It is not just a matter of eating when we feel hungry, it is also recognizing when we are actually feeling hungry, have increased appetite or are just having a craving.
Wait; are hunger and appetite not the same? They are not. Hunger is a physiological body response that encourages the intake of food in order to maintain energy levels. Appetite responds to an emotional, visual, or habit cue that needs to be satisfied promptly and triggers a rewarding feeling.
Recognizing why and when we are ”hungry” and what to eat to feel truly satisfied are important pieces of information to know about your own body. For example, if you are having a stressful day and you have only managed to have a cup of coffee and a bagel for breakfast, and a sandwich with lettuce and tomato for lunch, you can start expecting certain behaviours that are caused by your hunger hormones and blood glucose levels.
A great start to keep our hunger hormones happy is to have a steady blood glucose level.
Glucose is the by-product of carbohydrate digestion; therefore, both, simple and complex carbohydrates or starches can affect blood glucose levels. Furthermore, insulin sensitivity to the same food can vary from person to person depending on different factors such as physical activity, sleep patterns and stress exposure.
As a rule of thumb though, our blood glucose levels can have a major spike or stay high for longer by the overconsumption of simple carbohydrates or sugars, such as sodas, pastries or cookies, but also natural sugars such as those found in fruit, particularly tropical ones. The higher our blood glucose level rises, the more noticeable the crash is, which translates into the constant craving for more sugary foods.
Creating a balanced meal is a great start to improve your energy level and keep hunger hormones and blood glucose happy.