One in every eight households in the U.S. isn’t always sure where the next meal will come from. Limited food access can spell hunger – and that can affect the body and mind. So can cheaper, less nutritious foods. Hunger has a huge impact on individuals – and whole societies. It can mean shorter term issues like trouble focusing, as well as longer term mental health and physical struggles like chronic disease and social isolation. Host <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1082526815/regina-g-barber"target="_blank" >Regina G Barber </a>speaks with experts looking at the impacts of food insecurity – from the known tolls and misconceptions to ways to bridge the gap.If you liked this show, check out <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/12/08/1198908816/lonely-brain-neuroscience-of-loneliness"target="_blank" >our episode on loneliness and the brain</a>. To learn about ways you can find free or low-cost food, check out <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/11/nx-s1-5599147/9-strategies-to-find-free-or-low-cost-food-when-money-is-tight"target="_blank" >NPR’s Life Kit episode on the topic</a>.Interested in more public health or human biology stories? Email us your question at <a href="mailto:shortwave@npr.org"target="_blank" >shortwave@npr.org</a>.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/shortwave"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org/shortwave</a>. Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

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