While the most obvious reason for the feeling of hunger is the signal that it is time for your next meal, this sensation can also be caused by several other variables. If you are eating regular meals, and find that your hunger is still not satisfied, or if you are feeling hungry much too often, your body might be signaling something besides a need to eat more.
If your diet is lacking in a variety of whole, organic foods, and fruits and vegetables that encompass all colors of the rainbow, this may well be the cause of your hunger, as your body needs an array of vitamins, minerals, proteins and healthy fats to be satisfied.
Emotional Eating
For many people, eating is an emotional activity. Some do it in response to stress, some to sadness, and some to anger. While eating may initially soothe these emotions, it is not a solution to the undercurrent emotions.
If you think you may be an emotional eater, keeping a journal of how you feel when you get the urge to eat can help you get to the bottom of the connection between your emotions and your eating. When you recognize your patterns, you can take steps to resolve the actual issues, such as taking a meditation class to alleviate stress instead of reaching for a snack.
Lack of Sleep
Another common cause of hunger is not getting enough sleep. When you do not achieve a sufficient amount of sleep, it is thought that your body produces higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger. Lack of sleep has also been linked to more cravings, especially for sugary and salty snacks.
Dehydration
Some people mistake the sensation of hunger for the sensation of thirst. Make sure you are drinking between eight and 10 glasses of water every day. If you are dehydrated, this could be a cause of the hunger sensation. Beverages other than water have a tendency to dehydrate your body, so if you are drinking coffee, tea and juice throughout the day, compensate by drinking more water.
Soda Drinking
If you drink soda, the best solution is to stop. Soda contains high fructose corn syrup, which has been found by a large body of research to affect the body’s satiety mechanism, making you crave more. On top of that, it also has a highly dehydrating effect. Diet soda is by no means a better solution, as artificial sweeteners can also leave you feeling hungry for more.
Gluten Sensitivity
Another reason you may be getting hunger pangs even though you are eating normally could be a sensitivity to gluten, or even undiagnosed celiac disease. In some individuals, gluten can interfere with the body’s absorption of nutrients, so that it does not get what it needs to function. Hunger pangs are a documented symptom of gluten sensitivity.
Parasites or Hormonal Imbalances
If you are eating a nutritious diet, have ruled out the above factors, and still feeling hungry, see a health professional to rule out parasites and hormonal imbalances, which can also cause symptoms of insatiable hunger, and to get to the root cause of what your stomach is trying to tell you.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.drfranklipman.com/why-do-i-feel-hungry-so-often
http://www.shininghealth.com/blog/2012/03/could-gluten-be-behind-your-health-issues
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/11/surprising-hunger-causes-sneaky_n_4241299.html
