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Ignore the Last Pizza Slice, You’re Not Really Hungry !

Fitness

Ignore the Last Pizza Slice, You’re Not Really Hungry !

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You just had your dinner, but your mouth waters at the sight of that extra slice of pizza inside your refrigerator.

You feel, may be you didn’t eat that well. So, you’re about to pick that up. Well, just leave it. Leave it right there. It doesn’t belong to your tummy, at least not for a while. Better, go get some water to fill yourself.

pizza plate

Wondering what’s wrong with me? Why I didn’t let you eat that? Well, you should ask yourself this question every time you’re done with your meal but still hungry for more.

You see, there’s a difference. You feel you’re still hungry but your body doesn’t need anymore food. What your body might actually crave for is simply water!

Consider this. Aren’t there times when you savour  that leftover sandwich or that extra muffin, but you end up feeling bloated?

Well, the reason behind this is quite simple. You’re mixing signals. And you need to listen to your body.

Contents

Confusing Signals! What They Really Mean

Our brain can actually confuse us at times, by sending cues that make us believe we are hungry, while that might not be the case. And many of us misinterpret those signals, do you know why? Because they are the same! Yes, our hunger cues are similar to thirst cues.

These cues that we receive, come from a part of the brain called hypothalamus. When the stomach is empty, the body releases specific hormones to signal a growing appetite. When the hypothalamus receives those signals, it communicates with our nervous system telling us that it’s time to eat.[1]

Now since these signals are the same, our body may also react similarly like, your stomach may also send you signals.

For instance, it might grumble and perform some twist and turns. You may also feel light headed occasionally. While, those twist and turns usually indicate that you’re hungry, but those same tricks may actually mean that your food is getting digested.

Why Do You Still Crave?

You might wonder, if you’re not really hungry, why do you still crave, right?eating-in-a-row

Well, that’s because, our body also reacts in a certain way to the mere sight of delicious food. Just like our brain sends internal body cues to let us know we are hungry, similarly our body also receives external cues from the sight and smell of a delicious meal urging us to have a bite.[2]

So, even if you’re not really hungry and yet dinner is served, you have it because of the ingestive reflexes that our body creates due to the availability of food in front of us.

What Should You Do?

waterYou need to chill and head off to the next option and ask yourself, if what your body really needs is water.

Now, I don’t need to educate you why your body requires water. You know that the body needs to stay hydrated all times in order to maintain an ideal internal environment. With water making up for 70% of our body, we need to drink it enough to make up for the daily loss of fluids.[3]Most folks just buy bottled water, but if you want an even more convenient option that helps the environment too, consider installing a Whirlpool water filter on your refrigerator. This allows you to have fresh drinking water right at your fingertips.

However, knowing that still, we tend to ignore our hydration needs.

So, do not just wait for your throat to dry up to grab that glass. Feeling thirsty only suggests you’re already dehydrated and your body is dying for water. Moreover, staying hydrated will also help you avoid cue confusion.

How To Decode These Signals

  • When you feel you’re hungry even after a hearty meal, it means you’re receiving mixed signals. So, rather than paying attention to those noises coming from your stomach, just drink a glass of water. If you sense that you’re full, the job is done.
  • In other cases, when you feel hungry between your meals, before running towards the kitchen, recall the time when you had your last meal along with the last time you drank something. You’ll get the answer.
  • Also, when you drink up, wait for at least 15 minutes to see it if really satiates you. If it doesn’t, then you can happily grab a bite.
  • Decoding signals or not, always drink water after your meal to stay full for a longer time. Water also helps to absorb nutrients better and digest food easily. What more, its the best way to get rid of those extra calories.donut

You see, the more you stay fuller, the less you crave for more. So, the next time, you notice that soft and puffy donut lying on the dinner table, you know what to do. Leave it. Leave it right there…

If you agree with me, go ahead and spread the word.

Related post: 29 Smart Eating Habits Of The Super Fit People

Reference:

[1]Aou S (2001). [Physiology of appetite and feeding behavior: introduction]. Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine, 59 (3), 407-12 PMID: 11268585. ^Back to Top^

[2]Booth DA (1981). The physiology of appetite. British medical bulletin, 37 (2), 135-40 PMID: 7032646. ^Back to Top^

[3]McKinley, M. (2004). The Physiological Regulation of Thirst and Fluid Intake News in Physiological Sciences, 19 (1), 1-6 DOI: 10.1152/nips.01470.2003. ^Back to Top^

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