It has been exactly two hours and 36 minutes since your last meal. You know because you’ve been watching the clock. For you, cravings are a way of life. Your stomach is a bottomless pit. Second dinner is a must. And getting “hangry” is a real and ever-present threat. Pamela Peeke, M.D., M.P.H., senior science advisor at Elements Behavioral Health talked about the top reasons some women are just always hungry. Don’t worry, you don’t have a tapeworm.
1. You Have a Fast Metabolism
Some women were born lucky (thanks, genetics). Others have worked hard, put on muscle, and revved their metabolism that way. And, of course, the faster your metabolism, the more fuel you need. According to research from the University of Vermont, about 32 percent of people have metabolisms that are more than eight percent different (higher or lower) than the population average. So having a fast metabolism might amount to burning 100 to 400 extra calories a day, says Peeke.
2. You’re Eating Refined Foods
Processed foods—like white bread, cookies, even salad dressings—spike your blood sugar, let it crash, and then leave you feeling even hungrier than you were before you ate the stuff. “Refined sugar, because it has such a powerful effect on the brain’s reward center, is the most common reason people’s appetites remain so high throughout the day,” says Peeke.
3. Your Hormones Are Out of Whack
PMS is one thing, but some hormonal conundrums can make you hungry all month long. Having hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid gland, is the most common hormonal cause of constant hunger, says Peeke. When thyroid hormones are too high, the body’s vital functions speed up, and you burn energy faster than intended. Meanwhile, hypoglycemia (perpetually low blood-sugar levels), as well as pre-diabetes and diabetes (too high blood-sugar levels), can also cause hunger spikes, she says.
4. You’re Confusing Hunger with Appetite
Sorry to break it to you, but many women who are “always hungry” actually just always want to eat. “Hunger is a primal biological drive associated with physical symptoms, such as headache, shakiness, and intestinal contractions leading to that hungry, gurgling sound from your stomach,” says Peeke. “Appetite is a psychological drive in which you desire a particular food and seek it.”……..
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