If you wonder why you are always hungry after enjoying a satisfying, nutritious meal, read on for some suggestions on what may be the cause of your hunger, and the steps you can take to help keep hunger pangs at bay.
Prescribed Medication
An unbridled appetite can be the side effect of many prescribed drugs including contraceptives, some antidepressants, corticosteroids, and some allergy medicines. For most of us, this is not a big problem, but five to ten percent of all overweight people have become obese because of their medicines, according to Louis Aronne, Professor of Clinical Medicine and Metabolic Research at Weill Cornell Medical College. Sometimes an alternative drug is just as effective and the side effects of weight gain are less likely. Consult with your doctor about your options.
Canned Vegetables
Vegetables are the friend of the nutritionally aware, unless they come from a can or other packaging that contains the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). Some scholars classify it as an ‘obesogen’, a new class of industrial ingredients that are suspected to alter metabolic processes and to lead some people to gain weight. There are various theories about how BPA effects the human organism. One says that the body classifies the chemical as a hormone and that endogenous substances (such as leptin) that control satiety are disabled by it. If you do not have fresh vegetables available, simply rely on the frozen versions, making sure that they contain no bisphenol.
Cold Weather
A juicy roast in winter is simply so much more seductive than a light salad. Dr. Ira Ockene, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, says that we are driven by primitive impulses that are aimed at storing extra calories during colder months. This ‘hamster’ theory is the result of people saving around 86 more calories on cold days than on hot. Others say that we simply need more energy to keep our body temperature stable. Dress warmly before you eat, especially if you go to a restaurant.
Eating While You Work
Eating at your desk may save time and increase your productivity, but this work benefit is not reflected in the scales. A scientific study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that subjects ate twice as much if they were sitting in front of a computer instead of at a table. In addition, subjects did not accurately recall what they ate and tended to underestimate the amount of food they consumed. You can avoid weight gain by resisting the temptation to eat while you work.
Sugary Drinks
Obesity expert Dr. Robert H. Lustig has shown in experiments that excessive sugar consumption blocks satiety. A study by Yale University showed, with the help of brain scans, that the areas of the brain in adults that are responsible for the feelings of satiety, were less active after the consumption of sugary drinks. The Yale scientists concluded that sugar boosts the appetite rather than curbing it. Drink water with a lemon slice, and have a light dessert if you wish to. This is better than sipping a Coke and munching a cinnamon bun.
Gender Typical Cravings
According to studies, women tend to eat an extra 100 – 200 calories just before menstruation, mostly in the form of sweets and chocolate. The probable reason for this is elevated progesterone levels during this time, and women who suffer from symptoms such as cramps are more likely to be affected. Don’t fret and blame your hormones. A Weight Watchers study concludes that in this phase of the menstrual cycle metabolism is raised slightly (five to ten percent). If activity levels are not changed during these critical days, and women take part in sport and exercise, weight gain can be avoided.
The Night Shift
Studies from around the world have shown a link between increased BMI and too little sleep. Clearly, the less you sleep, the more time you have to eat, among other things. However, the reason for the extra weight could also be hormonal. In a 2004 study, participants who slept for less than four hours showed decreased leptin levels, and that of the ‘hunger hormone’ ghrelin, increased. They also reported that their feelings of hunger were almost a quarter stronger than before the experiment. The participants also craved sweet, salty and starchy foods. Weight loss experts say that sleep alone does not stave off weight gain, but it helps to keep the cravings for sweets and fast food at bay.
Reassurance from friends and family, along with counselling may sometimes be necessary to cope with excessive hunger. If hunger does not decrease, or increases, and your appetite is of concern, it is advisable to seek medical advice to exclude the possibility of an underlying health condition.
Add comment