Dieticians Say There Are 12 Different Types Of Hunger and Each Can Be Controlled In A Different Way
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Hunger can be best described as that feeling you get in your tummy when your body craves food. According to dieticians though, that is too rudimentary a description! They explain that hunger doesn’t only affect the physical plain but also the emotional one, with both of them causing different types of hunger (1). This proves that hunger can be of several different kinds. All in all, there are 12 types of hunger in total and luckily, each of them can be easily controlled! Let’s find out more about each of them-
1. Visual Hunger
Salivating at the sight of a beautifully presented dish? That’s visual hunger. That means you’re not really hungry but the presentation appeals to you so much that you’d rather eat it all (2)! To control this kind of hunger, you should distract yourself by looking at other pretty things.
2. Mental Hunger
When you get the craving of a particular food item (despite eating your lunch), you experience what is known as mental hunger. This kind of hunger is mood-dependent and as such can be very difficult to control as your mood can change any moment. However, one simple way to keep it in check is to see if you’re really hungry. When you’re really hungry, you’ll eat whatever you get even if it doesn’t taste good.
3. Auditory Hunger
Though not as common, auditory hunger can take place in scenarios such as when you hear someone opening a bag of food or when someone describes an amazingly tasty dish to you (3). Since you can’t stop food noise/talk, you’ll have to control this type of hunger by diverting your attention to something else that appeals to you as much as the food in question.
4. Olfactory Hunger
There’s not a single person on this planet who hasn’t experienced this type of hunger! The whiff of lip-smacking food items can make anyone drool, leading to olfactory (nose) hunger (4). It’s easy to get carried away and overeat when you love the smell of the food. The only way you can prevent this is by savoring each bite slowly so you get full faster.
5. Stomach Hunger
This is the reason why your stomach rumbles! Actually, it’s not your tummy that sends signals to your brain that it’s hungry. It’s the other way round. Sometimes your brain may do that just because it’s time to eat rather than you being really hungry. If you’ve already had your meals and feel like eating because there’s nothing else to do, don’t give in.
6. Oral Hunger
Oral hunger arises due to the taste of the food in question. Your taste buds may like the dish so much that you end up eating way more than you need! Again, this type of hunger is nothing more than a craving. Which means, to control it, you shouldn’t eat once you’re craving is over.
7. Heart Hunger
Heart hunger takes place when you feel like having something just because the occasion or weather seem fit for it. Onion pakodas when it’s raining, anyone? Or like wanting ice creams in summer. The only reason behind it is the feeling of eating it. Ignoring this kind of hunger is not necessary as long as the portion size you have is small enough to not cause any harm.
8. Cellular Hunger
Cellular hunger is your body’s way of telling you that it needs certain essential nutrients and minerals to function well. For example, thirst indicates that your body really needs water and not a can of soda. You should never ignore this kind of hunger. Paying attention to it is vital to stay healthy.
9. Stress Hunger
A hectic lifestyle with no respite can make you turn to food for comfort. This kind of hunger is induced by stress and not because your body demands food. Stressful eating is a common cause of overeating (5). So, when you’re stressed, try calming yourself with music or meditation rather than food. You’ll save yourself from obesity.
10. Task-Based Hunger
Whether you’re watching TV or working, you may feel like munching on a snack at the same time. Indulging in task-based hunger can significantly increase the number of calories you consume in a day (6). Focusing solely on the task at hand can help keep this hunger under control.
11. Boredom Hunger
When you have nothing to do, eating might feel like the best activity to beat the boredom. To control hunger induced by boredom, do something that you actually like doing. Read a book or take a walk, just don’t eat for the heck of it!
12. Midnight Hunger
Midnight snacking can be caused both by an imbalance of hormones or just plain old stress (7). Controlling it can be a bit hard but you can try convincing yourself that sleeping is more important. Also, keep healthy snacks by your bedside so your health doesn’t suffer.
Although eating is crucial for survival, it’s not necessary to give in to each type of hunger. So prioritize accordingly and live a healthy life!
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