Increased appetite - causes, treatment, herbs that reduce appetite and suppress hunger. Causes of increased appetite. How to reduce appetite: foods and folk remedies that reduce appetite

Constant overeating leads to only one thing - distended stomach and excess weight. If the stomach is stretched, then it will be quite difficult to get rid of the habit of eating a lot, because the body requires a sufficient amount of food to be full. Cause of increased appetite not at all in the lack of willpower or intemperance or in the bad habit of eating at night. All this, of course, plays a role, but the real reasons are more serious and it is they that require treatment, and not overeating. What diseases make women eat more than they need at breakfast, lunch and dinner?

Lack of sleep

According to the latest medical data, one of reasons for increased appetite lies in lack of sleep. It is not only the number of hours allocated to sleep that is important, but also the quality of sleep. Sleep should not be restless, abrupt, or superficial. Two hormones are responsible for the feeling of hunger in the body: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin suppresses the feeling of hunger, the second one causes a brutal appetite. With lack of sleep, the production of “bad” hormone increases and the “good” hormone decreases. For a person who has not had enough sleep, a light snack before lunch with yogurt or fruit is not enough; he needs fatty, carbohydrate, and heavy foods.

How to fight

Needs to be eliminated cause of increased appetite, having taught the body. You need to sleep 8-9 hours a day, with about 6-7 hours falling on night sleep. For those young ladies who don’t get enough sleep out of habit, it won’t be difficult to rebuild their body:

2. You need to go to bed early.

3. Don't eat a lot before bed.

At serious disorders sleep will come to the rescue modern drugs from insomnia. But you can try to resort to natural remedies, For example, chamomile tea for the night. During the period of restoration of your “sleepy” mode, it is important to reduce the amount of food consumed. The following techniques to reduce appetite will help:

1. At each meal, you should only put half of your usual amount on your plate. If after half an hour the feeling of hunger does not go away, then you can add a supplement.

2. In the morning and for lunch you need to eat lean meat, which helps reduce appetite.

3. Food should be chewed thoroughly and not swallowed. This helps you stop on time when you feel full.

4. Helps reduce appetite physical exercise. Burning calories also helps normalize sleep. It is best to resort to non-intense, but long-term exercise: running, walking, swimming, cycling.

Stress

Nutritionists have concluded that women who are often exposed to stress are 2 times more susceptible to increased appetite and excess weight. Depression, Howcause of increased appetite, may be related to overweight. Gaining excess weight leads to decreased physical activity. The woman begins to reproach herself for the next piece of cake she eats. Guilt leads to stress, and stress leads to prolonged depression. Fat people are often subject to public criticism, which reduces self-esteem. To avoid feeling constantly depressed, fat women start eating more sweets. As you know, sweet foods produce the happiness hormone.

How to fight

Get rid of extra pounds It is possible if you overcome depression. You can resort to the help of a professional psychotherapist, pills, or a combination of several methods. You just need to prepare that treatment may take about six months. After normalizing your appetite, you can start losing weight: sit down and do fitness. Dietary recommendations for women with increased appetite:

1. To overcome addiction to sweets, you need to set aside a certain amount of sweets for yourself. It is advisable to eat one type of sweet product, for example, a spoonful of sugar a day, sweet cheese or cottage cheese.

2. You can completely give up sweets in one day. But the effect will only be if you last for about 1 month. During this time, the body will undergo restructuring.

3. The level of carbohydrate food can be left in the same amount, but only waste the calories received completely. To do this you will have to do training.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

In particular, polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the causes of increased appetite. Due to a number of factors, including heredity, ovarian cells do not respond as well to insulin. As a result, cells do not receive the main nutrient - glucose. The brain receives a signal from the organs that they are hungry. As a result, the woman feels a strong feeling of hunger.

How to fight

Only an examination will help you get rid of increased appetite. When a diagnosis of insulin insensitivity is made, the doctor prescribes treatment. The correct cell response is produced by taking special medications. The course of treatment normalizes appetite. Taking dietary supplements and vitamins will also help solve the problem. You can combine the course of treatment with regular physical exercise. For polycystic disease it is recommended special diet, which involves limiting sweets, fatty foods, and including more vegetables and fruits in the diet. The last dinner should be no later than 3-4 hours before bedtime, otherwise hormonal disorders are only getting stronger.

