The Silent Architect of Anxiety: How Ultra-Processed Foods Are Rewiring Your Brain and Body

The gut-brain axis is another critical pathway that is severely compromised by these industrial foods. The gut microbiome, which is responsible for regulating the immune system and producing "happiness hormones," becomes disrupted by industrial preservatives and stabilizers. When the diversity of beneficial gut bacteria is diminished, the body's internal barrier is weakened, allowing toxins to leak into the bloodstream, which frequently manifests as "brain fog" and heightened levels of anxiety.