Control Hunger by Staying Well Hydrated

Appetite and hunger can both be triggered by many things that include sight, smell, and changes in the digestive system. However, your appetite can be influenced by things like boredom or undefined thirst that may lead to creative thoughts. When you eat a well-balanced meal, it takes your body time to break food down into usable forms of glucose. Conversely, consuming a high-sugar meal causes a faster burn that triggers a spike in insulin levels.

It is healthy to have feelings of hunger as you are nearing your next mealtime. Nonetheless, do not give in to creative options your appetite may be suggesting. If hunger pangs are annoying, snack on a whole food like a freshly peeled carrot. Feeling hungry when it is time to eat and eating your food slowly will allow your meal to be much more satisfying. Always remind yourself to slow down and appreciate every bite of the food you are consuming.

If you are struggling to manage food cravings or stomach grumblings, do not skip meals. The right intake of real food can keep your blood sugar levels stable. Moreover, try applying some of the proven tips discussed below:

• Stay Hydrated – Drinking enough water throughout the day can keep you feeling full. Moreover, people often confuse feelings of thirst for sensations of hunger, which can trigger an imaginative appetite that can create all sorts of food cravings.
• Protein & Fiber Snacks – When your daily intake is inadequate in the amount of protein and fiber, the desire to eat increases, so opt for protein and fiber snacks whenever hunger or food cravings began to annoy you between meals.
• Reduce Sugar Intake – Refined carbohydrates like cookies and candy may taste good but they tend to leave you feeling hungrier shortly after you consume them. Reduce sugar intake and add nutrients to better manage hunger.
• Eat Slowly – Eating more slowly will allow you to concentrate on the quality of the food you are consuming instead of worrying about quality. Eating slowly also minimizes effects of binge eating.
• Add Spices – There’s a reason many process foods also keep flavors on the mild side. Overwhelming flavors tend to tell your brain much quicker when it is time to stop eating. Spice can help prevent overeating or mindless snacking.

Although many people associate losing weight with battling constant feelings of hunger. Truth is you cannot sustain starvation, so following the right menu plan and managing food cravings are essential for weight loss success. Long-term weight management depends on your commitment to adopting effective strategies to control true hunger as well as manage your emotional appetite for food. Let MRC show you how.

When adding calories back to your menu plan, choose whole foods that are fiber-rich and high in protein. A different way of viewing weight management is to focus on a strategy that manages calories but also focuses on how your body accumulates fat. Keeping blood sugar levels stable helps to burn glucose so it doesn’t convert to fat. For over three decades, the weight loss specialists at Metabolic Research Center have been personalizing menu plans for people who want to lose weight and keep it off for good.