Living things have an emergency response or self-preservation system. It is activated under stress to temporarily increase the body's functionality and save life. The release of cortisol and other stress hormones into the blood helps us fight longer and more actively or run away from danger faster. IN modern life There's one thing: constant stress or anxiety continuously activates this system, and high levels of cortisol day after day cause us to store energy.

In addition, chronic stress reduces protective capabilities immune system, and we begin to suffer from infectious diseases more often. If you're feeling stressed and hungry, stop! Reevaluate your life and take steps to minimize stress.

There are diseases in which, despite high concentration glucose in the blood, tissues cannot use it and constantly lack energy. All these diseases are united under the name “diabetes mellitus,” although they differ greatly in the reasons that cause them, the mechanism of development and methods of treatment. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is mainly diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can occur at any age. The cause of this disease is an autoimmune process in the pancreas, which leads to the death of beta cells responsible for the production of insulin.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 more often occurs in middle-aged and elderly people. In most cases, this type of diabetes is combined with excess weight and arterial hypertension. The main cause of type 2 diabetes is tissue insulin resistance, which requires high concentrations of insulin in the blood and leads to beta cell depletion over time.

Gestational diabetes diagnosed only in pregnant women who have not been previously ill diabetes mellitus. Its main cause, as with type 2 diabetes, is insulin resistance. After giving birth, gestational diabetes usually goes away on its own, but these women remain at increased risk of developing diabetes in the future.

Symptoms of diabetes include severe feelings of hunger, thirst and frequent urination. Contact your doctor if you suspect you have this condition.

Hunger and low blood glucose

In the previous part, we talked about how if you have high blood glucose levels, you may experience extreme hunger. Low level blood sugar (hypoglycemia) also leads to increased hunger for the same reasons - the tissues do not receive enough glucose. In most cases, hypoglycemia occurs as a result of an overdose of glucose-lowering drugs.

In people with diabetes, hypoglycemia can occur suddenly and can be compensated for by taking easily digestible carbohydrates in the form of low-fat sweets or drinks with sugar, glucose or fructose. If measures are not taken to increase blood glucose, hypoglycemia worsens and leads to confusion, dizziness, clammy sweat, and feelings of fear. IN severe cases Hypoglycemia can result in coma and even death.

Hunger and sadness

Research results have shown that eating food leads to the production of serotonin, a hormone that improves mood. Some people may feel a constant urge to eat something when they feel sad or things aren't going according to plan.

Food improves your mood only in the short term. If you feel sad or irritable for several weeks, it could be a sign of depression.

Talk to your doctor about how you feel and get the necessary tests. Try not to disrupt your usual eating routine, follow portion sizes and food selections, even if you feel apathetic towards food. Provide yourself with healthy snacks and keep alcohol away. As a rule, gaining weight will not improve your mood, but will only negatively affect your health and relationships with other people.

Hunger and unpleasant tenants

Worm infestations are a fairly common cause of increased calorie needs. The most common of similar diseases is enterobiasis. Small pinworms easily spread in any group and become the cause of entire epidemics in kindergartens and schools. Adults can easily become infected with them in the family. If one of your family has such residents, all its members should receive treatment. And to avoid reinfection, you will need to carry out serious treatment of the room, clothes and toys.

The most common symptoms of enterobiasis are fatigue, nausea or anal itching. Much more often hunger and weight loss provoke more large worms, such as roundworms and tapeworms. Fortunately, they are quite rare.

Hunger and pregnancy

During pregnancy, women's appetite increases and weight increases. This most often occurs during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, as the baby develops and requires more nutrition. Besides, female body creates the energy reserve necessary to feed the baby after birth. In this situation, it is necessary to exercise maximum caution in your diet. Technically you are eating for two and your child needs nutrients.

But don't really double your portions. Both food restrictions and excessively large portions can be dangerous for the expectant mother. Gynecologists consider it correct when a woman of normal weight before pregnancy gains approximately 400–500 grams per week during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. If a woman was overweight or obese before pregnancy, then weekly weight gain should not exceed 300 grams.

Hunger and premenstrual syndrome

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About 70–75% of women experience premenstrual syndrome(PMS) every month during the childbearing period. Temporary changes in eating habits and increased feelings of hunger can be an unpleasant monthly addition to the painful sensations in the chest, irritability and fatigue.

If you're feeling strangely hungry just a few days before your period, it's likely due to PMS. Exercise and a healthy diet can help relieve these symptoms. See your doctor if symptoms of PMS noticeably reduce your quality of life.

