Are You Hungry All the Time?
By Sara Butler
Your body needs food in order to produce energy, so if you don’t eat for a few hours, then it’s perfectly normal to feel hungry at different times throughout the day. But if you find that you’re hungry all of the time, even after eating, then you may have a more serious problem with your health going on. Here are some of the more common reasons you might be hungry all of the time.
Diabetes
Your body converts the sugar you eat into fuel your cells can use called glucose. Diabetes prevents the glucose from being utilized by your cells, which means they’re not getting fed. If this happens, then you may feel hungry all the time. People with type 1 diabetes often find they have insatiable appetites and eat constantly, but still lose weight.
Aside from a spike in appetite, the symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include:
- Blurry vision
- Prolonged healing time
- Pain in the hands and feet
- Fatigue
- Extreme thirst
If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as you can.
Sleep Deprivation
Not getting enough good quality sleep at night can have a huge impact on your health and wellness. It can also impact the hormone levels in your body that help to control hunger, making you feel hungry all of the time and crave foods that are high in fat and calories.
Other symptoms of sleep deprivation include:
- Mood changes
- Clumsiness
- Increased accidents
- Weight gain
- Trouble staying alert
- Difficulty staying awake during the day
Stress
When you’re stressed a lot, your body is flooded with stress hormones such as cortisol. This hormone increases your appetite because it’s preparing your body to flee a dangerous situation. If there’s no dangerous situation to flee, then the extra calories don’t get used and that can create a problem with excess body weight. Other symptoms of stress include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Angry outbursts
- Sleep issues
- Upset stomach
Stress is a part of life, but if it’s having an impact on your health, then it’s important to find healthy ways to deal with it.
Your Diet
Not all foods are created equal, and if you’re eating a lot of highly processed foods, then you’re more likely to be hungry sooner. The best foods to curb hunger are lean proteins such as fish, dairy products, and foods that are high in fiber such as vegetables and fruits.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.