Feeling hangry? Want to know why?
Well, there can be a multitude of reasons why we give in to our cravings, such as stress, or poor will power. I’ve always wondered why I get these intense random cravings for a good Bueno bar or pizza, and here’s why; our bodies are very reactive to what we eat and junk food is one thing that keeps us coming for more.
Okay, why?
The major players in our cravings are leptin and serotonin. Leptin is a hormone released to tell our brains when we are full and serotonin is a neurotransmitter that makes us feel happy. Because leptin is made in our fat tissue the more we eat, the more leptin is produced, which should tell our brain that we have enough energy and to stop eating. But, something called leptin-resistance can develop which means we have so much leptin circulating in our bodies that the brain stops receiving the signal. When the brain doesn’t receive that signal our body saves more fat as energy and goes into ‘starvation’ mode, resulting in us searching for fatty-rich foods. If meals aren’t eaten at regular times, it can affect your metabolism which means entering starvation mode. Since our brain thinks our body needs to be conserving more energy it also makes us feel lazy, so we move only when necessary. Extreme leptin-resistance can also lead to weight gain or obesity.
Leptin Feedback Cycle Credit: Authority Nutrition
On the other hand, up to 90% of serotonin is made in our intestines, and is released when we eat. When we eat sugary food versus fruit more serotonin is released to accommodate our reward system. Once we start to build a tolerance, we need more serotonin to make us feel as good as it did previously, therefore even more junk food. So when our cravings start to hit junk food is the target since we know it’ll make us feel better than eating vegetables. This release of neurotransmitters can be so strong as some studies have related the feeling to the effects of cocaine. Which is one of the reasons why we continue to eat junk food because our brains relate the large release of endorphins to a reward.
Synaptic Transmission: How Serotonin gets transported to the brain Credit: Nutrition Wonderland
How to fight the cravings.
Now that I found out it’s not just my terrible willpower, I don’t feel as bad for giving in, but, here are some ways that can fight off those cravings when it’s taking over your mind.
Run it off! Running can release endorphins- including serotonin- making us feel great again without the junk food. To avoid the stress-eating or post break-up eating, get in tune with your body with some meditation which also releases endorphins. Now you know that these tiny molecules are responsible for your huge cravings.
»Nikeisha Dass
