Has it ever happened that suddenly between 1-2 am in the night you woke up and you started feeling hungry? Many times hunger starts even after dinner and then we start looking for something in the fridge or the kitchen cabinets. Our night cravings suddenly increase. Have you ever wondered why this happens? After being active throughout the day, why do we feel hungry again late at night after eating?
According to a study conducted by Erin Hanlon, a behavioral neuroscientist at the University of Chicago, it was observed that lack of sleep or sleep disorders is responsible for this. Night Cravings Craving for junk food or sweets are a result of poor sleep patterns. Apart from this, there are some reasons why we feel hungrier in the middle of the night.
This happens by not having breakfast properly
Breakfast acts as fuel for us which gives us the energy to work for the whole day. When we skip the morning meal, there is no life in the body. When your body is not getting enough nutrition, you tend to eat more at night or your cravings increase. This can also lead to an insulin spike.
Night cravings due to stress
Anxiety and stress are two of the most common reasons why you get night cravings. Due to stress, the cortisol level becomes high and along with it, insulin is also high. Because of this, some people do overeating and due to this other problems can also surround you.
Night cravings are caused by sleep
Ghrelin is closely related to hunger and leptin makes you feel full. Thus, when you are sleep-deprived or your pattern worsens, ghrelin levels rise and this sleep deprivation knocks down leptin levels. Sleep deprivation also affects the parts of the brain that determine how we think about food. This is the reason why we often feel hungry at night and eat more junk food.
Due to a lack of protein
Protein has appetite-reducing properties, which automatically make you eat fewer calories throughout the day. It works by increasing the production of hormones that make you feel full and reducing the levels of hormones that stimulate appetite. If you are taking a low-protein diet then you may feel hungry again and again.
Due to the consumption of refined carbs
Refined carbs lack fibre and cause blood sugar fluctuations. Since refined carbs lack filling fibre, your body digests them very quickly. This is the reason why you feel hungry again after eating pasta, candies, burgers etc.
Due to not drinking enough water
You can always be hungry if you are not drinking enough water. Water also has appetite-suppressing properties. Many times when thirsty people drink cold drinks, juice etc. thinking that they are hungry, but it does not happen.
If you are also doing all these things then you need to fix your lifestyle. This way your night cravings will never end. Include nutritious things in your diet.
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