Can being hungry make you tired?

Have you ever found yourself yawning and lacking energy, despite a good night’s sleep? Maybe you skipped breakfast or postponed lunch, hoping to get more done in your busy day. But then suddenly, everything around you seems blurry, and all you can think of is taking a nap. Well, if this has ever happened to you, the chances are that hunger made you tired.

The Science Behind Hunger

Hunger is not just a feeling of an empty stomach; it’s also the body’s way of telling us that we need nutrients for energy production. When blood sugar levels dip below their normal range (70-99 mg/dL), the body reacts by releasing hormones such as ghrelin, which signals our brain to eat food.

Furthermore, not only does hunger tell us when to eat but also influences how much we consume at each meal. Scientists believe that leptin (the hormone responsible for regulating appetite) decreases with inadequate calorie intake, making individuals prone to binge eating episodes later on.

Energy Production 101

Understanding how our bodies make energy can help explain why being hungry makes us tired. Simply put – glucose (aka sugar) is required for cellular respiration – the series of reactions within cells that produce ATP molecules (energy).

When we eat food containing carbohydrates/sugars/starches/fiber/glucose, enzymes break them down into smaller compounds like simple sugars such as fructose & galactose before finally converting them into glucose (1) during digestion(note: fiber doesn’t convert to glucose).

Glucose travels via bloodstream across cell membranes where insulin facilitates its uptake and conversion into ATP molecules through different metabolic pathways found within mitochondria inside cells (2).

However; when these stores become depleted because we haven’t eaten anything or went too long without eating something sufficient enough i.e carbs etc., Then yes – carbohydrates are an essential component to keep our bodies running correctly. Skipping meals or not eating something fulfilling with a sufficient amount of carbs can often lead to tiredness.

The Effects of Hunger on the Body

Hunger affects our brains and bodies in different ways:

Brain Fog and Difficulty Concentrating

The brain consumes about 20% of total glucose from food intake, despite only accounting for 2% of body weight(3). Therefore, when glucose levels decline due to hunger, the cognitive functions such as “reasoning, attention span, and the ability to pay attention” decrease until normal glucose levels are once again reached (4).

Depressive Mood

Another effect that hunger has on mood is depression-like symptoms characterized by irritability, frustration coupled with low self-confidence and/or a short temper that sees everyone pisses you off—ever heard someone describe being Hangry!

Slowing Down Metabolism

Furthermore; when we fast or don’t eat enough calories regularly because your body thinks it’s been starved – It Decides, this must be some form of famine! & Regulations kick in designed for survival purposes resulting potentially in less energy expenditure and slower metabolism rates too.

  • Yawning More Often When Hungry
  • Decreased Athletic Performance
  • Sleeping Longer Than Necessary
  • Dizzy Spells / Light Headed Sensations

Can Drinking Water Help?

Drinking water might temporarily alleviate feelings associated with hunger if dehydration was also playing part (nausea/flushing/dizziness) but drinking water doesn’t necessarily eliminate all symptoms related mostly from a lack of proper nutrition

However!!!; Choosing specific fluids i.e those containing electrolytes or Amino acids may help offset deficiencies more energetically speaking than just “Water” alone depending on how well the Dehydration factor played into your equation primarily

Being hungry certainly has an impact on our energy levels, focus, and overall mood. Skipping meals or not eating sufficient calories can cause slow metabolism rates resulting in lower physical and mental performance.

However, drinking enough water may alleviate some symptoms associated with hunger but best to be avoided regularly! While it’s easy to blame your lack of motivation/admin balance solely on how much food you had that day, it’s essential to remember other factors can overlap at the same time as Hunger Symptoms; Thus being mindful of them first is where Focusing should lie.

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