15 Reasons Why Your Appetite Is Larger Than Your Friends
Has "bottomless pit" ever been used to describe your eating habits? Before you start feeling bad about why you can out-eat your friends, have a look at these 15 science backed reasons as to why!
1. Your stomach is literally larger .
Regardless of what size you wear or whether or not you have a six-pack, an anatomical difference in stomach size could explain why you need to super-size your meal to feel satiated. Everyone has a unique body shape and size — same goes for your organs.
2. You laugh a lot.
A study presented at the Experimental Biology Conference in Anaheim, California, in 2010 showed participants either stressful or hilarious 20-minute film clips and then measured their levels of ghrelin (the hormone that fuels your appetite) and leptin (the hormone that tells your brain you're full). People who laughed through the funny films had higher levels of hungry hormones and lower levels of satiety hormones than people who watched the more serious options.
3. Your diet is void of healthy bacteria.
Some research suggests that prebiotics, or non-digestible fibers found in foods like chicory root, artichokes, garlic, and onion, could help suppress your appetite by altering your stomach bacteria. Skip it and you could find yourself wanting more after every meal.4. You always eat breakfast — but skipped it this morning.
According to a study in 2015, regular breakfast eaters who forgo a morning meal get hungrier than habitual breakfast skippers.5. You're drunk.
Alcohol stokes the appetite and suppresses self-control.6. You don't eat enough protein.
When you eat a hearty source of protein, your body breaks the nutrient into amino acids. These are the building blocks that help to regulate your appetite so you know to when to stop eating.7. You pop antacids often
Antacids neutralize acid and inhibit the activity of digestive enzymes — two benefits if you're suffering from heartburn or indigestion. However, the drugs can inhibit your body's ability to break down even high-quality dietary protein into all-important amino acids.8. You're constantly stressed
Persistent stress could kick your stress hormones into overdrive, increasing your motivation to eat around the clock. Another thing: Cortisol can also stimulate intense cravings for sugar, so you'll be "hungry" for dessert although your body is physically stuffed.