Attention All Foodies: This Is Why You’re Always Hungry

 

The last time you ate was about 88 minutes ago, and you know because you’ve been watching the clock ever since. The size of your lunch bag startles your co-workers, you eat more snacks in a day that you can count, and cravings are just a way of life for you. Let’s face it, you have a bottomless pit and food is just your way to celebrate, well, pretty much everything.

 

So what gives? Why is it that no matter how much we eat, we still feel like we could eat more? If you’re the queen of second rounds at dinner, snacks in between snacks, and “going-large” on all your fast food orders, this may be your problem:

 

  • You have a fast Metabolism

Whether it’s because you were born with it or it’s the long years of dedicated training for your sport, if you have a high metabolism, your body burns calories at a much faster rate than the average person causing you to get hungry quickly.

 

  • You’re eating refined foods

If you’re always eating white bread, cheese, cookies, and bacon, you may want to cut that out. Unless of course you don’t mind the constant rumbling in your stomach. But the truth is, processed foods with refined sugars have an overwhelming effect on the brain as those foods increase your blood sugar and then crash. This, in turn, causes you to feel even hungrier than you did before you ate your meal. Try and stick to whole-grain carbs as much as possible.

 

  • You’re mixing up hunger with appetite

It’s not that you’re always hungry, but you may just want to eat (Yes, there’s a difference). Appetite is more of a psychological drive where you begin to crave certain foods while hunger is biological drive that comes with physical signs such as headaches and dizziness.

 

  • You’re Stressed

We all experience stress at some point in our lives, and while we all cope with it differently, one common result that we mostly share would have to be hunger. When your hormone levels are spiked, it tricks your body into thinking it needs more energy and your appetite kicks in.

 

  • You’re not eating enough protein

As counterproductive as it may seem, putting more food in your plate may be the answer to your solution. Specifically, protein and healthy fats. Foods such as Greek yogurt, eggs, beans, avocados, and salmon are great sources of fat and protein and will leave you feeling full for longer.

 

  • You’re Dehydrated

Mild dehydration can often be mistaken for hunger when all you really need is a glass of water. The hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that regulates both appetite and thirst, is where the confusion begins and may cause you to eat a burger rather than drinking some liquid. If you’re feeling hungry, but haven’t had much to drink all day, try drinking some water and waiting for about 20 minutes to see if the feeling subsides.

 

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

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