It’s been approximately 1.5 hours since you ate lunch and you’re starving. Sound familiar?
We’ve rounded up the main culprits to why that feeling of devouring an entire pizza is eating away at you – and they don’t all relate to food.
Distractions
We’re all guilty of eating a meal (or an entire packet of Tim Tams) without even realising we’ve actually done it because our mind is off in other places – just like when you’re digging into your salad while typing a reply email to your boss, or inhaling dinner as you’re trying to put your child to sleep. Always take time out to focus on what you’re eating; your brain will catch up and you’ll notice you’ve actually satisfied your hunger levels.
Boredom or procrastination
All of us have done this at one stage (or many). We look through the fridge for a snack just because we don’t want to be doing the task at hand – whether that be the ironing or work reports.
If you feel like you’re hungry in this situation, you’re probably not. So get moving with that particular job you need to do, there’s no point putting it off! Once you do that, you might even forget you’re hungry at all.
Refined foods
Cookies, white bread and chocolate are all amazing for a 3pm fix, but they’re not exactly the best option. The refined sugar found in these processed foods can spike your blood sugar levels, but then crash which ends up making you hungrier than you were in the first place. Such a vicious cycle! It’s these types of foods that have been scientifically proven to have an impact on mood-regulating chemicals in the brain which can lead to overeating. Sticking to the good foods should help ease the faux hunger pangs.
Thirst
A lot of people don’t drink enough water during the day, and as a result, they often mistake hunger for thirst. Keep hydrated and you’ll find you need to snack less.
Time of the month
We’re all familiar with the comfort-food binges we tend to go on during our periods; it’s inevitable. But this has actually been proven as a scientific fact – our appetites are increased particularly during the second half of the cycle. Eat foods that are rich in iron (like red meat, fish and leafy greens) to replenish the iron levels lost during your period. If you’re hungry not long after a meal, wait 20 minutes or so. If you’re still ravenous, make yourself a healthy snack!
Stress
For a lot of people, stress and sadness can affect hunger – appetite can either drop or soar sky-high. Stress can often make people turn to fatty or sugary foods which can be so comforting and delicious at the time, but can also leave an empty feeling. Try to identify the triggers that are making you feel this way. Consider taking a yoga class or listening to some soothing tunes – whatever makes you feel calm.
Habits
We’re creatures of habit who love regularity, so when it hits 7pm AKA ‘dinner time’, our stomachs seem to switch to raging hunger mode. Try to determine how hungry you really are by listening to your body, and if you’re not, make yourself a smaller portion or put off the meal for an hour.
