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Food is love indeed, but not for everybody. Some of us do not feel hungry. We neither crave food nor eat more than once or twice a day. Some days, we can go without having food without any hassle. Does it ring any bells? You may feel this way and neglect it every time. There are phases when we don’t feel hungry at all, it’s normal. However, if it becomes a way of life, just so you know it’s not normal.
There can be many reasons why you don’t feel hungry anymore and most of them have to do with your health and lifestyle. In this blog, we will be discussing some of those reasons.
You are not active at all
This goes without saying that your body needs food to supply energy for existing and your physical wellness. If you are not exercising, moving and leading a sedentary lifestyle, your body won’t need extra food to supply energy. It is basically using food that you are eating for the bare minimum –surviving.
Trust us when we say this, it is not a good thing. Your body requires physical activities to work at its finest. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to various health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and body pain. Consider physical activity your body’s requirement to function smoothly. This is your cue to get up and get moving.
You are stressed
We don’t need to tell you this but stress is not good for you. If you find yourself overthinking and stressing about a number of reasons, it can cause appetite loss. When you are under stress, your body releases a hormone called adrenaline, which temporarily suppresses hunger. However, this loss of appetite is generally short-lived.
You are ageing
As you age, your physical activity decreases, and so does your body’s requirement for food. Hence, you may not feel hungrier as you used to. If you don’t want this to happen, our suggestion is to stay active as far as your body allows. You can always do low-key exercises such as walking or yoga that are gentle on your body and age.
You have an infection
You must have noticed a loss of appetite when you are ill. If you don’t feel hungry, it can be a sign of an infection you have not been diagnosed with yet. When you are ill with an infection, your body uses its resources to fight the disease, rather than use energy to facilitate digestive processes – the reason why you don’t feel hungry when you are sick. Illnesses like the flu or stomach infections, and respiratory infections can cause loss of appetite.
In this case, it’s best to have light meals that are easier on the stomach. What you are not supposed to do is not eat at all. Your body needs food whether it is hungry or not.
Your medicines can be the reason
Sometimes it is the medicines that can mess with your appetite. Medicines like antihypertensives, sedatives and steroids can cause nausea and loss of appetite. In this case, talk to your doctor to suggest alternative medicines that do not affect your appetite.
You’re eating more protein
If you are having high-protein meals, you may not feel hungry. These meals are quite fulfilling as they take longer to get processed, hence you may not feel hungrier for prolonged periods.
Just so you know it is a good sign. Protein is vital and good for you, so if protein is the reason for your loss of appetite, there is no need for you to worry.
You may be pregnant
Here’s the good news, you may be pregnant if you aren’t feeling hungry lately. Pregnancy can cause hormonal changes and morning sickness that may interfere with your appetite. If you aren’t feeling hungry, rather nauseated, it’s time you get that pregnancy test.
It can be a health issue
Several health issues can also be the cause of loss of appetite. These include hypothyroidism which slows down your metabolism due to inadequate production of thyroid hormones. In addition, kidney and liver disease can also be the reasons. In this case, getting a thyroid, liver and kidney function tests and overall health checkup is suggested.
You are an alcoholic
If you happen to drink frequently, it may mess up your appetite. This is because alcohol affects your judgement about when, what and how much to eat.
Consuming alcohol can temporarily drop blood sugar levels and hormones that can reduce the appetite. Not to mention, it contains empty calories that fill the stomach without providing any nutrition.
In addition, an alcoholic’s sense of smell and taste is changed due to loss of zinc through frequent urination, further reducing hunger.
So, in a nutshell, should you be worried?
Short answer, no. You don’t need to worry if loss of appetite is because of your lifestyle. In this case, changing your lifestyle is essential, such as increasing your physical activity and changing your medicines. If these lifestyle changes still don’t work for you, a health test is recommended. Loss of appetite may be because of several health issues which require diagnosis and treatment. You may have a word with your physician in this case and if none of these tips work for you.
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