

Instead of eating that frozen waffle for breakfast, have a fresh egg. Exchange those potato chips at lunch for a piece of fruit.

And when you’re ready, consider following the Paleo diet like I do. It focuses on real meats, fruits, vegetables, and nuts that our caveman ancestors would have eaten.

It’s naturally designed to eliminate ultra-processed foods – and all of the trouble that comes with them.

View Sources

Loch, L. K., Kirch, M., Singer, D. C., Solway, E., Roberts, J. S., Kullgren, J. T., & Gearhardt, A. N. (2025). Ultra-processed food addiction in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the USA. Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70186

 

Medscape. (2025, Addictive’ UPF intake more prevalent in older US adults. Medscape. https://www.medscape.com/s/viewarticle/addictive-nature-upfs-affects-older-us-adults-2025a1000y5t