Contents
Why do we feel hungry?
What is appetite and what is satiety?
Appetite or hunger is a physical sensation that prompts the body to eat. We feel hungry because our brain makes us feel it through the so-called “hunger center” which is part of the “appetite center”.
Satiety is a state in which the body is satisfied and does not need to eat more food. We are satisfied because the “satiety center”, a component of the ” brain appetite center”makes us feel we are satiated.
What do we need to satisfy our appetite?
Our body must fulfill its energetic, structural and regulatory requirements. To do this, it requires the following nutrients:
- Fats: With energetic and structural function.
- Carbohydrates: With energetic and structural function.
- Proteins: With structural and regulatory function
- Vitamins: With regulatory function
- Minerals: With structural and regulatory function
Food as energy and nutrients for the body
Natural foods can provide all the energy and nutrients our body needs
Through the food, our body will get the above nutrients that will allow it build and maintain its structures.
The organic metabolism requires energy to grow and function. It also requires the other components that regulate the various functions.
We feel hungry as a response to the need to cover the nutrients needed for good body performance.
When appetite is felt?
Appetite is regulated by the joint action of the digestive system, the fats and the brain.
The brain needs glucose to feed. When the level of glucose in the blood falls, the appetite center in the brain detects it, awakening in us the need to eat.
In addition, the stomach also helps to whet our appetite. The lack of food in the stomach creates a vacuum that causes contraction.
By contracting the stomach, we send a signal to the brain that reacts arousing appetite.
When we do not need to eat?
When levels of blood sugar are adequate, the brain’s satiety center tells us that we should not be hungry.
Similarly, the signal of stomach fullness or satiety reaches the center of the brain that encourages us to stop eating.
Factors that alter appetite
Appetite may be altered by factors that increase or decrease the need to eat. Among the factors that increase the appetite we have the following:
Exercise whets our appetite
- Cold
- Anxiety
- Intense exercise
- Insomnia
- Hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease
- Diabetes
- Bulimia
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Age
- Etc
More information on appetite and its natural treatment.
