Monday, March 13, 2006

Ask the Expert: Hunger

Q. Why is it that when I eat a dinner of red meat, like steak, I wake up in the morning feeling really hungry? When I eat chicken or pasta or anything else I'm not as hungry in the morning.

A. It’s likely just a coincidence. Also, chances are when you eat red meat, chicken, or pasta, you’re probably eating something else along with these foods. Right? Many factors affect hunger level. A major factor is activity level. Timing of your meals is another. If you ate dinner at 5 pm and woke up at 8 am, chances are you should feel very hungry. Plus, your mind can trigger a higher perceived hunger level, or psychological hunger. For example, you might find you are (psychologically) hungry after seeing your favorite food on a television commercial, even when you’re not physiologically hungry. If you wake up truly physiologically hungry…good! It is normal to wake up in the morning and feel hungry. That means your metabolism is at work throughout the night, as it should be.

Q. Why do some people eat less and get full sooner than I do? Is it the size of their stomach or do they just have better willpower?

A. There are a number of reasons why your dining companions may be eating less. It could be that they are more in tune to feeling full; they may prefer to eat small frequent meals versus large, less frequent ones; or they may simply eat slower which can mean eating less. It takes 15 to 20 minutes for the brain to register a sense of fullness. Eating fast can cause you to overeat. Some people are planners too. They commit to eating a certain amount of food prior to sitting down at a meal and stick with the plan. Once they reach the designated amount,they push their plate away.

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