Your mind can play strange tricks on you when it comes to eating. You might find yourself craving a certain type of food without consciously thinking about it. Many of us can find ourselves eating, even when we are not particularly hungry.
That might prompt you to ask why am I always hungry even after eating?
There are a variety of reasons why you might behave in this way. Stress and boredom are plausible causes, amongst others.
You also might find yourself craving certain foods, even when you are full. Here are some potential reasons why you are experiencing these cravings.
Sleep can have a major impact on your eating habits and cravings
A widespread reason for experiencing food cravings is when you are not getting enough regular sleep.
Your sleep-wake cycle can be severely disrupted when you are not getting enough sleep time or quality sleep. Your body reacts to this scenario by triggering a hormonal imbalance. This reaction will make you experience an increased appetite. It will also intensify your feelings of craving for certain foods.
Lack of water
Many of us regularly don’t drink enough water. The end result is that you run the risk of becoming dehydrated.
This lack of water impacts the normal functioning of your liver. Your liver will then release less glycogen than normal and your body will start to crave certain foods as it seeks to compensate for these low levels.
Not enough physical activity
There are numerous reasons why an active lifestyle is the best option. One of the downsides of not getting enough exercise is that your body becomes less able to regulate its usual hormonal balance.
When that happens, a lack of physical activity can trigger food cravings.
Food cravings are more likely when you are stressed
When you are feeling stressed, your body will generate increased levels of cortisol. This stress hormone can often trigger food cravings. Unfortunately, this can create a vicious cycle where the more stressed you become, the more likely it becomes that you will start craving foods that are high in fat and calories.
Once you can get your stress levels under control you have a better chance of resisting your cravings.
Lack of a balanced diet
Your body needs a regular supply of nutrients to help it function properly. If you have low levels of certain nutrients your body will often get to work in an attempt to redress this imbalance.
The result of this action is that a lack of certain nutrients is highly likely to trigger a variety of different food cravings.
The most efficient way of suppressing your cravings is to work out what your body needs and give it what it wants. Obviously, if you are craving chocolate all the time, you will need to find a viable and healthy alternative. Eating some nuts and fruit can often help dampen your desire for the wrong types of food.
Listen to what your body is telling you. Once you get the message, you should be able to control your cravings more easily.
