You’d think eating is a simple process. Something goes in, you feel full, end of story. But our bodies are wired in a wholly different way, and there’s all kinds of weird reactions different foods can have with our bodies that trick our minds into thinking we still want a little something to munch on.
Here are some foods that actually make you hungrier!
1. Fast Food
Almost any and all fast food is designed to make you hungrier, thanks to a little something called trans-fats, which can impair the body’s ability to produce appetite-controlling neurotransmitters. Most burgers, pizzas and the like cause insulin spikes and even bigger hunger pangs.
2. Alcohol
Alcohol can cause the levels of your Leptin – A hormone that controls hunger – to plummet, which basically means it makes you hungrier.
3. White Bread
Eating white bread causes your insulin levels to spike, thanks to it lacking in full-fiber content. A study even showed that people who eat white bread have a 40% higher chance of being overweight.
4. Packaged Juice
Packaged juices contain no skin or pulp, but do contain a bunch of sugar. This sugar can cause your blood sugar levels to rise up and then down again, bringing on hunger.
5. Chips And Salty Snacks
Chips and salty snacks are quick digesting simple carbs, which can basically play havoc with your insulin levels and thereby, yet again, bring on hunger. The massive amounts of salt can also dehydrate you and confuse your body into thinking you’re hungry.
6. White Pasta
Regular pasta has no nutrients, and without that fiber, eating this is like a vicious cycle. The more you eat, the hungrier you’ll feel. Go for whole grain pasta instead.
7. Sushi
Sushi is chalk full of refined white rice, that has no fiber and therefore makes you hungrier. It’s also got soy sauce, which can cause dehydration and, as mentioned before, trick your brain into feeling hungry.
8. Cereal
Sorry to break this to you, but most popular cereals are designed to make you hungrier. The only safe option is something like unsweetened oatmeal. The sugar and the lack of fiber in most cereals can leave you feeling starved in minutes.
9. MSG Containing Foods
This popular flavour enhancer that’s found in everything from Maggi to processed meat was shown to increase the appetite by 40 percent in one study. It also blunts the effects of Leptin, a hormone that controls hunger.
10. Diet Sodas and foods that contain artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners make your brain think it’s about to get a serving of energy, but then let’s it down with no reward. This can make you crave and eat more sweets throughout the day. In the long run, it can mess with the hardwiring of the hunger control centers of your brain.
11. Whole Grain Breads And Protein Bars
Yup, even these seemingly healthy options can elevate your blood sugar levels. The huge amounts of carbs in these will raise your insulin levels, which will in turn lead to weight gain.
12. Frozen Yogurt
While yogurt may be good for you in a variety of ways, it’s not the best option in terms of watching your weight. The high sugar content can affect the way your brain registers hunger levels, and can leave you craving for more.
13. Chewing Gum
Chewing gum stimulates the gastric juices. According to some research, the saliva that is produced while chewing goes down to the stomach and fools the stomach into thinking there is food to be digested, making you hungrier.