From the gut microbiome to smell and taste’s effects on the nervous system, food has the power to improve emotional well-being. But how do we balance short-term pleasure with long-term wellness, without giving in to diet culture (and its well-being destroying perfectionism)? Following up on her full-to-capacity SXSW 2023 talk, Mary Beth Albright returns to discuss the food-mood connection. Some 2024 developments:
• Learning from weight-loss injectables’ effects on pleasure
• How unique tongue prints can change what we find delicious
• Current peer-reviewed science about ultra-processed food