Hunger and drugs

Often, drugs that are used to treat obesity-related diseases themselves contribute to weight gain. Examples of such drugs are any glucose-lowering medications and beta blockers. Chronic use of corticosteroids in the treatment of bronchial asthma or systemic diseases also provokes weight gain. A number of drugs used in psychiatry have a noticeable effect on appetite - sedatives, anticonvulsants, sleeping pills and antidepressants.

You should not stop taking medications on your own, even if you notice this. side effect. Contact your doctor to adjust your treatment regimen. You can avoid significant weight gain while taking these medications if you follow the guidelines healthy eating and increase physical activity.

Hunger and malignant tumors

In most cases, malignant tumors lead to decreased appetite and are accompanied by rapid weight loss.

But some tumors come from endocrine glands and increase blood sugar or corticosteroid levels, resulting in hunger. If you constantly feel hungry, eat a lot, but are losing weight, consult your doctor for an examination.

Hunger and exercise

The formula for losing weight sounds simple: exercise + diet = pounds lost.

It sounds simple, but in reality everything turns out to be much more complicated. Exercise stimulates hunger because our body wants to replenish lost energy. Avoid snacking after exercise if you're trying to lose weight. An intense workout lasting 45 minutes can burn just 100 extra calories. Any extra sandwich or sweet will ruin all your efforts.

Hunger and menu composition

Different types of foods have different effects on hunger. Foods rich in protein and slowly digestible carbohydrates will relieve you of hunger for a long time. And products with high content fats or easily digestible carbohydrates, on the contrary, will make your body ask for more quickly. Hot dishes (even soups) suppress the feeling of hunger more than cold ones.

Water or any other unsweetened drink makes your stomach feel full and temporarily relieves you of hunger. Drink and eat slowly so that signals from a full stomach have time to travel to the brain and suppress the feeling of hunger.

Source

Increased appetite as a symptom of disease

In many cases, food cravings are indeed a symptom of illness. In case of illness, the body instinctively begins to accumulate additional energy for its own restoration.

Of course, the desire to have an extra snack cannot be regarded as the presence of any disease. This can only be confirmed diagnostically when visiting a doctor.

However, you should know what diseases can be caused by excess appetite:

• the presence of a tumor in the brain;
• diabetes;
• changes in hormone levels (imbalance);
• dysfunction thyroid gland;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• depressive states, psychological stress;
• overwork of a physical and psychological nature;
• dehydration syndrome;
• insomnia;
• disorder eating behavior;
• vitamin deficiencies, anemia.

Increased food cravings often accompany people during the recovery period after various diseases: infectious, inflammatory, even colds. This counts normal occurrence, as the body tries to make up for the energy expended during illness.

Increased appetite in women

The reaction of the brain center responsible for hunger in a woman’s body is directly proportional to the phase monthly cycle. During the second phase, approximately 14 days before menstruation, this reaction becomes more pronounced and the woman may experience a constant desire to eat. For some, this problem occurs as early as two weeks before critical days, and for others - in 2-3 days.

This is explained, first of all, by cyclical changes in hormonal levels. After ovulation, the amount of progesterone in the blood increases. Progesterone promotes the release of the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine, which, in turn, accelerate production gastric juice. This affects not only the feeling of hunger, but also faster digestion of food.

Moreover, progesterone itself also causes increased appetite, since the main purpose of this hormone is to prepare the female body for pregnancy. An increase in its quantity means that the woman is ready to become pregnant, so a signal is sent to the brain that it is urgently necessary to stock up on nutrients in case of a successful conception.

Since in the second half of the monthly cycle a woman’s body begins to produce less insulin, during PMS she may crave simple carbohydrates: cakes, sweets, chocolate. Along with a reduced level of pleasure hormones, all this can lead not only to a false feeling of hunger, but also to overeating.

Increased appetite in older people

There are many reasons for increased needs and cravings for food in old age. One of these factors is deterioration of memory and concentration: a person simply does not remember how much time has passed since the last meal, and demands food again. In addition, an elderly person may lack a feeling of fullness due to numerous chronic diseases, including the digestive tract.

Old people worry and worry about their loved ones, about their health, about the fact that their life is coming to an end. Anxiety gives rise to the same craving for food: a person tries to drown out his problems and pain with another meal. Moreover, many old people keep their experiences “to themselves,” and their nervous tension can only be recognized by their constant desire to eat.

