2. Fast Food
Ahhh, pizza, burgers, chips and all things deep fried. They’re perfectly fine as an occasional treat. But when we indulge, we often feel bloated and full, possibly with a bit of discomfort and wind, don’t we? We feel like we couldn’t possibly eat, ever again. But then after a short while, we’re hungry again.
Fast food is high in nasty trans fats, preservatives, processed sugars and salt. Trans fats and preservatives in particular can disrupt the messaging pathways between the stomach and the brain. This means that we don’t release the satiety hormone called leptin, that signals that we’re sated, or full. So we miss the signal that we’re full and we feel hungry shortly after eating and we want more.
Plus, a word on salt. Fast food and takeaways appeal to our senses and our palates because they contain artificial flavour enhancers and salt. These make us extremely thirsty because they make our bodies hold onto water, making us feel bloated and dehydrating us. So when we feel hungry after a high salt meal, we might actually be confusing that with thirst. Reach for a glass of water instead of the leftover chips!
