Sometimes, it can feel difficult to interpret why you feel hungry all the time, especially if hunger strikes soon after you’ve eaten. This can be particularly frustrating when you’re making a conscious effort to choose healthier foods or manage your weight. If this all sounds familiar, know that you’re not alone.
There are many possible reasons that could be causing you to have an increased appetite or seemingly insatiable hunger. What you eat and drink may be the main culprit because of the effect they have on your glucose, though stress, sleep, exercise and other lifestyle factors can also contribute to feeling hungry more often.
Types of Hunger
Physical hunger is straightforward: Hunger cues arise, and when you eat, the feeling resolves. Hunger is commonly signaled by a growling stomach, but may also feel like low energy, inability to focus, light-headedness or dizziness. This type of hunger is initiated by a physiological need for energy, which increases the hormone ghrelin in the bloodstream, a messenger that signals you feel hungry and need to eat.
In simple terms, your body is nearing “E” and the light switches on to notify you to refuel. But humans are complex and live in dynamic environments where you may not “feel” hungry or realize that your body is signaling hunger and needs food.
Likewise, you eat for reasons other than physical hunger. Hedonic hunger, on the other hand, is the term used for hunger without a caloric need.1 This may arise from habits, boredom or your environment. This is often the reason for feeling hungry frequently.
Connection Between Glucose and Hunger
Glucose and hunger are tightly intertwined. When glucose levels dip, this is one of the main reasons for true physical hunger. However, a glucose spike, followed by a drop, can cue the same feeling of hunger when you don’t need the calories.
Meals or snacks that are carb-heavy or sugar-laden can rapidly raise your glucose levels in your blood, followed by a large surge in insulin, which often causes a huge glucose crash. Rapid glucose swings (or low glucose) may leave you experiencing the tell-tale signs of a crash: fatigue, irritability, and, you guessed it, hunger — even after eating a big meal.
9 Reasons Why You Feel Hungry All the Time
1. You’re not eating enough.
If your goal is to lose weight, don’t slash your calorie intake too low or undereat during weekdays to then overeat on weekends during planned “cheat days.” If you’re experimenting with ways to steady your glucose, you may be tempted to cut out carbs and sugar, but decreasing calories too far without consuming enough healthy fats and protein can not only leave you feeling hungry but also hinder your progress.
While you might experience hunger when eating in an intentional calorie deficit, you may need to experiment with your meals and snacks to find what keeps you satisfied while staying on track. Gradual weight loss is feasible through a small calorie reduction of 20%, or around 500 calories a day, although this will depend on the person. Make sure you fill up with protein, healthy fats and fibrous vegetables to help with satiety.
2. You’re active.
Working out increases your need for energy. Certain types of exercise like higher-intensity workouts or harder efforts can blunt your appetite for a short period of time immediately afterwards, but then come back with a vengeance. This is simply your muscles asking for more fuel.
If you exercise regularly, you may notice that you need to eat more at meals or eat more frequently than others around you who aren’t as active, and this is normal. To ensure you're recovering and refueling after workouts, consume a balance of protein, fats and complex carbs and rehydrate with fluids.
3. You’re missing the mark on protein.
Protein is satiating, meaning you’ll feel more satisfied for longer after eating more of this important macronutrient. If you feel hungry soon after meals, crave sweets in the afternoon, or need dessert after dinner, you may not be eating enough protein.
Prioritize protein with all meals and snacks, aiming for at least 30 grams of protein at meals and at least 15 grams of protein at snacks, up to a daily goal of 0.7-1.0 grams of protein per pound of ideal body weight. This amounts to 105-150 grams of protein daily for a 150-lb individual. In the morning, break the fast with 30 grams of protein at your first meal, and observe if your hunger stays at bay (and steadies your glucose).
4. You’re not getting enough sleep.
Research shows that people eat more following periods of sleeping less.2 Staying up late may result in snacking to try to stay awake, and short sleep durations of less than six hours can leave you feeling hungrier than if you got enough shuteye. Inadequate sleep has been shown to alter the appetite regulating hormones leptin and ghrelin.3
5. You’re fearing fat.
Like protein, fat is extremely satiating. There’s no need to fear healthy fats like nuts, seeds, avocado, nut butters and plant oils such as olive and coconut oil (refined vegetable oils, like those in high-calorie snack foods, should be limited).
Adding healthy fats to your diet will keep you fuller longer, help to steady glucose and curb hunger. Mix almond butter into morning oatmeal, dress a salad with olive oil and lemon juice, snack on olives and cheese or add mixed nuts and seeds to Greek yogurt.
6. You’re forgetting fiber.
Fiber is filling because it slows digestion, causing food to remain in your stomach for longer. Since fiber isn’t digested but is passed through your GI tract, it fills you up for fewer calories and delays the rise in glucose from your meal.
