Hunger is our bodies way of signaling to our brains that it needs nutrients. Our body gets everything it needs to function from the foods we eat - from the water to keep us lubed and hydrated to the vitamins and minerals for building bones, muscle, hormones and energy. When our body gets low on the tools it needs to stay functioning properly it signals the brain to replenish its stores, and you become hungry.
Here is where the problem arises. It's morning, our bodies have gone at least 8-10 hours without food and it is really needing some nutrients to get up and running for the day. You're on your way to work and grab a bagel and coffee for your breakfast and eat up. You body senses that it's getting what it needs and you become full. However........ Once your body gets that bagel in its system it realizes that it doesn't really have much to work with - while flour, sugar, a little bit of fat mixed in - ya, there is really nothing there it can use. So the body, still needing the building blocks to function, and not receiving them yet, signals your brain once again to send in reinforcements by telling you you are hungry again.
Mid morning snack time. You wander over to the vending machine and grab a Snickers bar. Hey, it's got protein in it, so that should do the trick. Well, a bit of protein and a whole lot of sugar. You get a burst of energy, feel satisfied in the hunger department and are ready for the rest of the morning. That's when the crash hits. All you have given your body thus far in the day to work with is a grain that has been completely stripped of all it's nutrients, sugar, fat and a minuscule of protein. It would be like pouring water into your gas tank and then wondering why your car won't run.
On the flip side of this coin, if you eat a power-packed breakfast, with lots of whole-grains, fruit, veggies, and/or proteins like nuts, seeds and egg whites, all of the sudden your body has a lot of great tools it can use and it stays busy for hours going about its business before it needs replenishing.
So, when you are planning your daily meals, think nutrient packed foods. Eat foods as close to their natural state as possible to get all of the nutrients they have to offer. Stay away from refined, processed, prepared foods as these are almost always void of any nutrients that your body can use and are just empty calories. Making this simple switch you will find that you can eat less, stay satisfied longer and have more energy and a clearer mind - all of which are important throughout the day.
Picture taken from Always Foodie
Picture taken from Always Foodie
