Dr. Brendan McCarthy

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy dives deep into the psychology of ultra-processed foods, compulsive eating, shame, and why so many people feel trapped in unhealthy food cycles.

This conversation goes far beyond calories and willpower.

Dr. McCarthy explains how ultra-processed and hyper-palatable foods are intentionally engineered to drive repeat consumption, how emotional memories and stress shape cravings, and why shame-based nutrition advice often makes the problem worse instead of better.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How ultra-processed foods affect the brain
• Why compulsive eating is learned — and can be unlearned
• The connection between trauma, stress, and food cravings
• The difference between guilt and shame
• How marketing and emotional associations shape eating habits
• Why “clean eating” language can be harmful
• The neuroscience of cravings, dopamine, serotonin, and reward
• What real freedom with food actually looks like
• Why self-compassion matters in healing

If you’ve ever felt trapped in cycles of emotional eating, binge eating, food guilt, or shame around nutrition, this episode is for you.

 

📚 Research & References

Tangney, June Price, Jeff Stuewig, and Debra J. Mashek. “Moral Emotions and Moral Behavior.” Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 58, 2007, pp. 345–372.

Nechita, Dan M., et al. “Shame and Eating Disorders Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis.” International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol. 54, no. 11, 2021, pp. 1899–1945.

Tomiyama, A. Janet. “Weight Stigma Is Stressful. A Review of Evidence for the Cyclic Obesity/Weight-Based Stigma Model.” Appetite, vol. 82, 2014, pp. 8–15.

Levinson, Julia A., et al. “A Systematic Review of Weight Stigma and Disordered Eating Cognitions and Behaviors.” Obesity Reviews, 2024.

Kelly, Allison C., et al. “Self-Compassion and Shame in Eating Disorder Recovery.” International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol. 47, no. 5, 2014, pp. 512–515.

Boswell, Rebecca G., and Hedy Kober. “Food Cue Reactivity and Craving Predict Eating and Weight Gain: A Meta-Analytic Review.” Obesity Reviews, vol. 17, no. 2, 2016, pp. 159–177.

Schultz, Wolfram. “Dopamine Reward Prediction Error Coding.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 18, no. 1, 2016, pp. 23–32.

Berridge, Kent C., and Terry E. Robinson. “Liking, Wanting, and the Incentive-Sensitization Theory of Addiction.” American Psychologist, vol. 71, no. 8, 2016, pp. 670–679.

Morales, Irene, and Kent C. Berridge. “‘Liking’ and ‘Wanting’ in Eating and Food Reward: Brain Mechanisms and Clinical Implications.” Physiology & Behavior, vol. 227, 2020, article 113152.

Hall, Kevin D., et al. “Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake.” Cell Metabolism, vol. 30, no. 1, 2019, pp. 67–77.e3.

Gearhardt, Ashley N., et al. “Social, Clinical, and Policy Implications of Ultra-Processed Food Addiction.” BMJ, vol. 383, 2023, p. e075354.

Haedt-Matt, Alissa A., and Pamela K. Keel. “Revisiting the Affect Regulation Model of Binge Eating: A Meta-Analysis of Studies Using Ecological Momentary Assessment.” Psychological Bulletin, vol. 137, no. 4, 2011, pp. 660–681.

Wagner, Heather S., Traci Mann, and Janet Tomiyama. “The Myth of Comfort Food.” Health Psychology, vol. 33, no. 12, 2014, pp. 1552–1557.

Schaefer, Lauren M., et al. “Examining the Role of Craving in Affect Regulation Models of Binge Eating.” International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2023.

Jansen, Anita, et al. “A Learning Model of Binge Eating: Cue Reactivity and Cue Exposure.” Behaviour Research and Therapy, vol. 88, 2016, pp. 75–84.

Craske, Michelle G., et al. “Maximizing Exposure Therapy: An Inhibitory Learning Approach.” Behaviour Research and Therapy, vol. 58, 2014, pp. 10–23.

Grilo, Carlos M. “Psychological and Behavioral Treatments for Binge-Eating Disorder.” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, vol. 78, suppl. 1, 2017, pp. 20–24.

 

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:
Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones
https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:
Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy
TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy
Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

Why do so many people know what to eat… but still can’t follow through?

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the powerful connection between trauma, stress, and ultra-processed foods—and why willpower alone is not enough.

You’ll learn how the nervous system, PTSD, and chronic stress can rewire your relationship with food, driving cravings and behaviors that feel out of your control.

This isn’t about discipline. It’s about understanding the biology behind your choices.

