How to Curb Constant Hunger

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There are a lot of people who deal with hunger pangs in many different ways. This feeling is normal, but when these hunger pangs turn into a constant affair then care needs to be taken. Let's take a look at the causes of this condition and learn how to curb constant hunger.

Excessive hunger is a condition wherein one suddenly feels pangs of hunger. One might feel excessively thirsty, or may have to force oneself to drink water. This condition could also be accompanied by constant fatigue, and sudden weight gain. In these cases a person feels hunger pangs all the time and cannot feel full no matter how much he/she eats.

Causes of Incessant Hunger Pangs

Hunger is a basic physical drive and so is healthy in itself. But, if you feel hungry despite of eating to your fill, then it is not a healthy sign. To find ways of battling it, you will have to see what is it that gives rise to an insatiable appetite for food.

Low Fat Foods

There are a number of people who will tell you that cutting fat from your diet is important to lose weight. However, according to the latest research, cutting fat from the diet results in weight gain as opposed to the desired weight loss. Low fat refined carbohydrates, which are consumed by most people these days, do not leave the person satisfied.

The glycemic index of carbohydrates without fat is very high which causes a rapid spike in blood sugar levels and a quick conversion of sugar into fat. This process makes the person constantly ask for more, leaves no energy for the brain or for the body causing an exhaustion.

Emotional Eating

A lot of people use food to tide over the bad emotional phase they are going through. Have you noticed how much you reach for junk food when you are sad or upset? This is when you should refrain from emotional eating as you do not need the food physically, but you eat as a way to distract yourself emotionally.

Television

This is one of the main reasons why a person eats more. A person sits in front of the television and leads a sedentary and bored life. To add to it, there are advertisements that bombard the person with images of sugary and nutrition deficient food.

It is important to break the habit of sitting in front of the television set and eating as you will not pay attention to the nutritional value of food or the portion size of what you eat.

Inactivity

More percentage of people today are no longer as active as the earlier generations used to be. Man has automated most things. There are escalators and elevators to take us up and down, vehicles to transport us, etc. This has made us very inactive. The earlier generations would walk to reach up or down to their destinations.

The number of steps walked by the earlier generations was about 15,000 steps per day, but our generation walks less than 3000 steps each day. This causes storage of sugar added to stress that people go through. You may choose to exercise everyday to treat the problem.

Mental Problems

A person who is highly stressed all the time is susceptible to this condition, because in such a mental state the cortisol hormone is released which increases hunger in a person. Also those people who suffer from conditions such as bipolar diorder might have this problem.

Physical Health Issues

Diabetics or those people having low blood sugar may suffer from constant hunger pangs. Also eating disorders like bulimia can cause this condition in a person. This problem could also be a result of some genetic abnormality.

Treatment

Perpetual hunger and weight gain has reached the proportion of an epidemic now. The first step that you will have to undertake is to avoid the so-called 'low-fat food' or low-fat diet and make healthy fats a part of your diet. Remember, a certain amount of fat is also necessary for good skin, hair, and hormonal balance.

Include good fat such as eggs, olive oil, fish, avocado, yogurt, coconut, etc. in your diet. Avoid deep-fried, processed food. If you have eaten something you should not have, do not feel guilty about it. If you realize that your hunger is mentally-induced and not physical, resolve to curb the habit.

Do not be a couch potato. Make it a habit to go for daily walks, play a sport, or go for a swim. At the same time, stop the habit of eating in front of the television. If your dining table faces the television, you should turn your back towards it when you eat.

Exercises are of great help not only for weight loss, but also for keeping hormones under check. Since you are not used to exercises, you can start with exercising for 15 minutes and then gradually increase the time. If you are prefer sports, you can also choose to start playing a sport.