Looking for some ways to trick your hunger hormones? Did you know that the same hormones that regulate things like your sex drive and your mood are also responsible for regulating your appetite? You might think that hunger pangs come directly from an empty stomach, but there is a much more complicated system of hormonal messages that get sent before your brain starts telling you that it wants a cheeky snack! However, there are a few things that you can do to try to counterbalance and strike these feelings, which can help if you are on a diet or starting a new fitness journey. Here are some ways to trick your hunger hormones.
One of the best ways to trick your hunger hormones is to get moving. You can keep levels of leptin at bay by engaging in regular exercise at a moderate to high-intensity level. Exercise increases leptin resistance, which means that your body will send lower levels around and this will result in a suppressed appetite. The less hungry you feel, the less you will eat!
Another appetite hormone is called ghrelin, and it can spike when you haven’t eaten in while. As a result of this, it is always productive to get a good night's sleep of around eight hours, because if you are sleeping through the period in which your ghrelin levels are high after an evening meal, then you won’t be any position to be able to satisfy those hunger cravings until an appropriate time - like breakfast!
Cortisol is a stress hormone, and the more cortisol you have running through you, the more likely you are to be hungry. The best way to combat cortisol levels is to make yourself as relaxed and chilled out as possible. Things like meditation, yoga or simply settling down with a great book can all be helpful. Another tip is to drink black tea, as studies have shown that black tea can reduce cortisol levels by up to twenty percent.
Estrogen is another hormone that can seriously affect your hunger, and all women are familiar with this from around the time of their period! Hunger cravings are a classic PMS symptom, but you can do your best to keep them at bay by loading up on complex carbs like brown rice, beans and whole wheat pasta. These will give you slow release satisfaction and slow down the rate of these estrogen-induced hunger cravings.