Have you read all the way through Reasons 1-18 and still haven’t found the answer to why you’re always tired and hungry?
Maybe it’s because the answer lies in your metabolism, your food packaging, or your lack of vegetables!
As we learned in Reasons 1-18, hunger has a huge impact on our ability to focus, our sleep, and our energy levels.
Read Reasons #19-21 below for more tips on how to combat all this!
Catch up:
19) THE REASON: You have a fast metabolism.
Maybe you’ve spent years working hard at the gym (go you!), or maybe you were just born with it. Or maybe it’s Maybelline (kidding).
Either way, having a faster metabolism means you burn calories at a faster pace (even at rest). This is due to the fact that your body needs to continuously replenish its energy stores. Hence why you’re hungry more frequently than others.
A faster-than-average metabolism means you burn anywhere from 100 to 400 extra calories a day, so your body alerts you to eat constantly.
THE TIPS
- Ask yourself if you’re genuinely hungry or if maybe it’s one of the reasons mentioned in a previous post (thirsty, not eating enough healthy fats, bored, etc.).
- If you really are hungry, head for healthy, unprocessed snacks like nuts, veggies and homemade full-fat dip, deviled eggs, etc. Having a faster metabolism doesn’t mean you should eat junk! Junk still has an unhealthy effect on the body even if you’re not gaining weight from it.
- Ensure you’re eating enough healthy fats and proteins. Those types of foods keep you satiated for longer than just carbohydrates. See Reasons #1 and #3 for more.
THE TAKEAWAY
If you’ve got a fast metabolism, it may help you to eat more frequently and revamp your intake of healthy fats and proteins.
20) THE REASON: You eat out of cans.
Yes, cans are easy, quick, affordable, and already-cooked. But did you know that the insides of most cans are lined with chemicals?
The most infamous chemical is bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is used to prevent foods from coming in contact with the metal cans they’re stored in. It can be found in 67% of all canned food.
BPA has been linked to hormone interference, infertility, heart disease, male impotence, etc.
Even cans labeled BPA-free can have similar health-damaging chemicals that have replaced BPA.
THE SCIENCE
According to a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, those who had higher levels of BPA in their blood also had higher levels of leptin and were at greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome: a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. — Mayoclinic.org
THE TIPS
- Buy BPA-free cans and plastics. Just be aware that BPA-free doesn’t guarantee that the BPA has been replaced with something that’s not as harmful.
- Buy food in glass jars or cardboard containers.
- Eat fresh food!
THE TAKEAWAY
The chemicals in canned foods could be causing you to feel hungry more often than normal.
21) THE REASON: You skimp on veggies.
All the experts have told us for years and years that the average American doesn’t eat enough vegetables.
But why is this such a bad thing? One reason is because most leafy greens are rich in vitamin K, which is a micronutrient that regulates insulin levels.
Vitamin K increases insulin sensitivity, making it easier for your body to take up sugar from your bloodstream. If your body does this efficiently, it doesn’t need to take in more sugar through food, which helps curb your cravings.
Also, as covered in Reason #6, veggies are some of the most fiber-rich you can eat. Fiber slows the absorption of the foods we eat from the stomach into the bloodstream, which helps us feel fuller longer.
THE TIP
Eat foods rich in insoluble fiber and vitamin K: spinach, Brussels sprouts, kale, collards, turnip greens, and broccoli. For starters, try my “Get Your Greens” Winter Soup recipe.
THE TAKEAWAY
You could be feeling hungry all the time because you’re not eating enough vegetables. Get those nutrients and your body will thank you (and you’ll be less hungry!).
Did one (or more) of these stand out to you? Which one?
Have you used some of these tips, or do you have another idea for how to cope?
Leave me a comment below!
Catch up on previous posts in this series:
If you’re always tired and hungry, and would love some one-on-one nutritional coaching from yours truly, click here.