Happy or Hangry? The Importance Of Eating Enough

When it comes to losing weight, it’s all about what you eat and while you might think that cutting down on the calories is the only way to go, there’s good reason why you should continue eating, even when you’re trying to diet. Eating healthy and balanced foods on a regular basis is the best way in which to keep your body ticking over, give it sufficient energy in order to function properly and keep your brain working as normal. The less that you eat over the course of the day, the worse that you will feel; it’s as simple as that.

(source: iflscience.com)

Why is it, though, that eating regularly can leave you feeling better off than if you scrimp on your meals? While feeling sluggish is a common side effect of overeating, consuming just the right amount can help to keep your glucose levels topped up just enough in order to help your brain perform to its best ability. Your brain is dependent on the levels of glucose that are in your blood in order to perform properly. The less glucose you absorb as a result of your food, the lower the level that will be able to be taken in by the brain. When your glucose levels dips below normal, bad things start to happen. Not only will you feel generally more tired and less focused but also, you are much more likely to feel the irritation that we so commonly associated with “hanger”, a feeling which makes you lash out at the people around you.

(source: howitworksdaily.com)

There’s more to it, too. When you glucose levels dips below normal, your brain begins sending messages out to various parts of your body  to up their hormone production, in turn boosting glucose production. One of the hormones released is adrenaline, which increases your body’s ability to respond to stimuli in either a energetic or aggressive manner. Less energy and food consumption lead to a rise in bad moods, poor communication and distraction.

Eating regularly can help to reduce feelings of hanger and enable you to make healthier food choices throughout the day. Dieting isn’t all about starvation and in order to get your body in really good shape, it’s all about how you balance your meals. To avoid feelings of irritation and stay on the healthy straight and narrow, turn to food. After all, you are what you eat.