I used to work with a guy who had a HUGE appetite (and as you might expect, a matching body frame).  I remember him saying to me once at a party, “Sherry, I never get full—I just stop eating.”

While we all laughed at the time, it’s really not a laughing matter for many people.

One of the biggest dietary challenges that clients and readers report to me is that they ALWAYS feel hungry!

If that includes you, here are some surprising reasons why your inner dinner bell might be clanging way too often…and how you can help turn that around (and drop those extra pounds too!).

Surprising reasons why you’re always hungry

1. You’re thirsty

Many people think that they’re hungry when they’re actually thirsty.  

Here are a few ways you can tell the difference:

• Next time you feel hungry between meals, drink a large glass of water and see if your “hunger” subsides.
• If your urine is dark yellow and opaque at any time other than first thing in the morning, chances are excellent you’re dehydrated and thirsty.
• If Ronald Reagan was President last time you drank a glass of water, and your beverages of choice are coffee, beer, wine and soda, trust me—your body needs water.

Make sure you’re drinking at least eight 8-oz. glasses of filtered water each day. 

2. You’re eating too much salt

Heavy salt intake is usually associated with excessive thirst, but it can also stir up hunger!

Reducing your salt intake is not as mysterious as it seems.  For many people, the problem lies not in your tabletop salt shaker but instead in how many processed foods you consume!

Processed foods are notorious for containing copious amounts of both salt and sugar, so the more you avoid them, the less salt your body will have to deal with.

3. You’re PMSing

The hormonal changes associated with PMS trigger your appetite and cravings, especially for refined carbohydrates.

In order to help curb your cravings and even out your blood sugar, be sure to concentrate on complex (not refined) carbs like legumes and vegetables, plus proteins like meats, cheese, eggs and nuts. 

4. You’re a diet soda lover

Most people who drink diet soda think they’re doing something good for their waistline.  After all, it’s got zero calories, right?

Well, what you’re actually doing is sending false messages to your brain!

When your brain senses the sweetness of the soda it thinks that calories will follow.  When they don’t, your brain starts to DEMAND them--and you feel hungry as a result.

The answer here is obvious—lay off soda (both diet and regular). 

5. You’re stressed

Your body’s biological response to stress (whether physical or mental) is the “fight or flight” reaction. 

Your adrenal glands release adrenaline to raise your heart rate, put glucose into your bloodstream and increase your respiration.

Then cortisol is released to help keep you going and refuel your body.  As part of that, it makes you hungry, so you can replace nutrients you may have used up in your stressful event. 

This is fine if your stress is temporary and short-lived.  But when you’re chronically stressed day in and day out, this mechanism operates in overdrive…and can give you a nagging, enormous appetite as a result.

If chronic stress is a problem for you, it’s time to chill out—do whatever works for you.  Measures like massage, deep breathing, prayer, meditation, acupuncture, exercise, taking up a hobby and even adopting a pet have all been shown to help.

Also, peppermint and lavender essential oils can help combat stress and anxiety too.  Our exclusive collection of Mooseberry essential oils includes both of these outstanding oils!

6. Side effects of your medications

Certain medications can cause increased appetite, including allergy meds, insulin, steroids, certain blood pressure drugs and anti-depressants.

If you’re on any medications, check the literature and see if increased appetite is a side effect.  If so, talk to your doctor about alternatives (preferably natural alternatives).

For example, full spectrum probiotic formulas like Super Shield have been shown to help curb allergy symptoms.  Vitamin D can help ease depression (and our Optimum DK Formula is a superstar in the vitamin D world!) and fish oil supplements like VitalMega-3 have been proven to help lower blood pressure and ease inflammatory pain!

7. You don’t get adequate rest

Lacking sleep has been linked to higher levels of the hormone ghrelin, which can trigger hunger. 

Plus when you're sleep deprived, you’re more likely to choose sugary, refined carbohydrates to help provide a quick rush of glucose for energy.  This can put you into a yo-yo of sugar highs and lows and perpetuate your cravings. 

The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep per night.  If you’re getting less than that, it’s time to hit the hay earlier.

8. You’re undernourished

Your body's hunger signal can be triggered by a lack of nutrients--not merely a physical absence of food in your stomach. 

So if you're eating lots of nutrient-poor processed and fast foods, you are very likely undernourished and repeatedly sounding off your inner dinner bell. 

In addition, if your digestion is dicey, you may not be absorbing nutrients as well as you should!

The more you concentrate on wholesome real foods, the better nourished you will be—and less likely to snack or overeat.   

To help encourage better digestion, here are 3 surefire ways to help:

• Make your meals easier for your system to digest.  My Great Taste No Pain system can show you what foods to pair together for dramatically improved digestion, and less gas, bloating, heartburn and constipation too!  And you’ll just LOVE the delicious recipes too.
• A digestive enzyme supplement like Digestizol Max can give your body a helpful enzyme boost, which is especially important if you’ve had gallbladder or gastric surgery, use acid reducers, are elderly or have been a lover of processed or fast foods most of your life.
• The helpful bacteria in your gut microbiome also help digest starches and fibers, as well as promote more regular bowel movements and support nutrient absorption.  So supplementation with a multi-strain probiotic formula like Super Shield can help ensure you have a healthy population of these helpful inhabitants!

Now you know what may be causing your constant hunger—so get to work on curbing that appetite (and losing those stubborn pounds!) now. 

To your health,

Sherry Brescia