Same Calories, Same Nutrients, but Ultraprocessed Meal Spikes Insulin More

A Virginia Tech study in Nature Metabolism found that two 300-calorie meals matched for carbs, fat, protein, water and salt produced different metabolic responses in 57 healthy adults. The ultraprocessed meal triggered a much higher insulin response and less carbohydrate burning than the minimally processed one.

• Both meals matched within 1% for calories, carbs, fat, protein, water and salt
• The ultraprocessed meal caused a much higher insulin response and blood sugar stayed elevated longer
• 57 healthy adults aged 18–45 took part; 32 completed both metabolic tests and fMRI scans
• Differences in carbohydrate burning were linked to brain responses to food images