What is hunger?
The vernacular has a “bear hunger” and the advertising speaks of “a little hunger in between”. But what exactly is hunger? It occurs when the body’s energy stores are empty, i.e. after we haven’t eaten or exercised for a long time. Hunger is the desire for food and energy. Most people feel it in the stomach area, but lack of concentration, headaches or nausea can also be signs of it.
Just a matter of the head: hunger arises in the brain
The central switching point for hunger is the brain, more precisely the diencephalon (the hypothalamus ). This is where all the messages relating to the body’s energy state come together. In this way, it measures energy reserves and regulates hunger and satiety at the same time.
If the signals from the diencephalon are ignored for a long time, ravenous hunger develops . In a binge, food is “thrown in” at random.
However, many people no longer feel hungry due to repeated dieting and frequent snacking. The appetite, on the other hand, serves the pleasant side of eating – enjoyment. Appetite awakens the desire for a certain food, even if you are already full.
How the body regulates hunger and appetite during a meal is a complicated process. Before and at the beginning of the meal, the appearance, smell and taste of a meal determine what and how much we eat. Receptors in the wall of the stomach and intestines send out information about how full they are and what nutrients are in the food. The brain then reduces appetite, and the size of the meal is regulated. After the nutrients travel from the gut to the body and liver, their receptors respond to the various breakdown products and affect satiety.
Conclusion
How long we are full now depends on the composition of the food. Carbohydrates fill you up quickly, while fats and proteins last longer.
(aid)