Inside this episode:

How trauma changes the way you make decisions

Why ultra-processed foods create temporary emotional relief

The brain chemistry behind cravings (dopamine, serotonin, endocannabinoids & more)

Why “just stop eating it” doesn’t work

How to create real change without shame or restriction

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle with food, this episode will change how you see it—and give you a path forward.

📍 Protea Medical Center | Tempe, Arizona

👍 If this helped you, like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear this.

📚 Citations & Research
PTSD & Complex PTSD

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2014). DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/box/part1_ch3.box16/

Larsen, S. E. (VA National Center for PTSD). Complex PTSD Overview
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/complex_ptsd.asp

Women, Trauma & PTSD

Vogt, D., & Mangan, E. Research on Women, Trauma, and PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/specific/ptsd_research_women.asp

Dworkin, E. R. et al. (2017). Sexual Assault & Psychopathology Meta-Analysis
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5576571/

Dworkin, E. R. (2020). Risk for Mental Disorders After Sexual Assault

PTSD & Addictive-Like Eating

Mason, S. M. et al. (2014). PTSD Symptoms & Food Addiction (JAMA Psychiatry)
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1904804

Brewerton, T. D. (2021). Food Addiction, Trauma & Comorbidity

Brewerton, T. D. (2017). Trauma & Eating Disorders
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11920-017-0806-6

Gearhardt, A. N. et al. (2016). Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0

Stress & Food Choice

Maier, S. U. et al. (2015). Stress Impairs Self-Control in Food Choice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627315006273

Yau, Y. H. C., & Potenza, M. N. (2013). Stress & Eating Behaviors
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4214609/

Relief Mechanisms (Biological Pathways)

Adam, T. C., & Epel, E. S. (2007). Stress, Eating & Reward System
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938407001278

DiPatrizio, N. V. (2021). Endocannabinoids & Food Intake
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8067588/

Fernstrom, J. D., & Wurtman, R. J. (1972). Serotonin Regulation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5077329/

Penckofer, S. et al. (2012). Glycemic Variability & Mood
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22324383/

Oral Self-Regulation

Franco, P. et al. (2004). Pacifier Use & Autonomic Control

Pinilla, T., & Birch, L. J. (1993). Infant Sleep & Oral Soothing

Dopamine & Craving

Berridge, K. C., & Robinson, T. E. (2016). Incentive-Sensitization Theory
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5171207/

Boswell, R. G., & Kober, H. (2016). Food Cue Reactivity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26644270/

Ultra-Processed Foods

Monteiro, C. A. et al. (2018). NOVA Classification
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10261019/

Hall, K. D. et al. (2019). Ultra-Processed Diet RCT
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413119302487

Gearhardt, A. N., & DiFeliceantonio, A. G. (2023). Addictive Potential

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:
Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones
https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:
Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy
TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy
Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

Today, we’re diving into a topic that should be getting far more attention:

Cardiovascular disease in women.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in women—yet it’s often under-addressed, oversimplified, and misunderstood in clinical practice.

Most women are told:
“Eat better. Take this prescription.”

But that approach misses something critical.

Full citation list:    •    Hall, Kevin D., et al. “Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake.” Cell Metabolism, vol. 30, no. 1, 2019, pp. 67–77.e3. Supports the core causal point that ultra-processed foods drive higher intake and weight gain even under controlled feeding conditions; this is not a women-specific lipid paper, but it is the cleanest experimental anchor for why UPFs create a high-throughput metabolic environment.
    •    El Khoudary, Samar R., et al. “Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing of Early Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.” Circulation, vol. 142, no. 25, 2020, pp. e506–e532. Supports the midlife women’s frame: across the menopause transition, LDL-C and ApoB rise, metabolic risk shifts, and cardiovascular prevention needs to become more deliberate during this window. This supports the “why I care about lipids in endocrine care” part of the episode.
    •    Derby, Carol A., et al. “Lipid Changes During the Menopause Transition in Relation to Age and Weight: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation.” American Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 169, no. 11, 2009, pp. 1352–61. Foundational SWAN paper establishing that the menopause transition itself — not just chronological aging — is associated with adverse lipid shifts in midlife women. This is the original observation that the timing argument rests on.
    •    Wu, Bingjie, et al. “Trajectories of Blood Lipids Profile in Midlife Women: Does Menopause Matter?” Journal of the American Heart Association, vol. 12, no. 22, 2023, e030388. Supports the claim that LDL-C, total cholesterol, and ApoB follow distinct trajectory patterns through the menopause transition, with subgroups of women showing rising lipids in the years before the final menstrual period — useful for the timing argument that body and symptom changes can precede the obvious lab story.
    •    Matthews, Karen A., et al. “Age at Menopause in Relationship to Lipid Changes and Subclinical Carotid Disease Across 20 Years: Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation.” Journal of the American Heart Association, vol. 10, no. 18, 2021, e021362. Supports the point that ApoB and Apo A1 changes cluster around the final menstrual period and that adverse lipid shifts in the early postmenopausal years track with subclinical carotid disease later — connects menopausal timing to the longer cardiovascular arc rather than a one-time lab blip.
    •    De Oliveira-Gomes, Diana, et al. “Apolipoprotein B: Bridging the Gap Between Evidence and Clinical Practice.” Circulation, vol. 150, no. 1, 2024, pp. 62–79. Supports the practical ApoB explanation: ApoB reflects atherogenic particle burden and outperforms LDL-C for ASCVD risk prediction in many settings, but adoption lags because clear apoB targets and triggers are still lacking in mainstream guidelines. Good support for the public-service “what the hell is ApoB anyway?” section.
    •    Williamson, Laura. “The Slowly Evolving Truth About Heart Disease and Women.” American Heart Association News, 9 Feb. 2024, heart.org/en/news/2024/02/09/the-slowly-evolving-truth-about-heart-disease-and-women. Supports the broader clinical framing that women remain underrecognized or undertreated in cardiovascular care and that women’s heart disease still needs better public and clinical communication. This is more public-facing than mechanistic, but useful for your opening frame.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:
Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones
https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:
Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy
TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy
Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