Low-fiber carbohydrates (such as candies, cakes, cookies, chips, pretzels, and desserts) are typically high in simple sugars, which causes rapid rises in glucose. Not getting enough fiber or eating lower fiber foods that are high in sugars and cause a crash could be why you feel hungry. Some fiber-rich foods include raspberries, almonds, avocado, chia seeds and beans.
7. You’re stressed out.
Stress causes a rise in the stress hormone cortisol, which elevates glucose. This can leave you feeling hungry and reaching for sugary and high-carb comfort foods.
While these foods may resolve physical hunger, it doesn’t curb feeling stressed. You may feel happy after eating certain foods, but this can be short-lived as it’s just appeasing the reward centers in your brain (especially if you reach for ultra-processed foods with a lot of sugar and carbs).4 Plus, eating sugar-laden processed foods spikes your glucose, leading to a crash and perpetuating the cravings for more high-carb comfort foods.
Instead, plan for three stress-reducing tactics you can implement when you’re stressed out and craving comfort food. For example, breathing exercises, taking a 10-minute walk outside or writing down five things you’re grateful for.
8. Your environment isn’t helpful.
The power of suggestion is strong. Studies show you eat more of what is in front of you, which can either help or hinder your nutrition.5
How is your environment set up? Try clearing your kitchen countertops of snacks and treats and leave only a fruit bowl. In your fridge and cupboards, make the healthy choice the easy choice by placing cut vegetables, nuts and seeds, low-sugar yogurt, lean jerky and other healthy foods front and center.
9. You’re in a certain phase of the menstrual cycle.
Women of reproductive age may notice differences in hunger levels throughout their normal menstrual cycle. Specifically, in the luteal phase (second half of the cycle around days 14-28), hormones are naturally higher, which can influence hunger and cravings for sweet, carbohydrate-rich foods.6 Females of perimenopausal age may also notice differences in appetite regulation, due to rising levels of estrogen.7
Prioritize protein and fill up on healthy fats to work with your physiology instead of against it.
Managing Feeling Hungry All the Time
If you feel like you’re hungry all the time, check the above list and see if any of the reasons apply to you. The best way to satisfy hunger is to eat, and different meals and snacks will have a unique impact on your hunger. It’s best to test out several different food combos to see which choices curb your hunger the best and leave you truly satisfied and satiated. A balanced approach that combines plenty of vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats will keep you fuller and steady your glucose.
Devices like the Lingo biosensor can also help you assess your feelings of hunger and make the best choices for your unique physiology. Lingo is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that connects to your smartphone and pairs with an app to help you establish healthy habits.
Lingo gives you a window into your glucose responses to the foods you eat and can help you make the best choices for not only your hunger, but also your overall metabolic health with real time insights.
A Final Note About Lingo
Decoding your feelings of hunger isn’t always so straightforward and requires understanding your body's cues, assessing your lifestyle habits and recognizing the impact your choices have.
Even if you’re building healthier habits or trying to lose weight, you don’t need to remain hungry. Instead, focus on eating enough protein, fiber, and healthy fats, managing stress, and building additional healthy habits that work for you. Systems like Lingo, which use a continuous glucose monitor, can also give you a window into your glucose levels to help you understand why you might be experiencing frequent hunger.
References
1Espel-Huynh HM, et al. A narrative review of the construct of hedonic hunger and its measurement by the Power of Food Scale. Obes Sci Pract. 2018 Feb 28;4(3):238-249. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29951214/
2Al Khatib HK, et al. The effects of partial sleep deprivation on energy balance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017 May;71(5):614-624. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27804960/
3Lin J, et al. Associations of short sleep duration with appetite-regulating hormones and adipokines: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2020 Nov;21(11):e13051. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32537891/
4Monteleone P, et al. Hedonic eating is associated with increased peripheral levels of ghrelin and the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol in healthy humans: a pilot study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Jun;97(6):E917-24. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22442280/
5Larson N, et al. A review of environmental influences on food choices. Ann Behav Med. 2009 Dec;38 Suppl 1:S56-73. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19802648/
6Krishnan S, et al. Estradiol, SHBG and leptin interplay with food craving and intake across the menstrual cycle. Physiol Behav. 2016 Oct 15;165:304-12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27527001/
7Duval K, et al. Effects of the menopausal transition on dietary intake and appetite: a MONET Group Study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014 Feb;68(2):271-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24065065/
Important safety information
The Lingo Glucose System is intended for users 18 years and older not on insulin. It is not intended for diagnosis of diseases, including diabetes.
The Lingo program does not guarantee that everyone will achieve the same results as individual responses may vary. Consult your healthcare professional before making changes to your diet or exercise regimen or if you have an eating disorder or a history of eating disorders.
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