Have you ever wondered why being hungry can make you so cranky? This state of hunger-induced anger, or being “hangry” as it is sometimes called, is your body’s natural response to its need for food.
“Hanger” commonly comes from low blood-glucose levels
When you eat food, the various components, such as carbohydrates and fats, are broken down into simple sugars, amino acids and so forth, which can be circulated through the body and used for energy.
After a stretch between meals, the nutrient supply begins to decrease. When the level of glucose in your blood becomes too sparse, your brain interprets this as a life-threatening circumstance. This is because your brain needs glucose in order to properly function. You have most likely noticed at some point in your life that it is hard to focus attention and complete difficult tasks when you are hungry.
It can also become difficult to monitor your social behavior and reactions. That is why people find themselves being cranky and snapping at others when they are hungry. People you are close to and would normally be relaxed around are more likely to be the target of your hangry behavior.
Spouses can often bear the brunt of hangry behavior
“We found that being hangry can affect our behavior in a bad way, even in our most intimate relationships,” said Dr. Brad Bushman, professor of communication and psychology at Ohio State University and professor of communication science at VU University in Amsterdam.
In an experiment conducted by Dr. Bushman, participants were given voodoo dolls to represent their spouses and pins. They were told to insert pins into the voodoo dolls depending on how angry they were with their spouse. Each participant was given a blood glucose meter and told to regularly measure blood glucose levels.
The study findings showed that participants with lower blood glucose levels pushed more pins into the doll than those with higher levels. This was true, independent of the couple’s overall relationship satisfaction.
“When they had lower blood glucose, they felt angrier and took it out on the dolls representing their spouse,” explained Dr. Bushman. “Even those who reported they had good relationships with their spouses were more likely to express anger if their blood glucose levels were lower.”
Another factor in hangry behavior is the glucose counterregulatory response
Another part of hangry reactions is related to the glucose counterregulatory response that your brain triggers from blood-glucose levels that are too low. This response is how the brain activates different bodily organs to produce and release hormones that will increase glucose levels in the blood.
These are the four primary hormones involved in the glucose counterregulatory response:
- growth hormone which is released from the brain’s pituitary gland,
- glucagon that is released from the pancreas,
- adrenaline, or as it is sometimes called, epinephrine from the adrenal system, and
- cortisol from the adrenal glands.
Two of those hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, are stress-related hormones that are frequently released by the body during stressful situations. In particular, adrenaline is the hormone most responsible for the fight-or-flight response that people experience when they are under extreme stress. A similar fight-or-flight reaction can be experienced during the glucose counterregulatory response because of the presence of these hormones. So this too can contribute to the angry behavior you may exhibit towards others when you need food.
Neuropeptide Y and the Y1 receptor can also play a role
Another contributing factor towards angry behavior resulting from hunger is a gene called neuropeptide Y. This natural chemical is released in the brain during hunger; it induces feeding behavior and interacts with the Y1 receptor of the brain.
Neuropeptide Y and the Y1 receptor not only play a role in regulating hunger, but they also regulate behaviors such as aggression and anger. Research has shown that people with elevated levels of neuropeptide Y in their cerebrospinal fluid experienced elevated levels of impulsive aggression.
Remedy your hanger by eating nutrient-rich foods, not junk food
A common mistake for people experiencing hanger is to reach for quick, convenience foods that are loaded with added sugars and simple carbohydrates. These junk foods cause quick, elevated spikes in blood-glucose levels that results in sudden crashes. This will only increase the body’s reaction to needing stable glucose levels and increase the hangry response.
It is best to counter the hangry response with a meal that includes complex carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. These nutrient-rich foods will return the blood-glucose levels to normal and last longer.
We all suffer some hangriness from time to time, so plan ahead and keep convenient snacks in a purse or backpack. Especially on long car rides or outdoor activities, it is best to keep convenient, healthy food sources nearby. What are your favorite healthy, travel-friendly snacks?
—The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/20/health/science-behind-being-hangry/index.html
http://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2014/apr/15/hangry-stupid-made-up-word-angry-hungry
http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/hangry-is-real-and-the-worst/977665
http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/hangryspouse.htm
