Always Feeling Hungry? It Could be Caused by Digestive Issues.

This is a very common question.  You could have digestive issues , or maybe just the wrong diet. So, let’s talk about a few other reasons you may feel hungry by checking out more details below!

1. Low Protein intake – protein (among other things) helps with satiety.
2. Low fiber intake – Fiber also helps satiety! But you must also ensure you drink sufficient fluids (mainly water) to prevent uncomfortable bloating. You can find fiber in fruits, vegetables and whole grain products (Aim to reach: 25 g a day for woman and 35 g a day for men)
3. Your fat intake is too low **- Yes, this may be a shocker. But similar to protein, fat helps with satiety. However, it’s vital that we don’t over consume fat especially saturated fats.
4. Too many (simple) carbohydrates – Meals and snacks high in carbs (especially refined/simple carbs) may cause a spike with blood sugars followed by drastic decrease, leading to hunger! It’s all about adequate intake of carbs with each meal to prevent this from happening (and stick to complex carbs most often since they allow the decrease of blood sugar to be a slow and gradual process)
5. Inadequate sleep – Yes, sleep can also affect your caloric intake. Inadequate sleep can affect your hormones, specifically *ghrelin*. Ghrelin is known as the “hunger hormone”, so if it’s continuously high, your caloric intake can also be high, so let’s develop some healthy sleep habits ! Bye-bye midnight tik-tok videos!
6. You’re always stressed! – This can lead to emotional eating and changes with hormone levels such as cortisol. It’s VITAL that you practice stress management techniques to prevent chronic stress.

These are the common reasons you may find it difficult to reach your weight goals! It’s important that you speak to a qualified practitioner, like a registered dietitian or gastroenterologist , to further assess.