Today, we’re diving into autoimmunity—what it actually is, why it happens, and how ultra-processed foods may be contributing to the problem.

Autoimmune disease is often misunderstood. Some will tell you diet has nothing to do with it. Others claim diet is the cure. The truth is more nuanced—and that’s exactly what we explore in this episode.

You’ll learn:

What autoimmunity really is (and why it’s a case of mistaken identity)

How inflammation and the immune system interact

The critical role of gut health and the microbiome

How ultra-processed foods disrupt intestinal integrity and immune signaling

Why stress and hyper-palatable foods create a harmful cycle

A practical experiment you can try to see how diet impacts your own biomarkers

This isn’t about selling supplements or pushing extremes. It’s about understanding the science so you can make informed decisions about your health.

As always, this episode is backed by scientific literature. Full citations are included below, with abbreviated versions available on shorter clips.

If you’re dealing with autoimmune symptoms—or just want to better understand how food impacts your immune system—this episode is for you.

 

Full citation list:

Hall KD, et al. “Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake.” Cell Metabolism, 2019.

    Supports the formulation argument: UPF intake increased spontaneous calorie intake and weight gain even with diets matched for presented calories, sugar, fiber, sodium, and macronutrients. This is your anchor for “hyper-palatability and formulation change physiology, not just psychology.”  

Narula N, et al. “Association of Ultra-Processed Food Intake With Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Prospective Cohort Study.” BMJ, 2021.

    Best human disease-level citation for the episode. Supports the claim that higher UPF intake is associated with greater IBD risk, making the gut-immune link clinically meaningful rather than purely theoretical.  

Chassaing B, et al. “Randomized Controlled-Feeding Study of Dietary Emulsifier Carboxymethylcellulose Reveals Detrimental Impacts on the Gut Microbiota and Metabolome.” Gastroenterology, 2022.

    Best emulsifier paper for human translation. Supports the claim that CMC can perturb the microbiota and metabolome and may contribute to barrier-hostile gut ecology in susceptible individuals.  

Daniel N, et al. “Human Intestinal Microbiome Determines Individualized Responses to Dietary Emulsifier Carboxymethylcellulose.” Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2024.

    Useful nuance paper. Supports the point that emulsifier sensitivity is not identical across all people and that host-microbiome context matters.  

Shil A, et al. “Artificial Sweeteners Disrupt Tight Junctions and Barrier Function in the Intestinal Epithelium Through Activation of the Sweet Taste Receptor T1R3.” Nutrients, 2020.

    Best citation for the “sugar-free does not mean barrier-neutral” point. Supports direct epithelial barrier effects of common artificial sweeteners in experimental models.  

Peng L, et al. “Butyrate Enhances the Intestinal Barrier by Facilitating Tight Junction Assembly via Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in Caco-2 Cell Monolayers.” Journal of Nutrition, 2009.

    Classic mechanistic citation for butyrate. Supports the claim that loss of fermentable fiber and reduced butyrate production can weaken barrier function.  

