6 REASONS YOU’RE ALWAYS HUNGRY

Hunger is our body’s response to lack of food. Sadly, many people are constantly hungry because they can’t afford to buy enough to eat. But if you experience hunger despite eating well, let’s look at some of the reasons that could be causing it.

1. TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT?
If you’re on a restrictive low-calorie diet you will be permanently hungry. Although it might show initial success in weight loss, it isn’t a good long-term plan. Firstly, it’s hard to stick to it if you feel hungry all the time, and secondly, your body sees the lack of food as a reason to store up the little it’s getting, so it slows your metabolism, which makes it even more difficult to shift stubborn extra kilos.

2. DIET DRINKS AND ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
You’d think that the sweet taste of diet sodas and other artificially sweetened foodstuff would make you feel full, but the opposite is true. Studies show that obese people and especially women have a greater appetite after consuming artificial sweeteners vs. drinks sweetened with sugar. It’s thought that the artificial sweeteners ‘trick the brain into feeling hungry’ so people eat more.

Related article: What food cravings could be telling you about your health

3. YOU’RE DEHYDRATED
Dehydration (not having enough water) affects every cell because our bodies are made up of about 70% water. Sometimes we can feel hungry when we’re actually thirsty, so try drinking water instead of grabbing a packet of crisps. Water also fills the stomach so sometimes people like to drink a glass of water before a meal.

Related article: Hydration: What you’re doing wrong

4. ALCOHOL CAN TRIGGER HUNGER SIGNALS
You may think having a drink or two before supper will fill you up but alcohol can actually cause the brain to stimulate hunger signals – this may be the body’s way of encouraging you to get more nutritious foods, as well as the ‘empty calories’ alcohol, provides?

5. EXERCISE
When you exercise, your body is burning up fuel, so when you stop you may feel hungry – the body’s prompt to tell you it’s time to replenish what you’ve used. Trainers suggest eating a high-protein snack combined with carbohydrates (e.g. cheese on toast) immediately after exercise is a good way to refuel. Although some people claim that they’re even hungrier after swimming as opposed to other exercises, there is no scientific reason why swimming should make you hungrier.

6. HUNGRY AFTER MEDICATION?
Certain medications (e.g. antidepressants, antihistamines (for allergies) and corticosteroids) can increase appetite. If you feel it’s causing you to gain unwanted weight, discuss a medication change with your doctor. It’s never a good idea to stop taking meds suddenly.

Medical conditions that cause hunger
Quite a few medical conditions can make you feel hungry:

Diabetes – people with diabetes can’t process glucose so it doesn’t reach the cells of the body, causing them to eat more to try to get the glucose they need. People with type 1 diabetes may lose weight although they eat a lot. Type 2 diabetes can also cause hunger and thirst.
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) – this can occur as a result of diabetic medication (when it works too much), but also in cases of hepatitis (liver disease), kidney disease, tumours in the pancreas and hormonal problems. Again, the feeling of hunger is the body’s way of trying to get the sugar level balanced.
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) – the thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland, situated in the neck, which makes hormones that regulate how cells work and the way the body uses energy. When it is overactive it can stimulate excessive hunger and hyperactivity, so people often lose weight despite eating more.

Related article: How to lead a healthy life with diabetes

All these conditions are accompanied by fatigue so do see a doctor if you think your hunger may be abnormal.