Common Reasons You Are Always Hungry

Your appetite can be controlled by many things, from how much you are eating, to your 
hormone levels, physical activity, and so much more. If you find that you are constantly 
hungry, where after a filling meal, you feel “starving” after an hour or so, it might be time 
to look at the possible reasons.

You Are Not Getting Enough Protein

While protein alone won’t suppress your appetite, it does have an impact on how hungry 
you are. If you find that shortly after a meal, you are hungry very soon after, or that you 
get hungry pretty much all day long, you probably don’t eat enough protein. Look at your 
meals and figure out how much protein you are consuming. The amount you need is 
different for everyone, but if you rarely have much protein, and instead eat a lot of 
refined carbs and sugars, it is time to have more balanced meals.

You Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep

Believe it or not, your sleep doesn’t just affect your energy levels throughout the day, 
but can actually cause you to have a bigger appetite and gain weight. Sleep also affects 
your stress levels, which can have an impact on your appetite. When you start 
struggling to sleep, it is vital that you do everything you can to sleep better. It really does 
affect everything in your life, including your health and wellness. Try to switch up your 
diet, go to sleep earlier, take a nap during the day for added rest, or get a new mattress 
if yours is making it difficult to sleep. Remove distractions, like your cell phone, when 
you are trying to sleep.

You Are Eating Too Many Refined Carbs

Refined carbohydrates include foods without much nutrients but that are loaded with 
carbs and sugar, such as cookies and cakes, candy, white pasta or white rice, chips, 
and sugary breakfast cereals. You aren’t getting many vitamins and minerals with these 
types of foods. They might fill you up in the short-term, but long-term you are getting 
hungrier and continuing to crave them the more you eat them. Take a look at your diet if 
you feel like you are always hungry.

You Are Eating While Distracted

This is a very common pitfall that people don’t realize is a problem. Do you find that 
whenever you eat, you are in front of a TV or using your cell phone? This is causing a 
distraction where you are eating mindlessly and not focusing on your food. You turn 
food into something you do no matter what activity you are doing, which is confusing for 
your hunger cues. Start eating without watching or listening to anything, preferably at 
the kitchen table. 