Kumar KP, et al. “The Interplay Between the Microbiota, Diet and T Regulatory Cells in Maintaining Intestinal Homeostasis.” Frontiers in Microbiology, 2023.

    Useful for the tolerance language. Supports the argument that diet and microbial metabolites shape Treg biology and mucosal tolerance.  

Haase S, et al. “Sodium Chloride Triggers Th17 Mediated Autoimmunity.” Frontiers in Immunology, 2019.

    Key citation for high salt and autoimmune-prone immune skewing. Supports the claim that excess salt can promote pathogenic Th17 biology relevant to autoimmune disease.  

Wilck N, et al. “Salt-Responsive Gut Commensal Modulates TH17 Axis and Disease.” Nature, 2017.

    Strong bridge between salt, microbiome, and Th17 signaling. Supports the point that salt is not just a blood pressure story; it is also an immune-story.  

Vitales-Noyola M, et al. “Analysis of Sodium Chloride Intake and Treg/Th17 Lymphocytes in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.” Journal of Immunology Research, 2018.

    Helpful human-facing citation for salt and immune skewing in autoimmune populations. Use cautiously, but it strengthens translation from theory to autoimmune terrain.  

Phuong-Nguyen K, et al. “Advanced Glycation End-Products and Their Effects on Gut Health.” Nutrients, 2023.

    Good review for the AGE section. Supports the argument that AGE-rich processed foods may worsen oxidative stress, microbiota balance, and barrier function.  

Chen Y, et al. “Dietary Advanced Glycation End-Products Elicit Toxicological Effects by Disrupting Gut Microbiota and Increasing Colon Permeability in Rats.” Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 2021.

    Useful mechanistic support for the processing-chemistry section. Reinforces the claim that dietary AGEs can alter microbial ecology and increase permeability.  

Monteiro CA, et al. “Ultra-Processed Foods: What They Are and How to Identify Them.” Public Health Nutrition, 2019.

 

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more. If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

 

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

 

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604

 

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy

Website: www.protealife.com

 

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide are everywhere right now—but are they actually solving the problem?

In Episode 8 of this 16-part series on ultra-processed foods, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the truth about GLP-1 medications: how they work, why they can feel like a “miracle,” and where things go wrong when they’re used without proper medical guidance.

This isn’t about shame. It’s about understanding.

GLP-1s can quiet “food noise” and help regulate appetite—but they don’t fix your relationship with food, your metabolism, or the long-term patterns that lead to weight gain. Without structure, nutrition, and proper care, many patients end up with muscle loss, nutrient deficiencies, and rebound weight gain.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What GLP-1 medications actually do in your body

Why they’re not a long-term solution on their own

The biggest mistakes doctors and clinics make when prescribing them

How ultra-processed foods drive weight gain in the first place

How to use GLP-1s the right way to create lasting change

The goal isn’t dependence—it’s freedom.

If you’re currently on a GLP-1 (or considering it), this episode will change how you think about your treatment plan.

 

Mechanism Anchored References

This episode is not anti medication.

It is about putting GLP 1 therapy in its proper place.

GLP 1 receptor agonists can reduce appetite pressure and alter satiety signaling.

That matters.

But quieter appetite is not the same as full recovery.

Food quality still matters.

Protein still matters.

Muscle still matters.

Structure still matters.

 

References

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WEGOVY semaglutide injection Prescribing Information. 2025.

Wilding, John P H, et al. Once Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 384, no. 11, 2021, pp. 989 to 1002.

Wilding, John P H, et al. Weight Regain and Cardiometabolic Effects After Withdrawal of Semaglutide The STEP 1 Trial Extension. Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, vol. 24, no. 8, 2022, pp. 1553 to 1564.

Hall, Kevin D, et al. Ultra Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake. Cell Metabolism, vol. 30, no. 1, 2019, pp. 67 to 77.

Neeland, Ian J, et al. Changes in Lean Body Mass with Glucagon Like Peptide 1 Based Therapies and Mitigation Strategies. Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, 2024.

Wilding, John P H, et al. Impact of Semaglutide on Body Composition in Adults with Overweight or Obesity Exploratory Analysis of the STEP 1 Study. 2021.

Everitt, Barry J, and Trevor W Robbins. Drug Addiction Updating Actions to Habits to Compulsions Ten Years On. Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 67, 2016, pp. 23 to 50.

Monteiro, Carlos A, et al. The UN Decade of Nutrition the NOVA Food Classification and the Trouble with Ultra Processing. Public Health Nutrition, vol. 21, no. 1, 2018, pp. 5 to 17.

 

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more. If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

 

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

 

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604

 

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy

Website: www.protealife.com

 

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!