Why does one feel hungry?

Question

Why does one feel hungry?

Answer 1

Hunger and cravings are two different sensations. The body regulates the former, while the mind wields greater power over the latter. Hunger serves a more utilitarian purpose, signaling our brains that it's time to eat. To cross that distance between the stomach and brain, the vagus nerve is the communication highway that runs between the noggin and the abdomen.

Our stomach hunger cycle, in a nutshell, begins with a hormone called ghrelin. When our bodies have burned up the food in our stomachs and our blood sugar and insulin levels begin to drop, ghrelin communicates with the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus, housed in the deep center portion of our brain cavity, regulates our basic body functions such as thirst, sleep and s*x drive. Once it receives the message, delivered by ghrelin, that we need to eat something to keep our bodies running, the hypothalamus triggers the release of neuropeptide Y, which stimulates our appetites [source: Wright].

When we recognize that our body wants food and we start to refill it, another process happens to counter that hunger feeling in order to keep us from gorging ourselves. First, the fat tissues expel the hormone leptin. This chemical tells our brains that our bodies are satisfied and we can stop eating. It does so by turning down the production of neuropeptide Y and cranking up levels of proopiomelanocortin, an appetite suppressant, in our bloodstream [source: Wright]. The hypothalamus also monitors our insulin and blood sugar levels to ensure that we've eaten enough to bring those levels back up. Since this process doesn't happen instantaneously, we may feel uncomfortably stuffed after finishing a large meal.

Now that we know how our body responds to the absence of food, what happens when mind takes over matter? If ghrelin isn't telling me that I want a deluxe cheeseburger, what is? Things get a little more complicated when food desires move from the stomach to the brain.

Answer 2

because they've run out of a food supply :D

Answer 3

Feeling hungry has nothing to do with wordplay, I suppose.

Most of the people think that empty stomach creates the feeling of hunger but this is not true. Hunger has nothing to do with an empty stomach. For example, a person who has fever may have an empty stomach, but he does not feel hungry. Similarly when a child is born, he does not feel hungry for several days.

When the blood gets depleted of nutritive materials, a message is sent to our brain by our body through nerves. The deficiency of nutritive materials is caused in the blood by the consumption of energy in the routine work. A sick man remains in a state of rest and consumes small amounts of energy. He, therefore, does not feel hungry for several days. Whenever there is a deficiency of nutritive food substances in the blood, a message goes to the ‘hunger centre’ of the brain. This centre acts like a brake on the activities of the stomach and intestines. When the blood has sufficient nutritive substances, the hunger centre stops the activities of the stomach and intestines. On the contrary when there is a lack of nutrition, the intestines and stomach become active. That is why you can hear your stomach rumbling when you are hungry.

When we feel hungry, we do not demand any particular kind of food. A starved person will eat any kind of food. This main constituent of food is: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins and water. Each component has a specific role to play. Proteins are nitrogenous compounds which are used for the growth of the body, for the repair of muscles and tissues. Carbohydrates and fats produce heat energy in the body. Minerals build the bones and tissues. Vitamins protect the body from some diseases. Water is the main constituent of the cells. It carries the nutritive substances and oxygen to the different parts of the body. Because of the deficiency of any nutritive substances, we can become ill. Hence we conclude that deficiency of nutritive elements in the blood is the main cause of hunger.

Answer 4

harmons

harmons

harmons are only factor that induces hunger

Answer 5

Because 2 and 3 bullied him out of his lunch money.

Answer 6

Human body need energy to survive.

while doing daily base activities, human expends or looses his energy.

The lose of energy results into hunger.

Having food is small part of the process of retaining energy for survival

Answer 7

Because one hasn't eaten all day.

Answer 8

becoz he is hungry!! his body need energy which he will get from the food he will eat

Answer 9

feeling hungry means you need to eat something. it doesn't take skipping one day of food for your body to go into starvation mode.

When you work out your stomach produces Grelin... makes you feel hungry all the time

Answer 10

He goes to eat food.......