12 Reasons You're Hungry All the Time (And How to Fix It)

If your stomach constantly "growls" asking for food and feeling empty, this does not always mean that you are really hungry. There are many reasons why you cannot find the feeling of fullness and feel hungry even if you have recently eaten. Visiting the refrigerator at night can be a simple sign of a poor diet or a warning of a health problem that you need to address.

We've done some research and put together various possible explanations for why your body craves more food.

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1. Eat too many refined carbohydrates.

Refined carbohydrates can be found in any processed foods, especially pasta, baked goods, and sugary foods. A lack of fiber causes your body to digest them quickly, so you feel hungry immediately, while the feeling of fullness that comes with eating is temporary.

2. Diabetes.

Diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, is a disease that can make you feel hungry all the time. Due to diabetes, glucose, our source of energy, remains in the blood rather than being distributed to our cells. This makes a person who has diabetes feel hungry. Many celebrities, including Tom Hanks, have diabetes and still enjoy a wonderful life.

3. Work hard.

This is one of the good reasons why you often feel hungry. If you work out a lot, you burn a lot of calories, and as a result, your body craves more calories. People who exercise regularly and for a long time develop a faster metabolism and increase their appetite.

4. Too much stress.

It is well known that constant worry has a serious impact on our health and increasing our appetite is one of them. Excess stress is associated with our feeling of hunger. Scientifically, anxiety causes an increase in the hormone cortisol and leads to overeating and food cravings.

5. Eat too fast.

In our busy lives, many of us prefer to eat quickly while we do other things. While this may save you time, this habit is not good for your health at all. Scientists say that distracted or fast food negatively affects our appetite, increases the number of calories we take in, and leads to weight gain and constant hunger.

6. Hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is a dysfunction of the thyroid gland, the gland that controls our metabolism with the help of hormones. These hormones enter the bloodstream and control metabolism. The presence of hyperthyroidism means that this gland produces too much thyroid hormone. Increased feelings of hunger are part of the symptoms.

7. Sleep deprivation.

Never underestimate a good night's sleep. Ghrelin is the so-called "hunger hormone" that controls our sense of appetite in the brain. Sleep deprivation plays a very important role, as sleep deprivation has been shown to increase ghrelin levels and, as a result, cause hunger.

8. pregnancy.

There is also a pregnancy scenario. In this case, your body is craving more food for one simple reason: your baby needs more nutrients to grow in a healthy way. Increased appetite can be one of the symptoms of pregnancy, such as missed periods and nausea, among others.

9. Consume too much alcohol.

Alcohol seriously affects our appetite. Alcohol lowers levels of leptin, the hormone that makes you feel full, especially when consumed before or with meals, the researchers said.

10. Insufficient water intake.

There are so many reasons why drinking water is good for our health, including a healthy digestive system, heart, brain, and healthy skin. Water also helps reduce hunger. Studies have shown that people who drink water before meals eat fewer calories but feel just as full.

11. Lack of fat in your diet.

Not getting enough fat in your diet can be as much of a problem as eating too much. When you consume fatty foods, you slow down your gastrointestinal tract, which basically means that food stays in your stomach longer, resulting in an increased feeling of satiety.

12. Not enough protein.

Lack of protein in your diet may be another reason why your appetite is constantly growing. Certain qualities of protein help reduce hunger-causing hormones while still making you feel full. Athletes choose a protein-rich diet because it helps control weight and improves metabolism.