Are You Hungry Or Just Dehydrated?

Did you know that if your stomach is growling, it does not necessarily mean that you need to open your fridge to grab a bite? Instead, a glass of water to hydrate yourself could quickly calm the growling stomach. Read on to find out how.

Hunger and thirst have the most commonly confusable cues. It is challenging to understand whether you are feeling hungry or thirsty.  If you start your day by drinking tea or coffee instead of water, it will make you thirsty and dehydrated, giving you headaches, dizziness, nausea, and dry mouth. You can not curb your thirst until you drink a glass of water. Make a habit of drinking water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated.

Table Of Contents

1. Signs Of Hunger And Thirst

2. Things To Do When You Feel Hungry

3. Tips To Distinguish Between Hunger And Thirst

4. The Final Say

5. FAQs

Signs Of Hunger And Thirst

Signals for both hunger and thirst originate from the same part of the brain. When confused, you would eat extra calories, which hampers weight loss. However, there are different signs of hunger and thirst that should be noticed before eating or drinking to avoid confusion regarding cues.

Signs Of Hunger

• Irritability
• Rumbling stomach
• Empty feeling in the stomach
• Weakness

Keep in mind that hunger symptoms do not increase suddenly but gradually.

Signs Of Thirst

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dry skin
• Sluggishness
• Dry mouth

Every person should drink at least 2-3 liters of water daily to avoid dehydration. Still, some intense activities may require more intake of water, and consuming less than directed can cause dehydration.

Things To Do When You Feel Hungry

1. Grab A Juicy Fruit

Eating whole fruits instead of only their juice provides good nutrients, including fibre and vitamins. In addition, eating whole fruits can help curb hunger by maintaining glycogen levels in the form of fructose obtained from the fruit.

2. Consume Fibre-rich Food

Fibre-rich foods are great to help reduce hunger. It keeps you full for a longer duration. Fibre-rich foods are low in calories and work well for weight loss.

3. Eat Protein-rich Foods

Hunger leads you to eat whatever is available. However, certain foods can help curb hunger while providing you with nutrients. Try to eat protein-rich foods, including chicken, eggs, pulses, nuts, milk, and fish, to reduce hunger and keep you full for longer while providing your body with essential high-quality proteins.

According to a 2009 study by Australian researchers, participants who consumed more high-fat and high-sugar diets showed decreased thirst sensitivity than those who consumed less of these items.

4. Hydrate First

Drink water first if you think you are getting mixed signals about hunger and thirst. If you still feel the same, then opt for something to eat.

Tips To Distinguish Between Hunger And Thirst

1. Set A Goal

The amount of water you need is half your body's weight. Use this trick to keep yourself hydrated and prevent dehydration symptoms. 

2. Set A Timer For Mental Triggers

Multiple online applications remind you to drink water; you just need to add the frequency of these reminders and the quantity of water you want to drink in a day, and you will receive reminders accordingly!

3. Drink Infused Water

Some people do not like to drink plain water all the time. If that is the case with you, you can add oranges, cucumbers, strawberries, pineapples and watermelons and make infused water that will provide extra vitamins to your body.

4. Eat Your Water

Foods containing water are great for preventing dehydration, like cucumber, watermelon, oranges, grapes, zucchini, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, lettuce, and cauliflower. These will not increase your calorie intake, provide nutrients, and keep you hydrated.

The Final Say

Hunger and thirst are both vital signals that our brain gives to provide the required hydration and energy to perform essential functions. But we often feel perplexed about being thirsty and hungry, and we eat when our stomach growls, although it is the signal to drink water. Several symptoms exist for hunger and thirst, which should be kept in mind. For example, when hungry, we feel weak, irritable, and empty. In contrast, we feel our mouth dry, nausea, and headaches when thirsty. If you master this art, you can effortlessly make the difference between two things, control your excess calorie intake, and keep hydration in check.

Last year, a study found that poor hydration was associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) among adults. The more weight you have, the more water you require. Researchers hypothesized that obese people could have a more challenging time remaining hydrated. As a result, they may be more inclined to eat once they are truly thirsty, specifically if they have trouble distinguishing between thirst and hunger cues.

FAQs

1. Why do we feel sick when we are dehydrated?

It is because our blood vessels constrict and our heart rate increases to maintain the blood pressure, which makes our defense system fail, and we feel sick.

2. Where do we get hunger pains?

We get hunger pains in the upper left side of our stomach, commonly known as hunger pangs.

3. What does thirst feel like?

You feel mild itching in the back of your throat and the urge to drink something immediately; it can also make you restless.

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