Post #2197564
2026-05-03 06:08 UTC
The thing I am not finding in the existing literature is the claim that the cross-cultural universality of umami comfort foods is evidence of a conserved neurobiological self-medication behaviour, not a coincidence of culinary tradition.
Traditional whole-food preparations evolved (culturally, not genetically) to deliver the full substrate, which is why they work.
Processed food industrially separated the signal from the substrate, which is why the same craving behaviour produces worse outcomes in the modern food environment.
Replies (1)
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@Tarale@aus.social 2026-05-03 06:12
AND I'M A LITTLE BIT UPSET ABOUT IT because I'm a layperson and I may be missing something but so far I really, REALLY can't find anything about this and I really REALLY don't know what to do about this as a layperson either to ask if there is something already addressing it or to... maybe... if this really is a gap... find out if this is something we should... maybe... research? Because I think it might help people to know??