Definition – What is ravenous hunger?
Cravings are sudden urges for sweet, salty or fatty foods. It is a signal from the body that it lacks essential nutrients. Cravings can have various causes. In addition to a lack of nutrients, physical and mental illness can be responsible, but also hormonal changes such as diabetes mellitus, bulimia or pregnancy. If you know the cause of personal ravenous appetite attacks, you can get a grip on it with a few tricks.
What are the typical causes of cravings?
Ravenous appetite can have harmless causes or be the basis for possible illnesses. Cravings often occur when there is an energy deficit. This means that not enough energy was and is taken in with food and the body signals that it needs nutrients.
Long eating breaks or many snacks that provide little energy are often responsible for this. Likewise, physical and mental exertion can cause an increased need for nutrients, which the body then tries to cover by ravenous appetite. Lack of sleep and habits such as eating chocolate after meals or watching television can also cause ravenous appetite attacks.
Physiological conditions such as pregnancy, lactation and growth phases in adolescents also frequently cause hunger pangs. In addition, ravenous appetite can also be a signal for metabolic diseases. A constant feeling of hunger and overeating attacks can be signs of diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, liver or metabolic diseases.
If the ravenous hunger is particularly severe and cannot be controlled by changes in diet, a doctor should be consulted to rule out physical illness as the cause. Cravings can also have psychological causes. A sinking serotonin level (happiness hormone) promotes ravenous appetite attacks. Conditions such as frustration, boredom and stress can therefore also cause ravenous appetite.
What can stop the ravenous appetite?
The procedure for sudden cravings depends on the cause. If you suffer from ravenous appetite because you have not eaten for a long time, you should satisfy your hunger and eat something. It is important to avoid sugary and fatty foods.
Here it helps to combine especially protein-rich foods with slowly digestible carbohydrates (whole grain products) and eat them slowly. In this way you stay full longer. One should concentrate on the meal, perceive it consciously and eat slowly to promote the feeling of satiety.
If the cravings are due to another cause or a diet that you would like to stick to, another strategy can help. A ravenous hunger attack lasts on average only a quarter of an hour, so you should not give in to the need immediately in this case. It helps to distract oneself with some activity until the hunger subsides. To stop acute cravings, brushing your teeth or chewing gum can also help. Sugar-free varieties with peppermint flavor are best.
