WHY AM I ALWAYS HUNGRY?

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Why am I always hungry?

Your body depends on food for energy, so it’s normal to feel hungry if you haven’t eaten for a few hours. But if your stomach is always rumbling, even after eating, there may be something wrong with your health.

The medical term for excessive appetite is polyphagia. If you’re always hungry, talk to your doctor.

Many things can cause hunger.

1. Diabetes

Your body converts the sugar in food into a fuel called glucose. But when you have diabetes, glucose can’t reach your cells. Your body pee it out instead and be telling your body to eat more. People with type 1 diabetes, in particular, can eat large meals and still lose weight.

In addition to an increase in your appetite, symptoms of diabetes may include:

Extreme thirst

Need to pee often

Weight loss you can’t explain

Blurry vision

Cuts and bruises take longer time to heal

Tingling or pain in your hands or feet

Fatigue

2. Low blood sugar

Hypoglycemia occurs when the glucose in your body drops to a low level. This is most common in people with diabetes, but other medical conditions can also cause it. They include hepatitis, kidney disease, neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas (insulinomas), and disorders of the adrenal or pituitary glands.

In severe cases, people with hypoglycemia can appear drunk. They may find it difficult to talk, it is difficult for them to walk. Other symptoms may include:

Anxiety

Feeling like your heart is skipping a beat

Pale skin

Shaking

Sweating

Tingling around the mouth

3. Lack of sleep

Not getting enough rest can affect your body’s hormones that control appetite. People who sleep feel more hungry and find it difficult to feel full. You’re more likely to crave foods high in fat and calories when you’re tired.

Other effects of sleep deprivation include:

It’s hard time staying awake

Change in mood

Clumsiness

More accidents

Trouble staying awake during the day

Weight gain

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4. Stress

When you’re stressed ortense, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. This increases your appetite.

Many people with anxiety also crave foods that are high in sugar, fat, or both. It could be your body’s attempt to ‘turn off’ the part of your brain that worries you.

Other symptoms include:

Angry outbursts

Fatigue

Headache

Sleep problems

Stomach upset

5. Diet

Not all foods fill you up the same way. The best appetite suppressants are high in protein – such as lean meat, fish or dairy products – or high in fiber. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans are good sources of fiber.

Healthy fats like those found in nuts, fish and sunflower oil can lower your cholesterol levels. They are important for a healthy diet and can help you feel full after eating.

Pastries, white bread, many packaged foods, and fast food do not contain these foods but they do contain unhealthy fats and carbohydrates. If you eat too much of it, you may feel hungry again shortly after eating. You may eat more than you should. You may feel fuller after a meal if you spend more time chewing and savoring your food, rather than eating it too quickly. It can also help to pay attention to what’s on your plate rather than the TV or your phone.

6. Medication

Some medications can make you eat more than usual. Antihistamines, which treat allergies, are known for this, as are antidepressants called SSRIs, steroids, some diabetes medications, and antipsychotics.

If you have gained weight since you started taking the medicine, it may make you feel hungry. Talk to your doctor to find out what other medications might work for you.

7. Pregnancy

Many expectant mothers notice a significant increase in their appetite. This is your body’s way of making sure your baby gets enough food to grow. Most women gain between 4 and 6 pounds in the first 3 months (your doctor will call this the first trimester), then 1 pound per week during the second and third trimesters.

Other signs you may be pregnant include:

Missed period

Need to pee often

Stomach upset

Sore breasts or breasts that get bigger

8. Thyroid problems

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. It produces hormones that control the speed at which every part of your body works. If your thyroid is overactive, you may have hyperthyroidism.

Besides an enlarged thyroid gland, other symptoms of the problem may include:

Fast pulse

Feeling nervous

Sweating more than usual

Muscular weakness

Thirst even after drinking

9. Diet soda

Many people drink sugar-free soda to cut calories or lose weight. But the artificial sugar in these drinks tells your brain to expect more calories to use for fuel. When your body doesn’t get it, it turns on your “appetite switch” and tells you to get calories from food instead. If diet soda makes you hungry, you may also notice:

Headache

Sugar cravings

Weight gain

10. Dehydration

Are you hungry or just thirsty? You cannot distinguish between the signals you receive from your body.

Other signs of dehydration include:

Dizziness

Feeling tired

Peeing often or have dark colored pee

Some studies show that if you drink a glass of water before you eat or when you eat, you can feel full with fewer calories.

Your body burns calories for fuel when you exercise. This leads to an increase in your metabolism, the process by which your body uses energy. In some places, this can cause hunger.