There are also endocrine factors for gluttony. Long-term illnesses, metabolic disorders - all this affects the state of appetite. It is necessary to carry out diagnostics to find out the cause of this pathology and treat it.

It is especially important to consult with a specialist if constant food consumption results in a side effect - obesity.

Increased appetite during pregnancy

When a woman finds out that she is pregnant, rapid changes are already occurring in her body. hormonal changes. The need for nutrients increases sharply, moreover, future mom begins to feel what exactly she needs to eat. There are different and not always ordinary wishes and preferences in products.

The first trimester of gestation, due to the toxicosis inherent in this period, may be accompanied by a decrease in appetite: nausea, weakness, and sometimes vomiting appear. However, in the second trimester, health, as a rule, improves, and the need for food manifests itself again, even several times more.

It is not surprising, because the female body spends a lot of strength and internal resources in order to form and bear a child. Every day the menu should contain a complete set of all necessary substances: proteins, carbohydrates, microelements, vitamins, fats. If all the nutrients are sufficient, then the body will not require more than it needs. This means that if a woman wants something, then there is not enough “something” in her body.

Try to use only healthy food, do not overeat, monitor your weight according to the pregnancy weight gain chart. This table can be obtained from any antenatal clinic. If excessive food cravings lead to overeating and excessive weight gain, then work with your doctor to review your diet.

Increased appetite in a child

The child's appetite is subject to significant fluctuations. It can be temporarily reduced, which may often be associated with unsatisfactory nutrition, the quality of culinary processing of food, monotony of the diet, insufficient drinking during the hot season and other factors. Long-term disturbances of appetite, its decrease down to its absence (anorexia) are associated with various pathologies and intoxication, diseases of the digestive and nervous systems, etc.

The state of increased appetite (polyphagia) is less common in children. A physiological increase in appetite is observed during periods of increased growth and development, for example, during the period of first traction (6-8 years), puberty, and sometimes in premature children due to accelerated growth, in some cases during the recovery period after acute infectious diseases. It is typical to increase appetite to high degrees (bulimia) in children with diabetes. Increased appetite in a child often leads to obesity. This symptom also appears with a tumor of the islet apparatus of the pancreas (beta cells) - insulinoma. Hypoglycemia is also observed.

An increase in appetite can be observed with brain tumors, in particular of the hypothalamic region, in some cases with congenital underdevelopment of the central nervous system, long-term use of steroid hormones, sometimes ftivazid, some antihistamines. Polyphagia is also observed in patients with some forms of malabsorption, chronic pancreatitis, peptic ulcer duodenum.

Increased appetite during breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, the reasons for a constant feeling of hunger can be:

• loss of fluid with milk;
• increased energy consumption (for milk production, child care, new chores, etc.);
• habit of eating heavily during pregnancy;
• subjective factors – lack of sleep, worries about the child, postpartum depression.

The balance of sex hormones also plays an important role. For most new mothers, hormonal levels stabilize approximately six months after giving birth, and during this time the woman may suffer from increased food cravings. As a rule, over time the level returns to normal and the attitude towards nutrition normalizes.

The deterrent factor in not eating “everything” should be the child’s health. It is no secret that almost everything that a mother eats passes to the baby in the milk. What can a woman’s gluttony mean for her baby: diathesis, colic in the tummy, allergies and even bronchial asthma. Before you go to the refrigerator again, think about it - do you really want to eat, or is it just a whim of the body?

Increased appetite with gastritis

With gastritis, cravings for food often disappear rather than increase, because pain in the stomach does not contribute to the desire to eat. However, sometimes the opposite is possible: uncontrolled secretion of gastric juice can provoke a false feeling of hunger. In addition, many patients try to eat away the pain with large amounts of food.

There is a third reason: the inflammatory process in the stomach requires additional vitamins and nutrients from the body, as well as fluid to remove residual products of the inflammatory reaction.

It is pointless to fight a constant feeling of hunger with gastritis; it is necessary to treat gastritis directly. After healing, your appetite will return on its own. But you also can’t follow a lead and overeat. It would be wiser to eat often, but little by little, reducing the load on the digestive system. The diet should be made as light as possible: for example, replace rich soup with broth, and a side dish of meat with stewed vegetables.

Do not try to drastically reduce your diet, as fasting is not best option with gastritis. Eat food every 2-2.5 hours, but portions should be small and do not make you feel full. As the disease is cured, the menu can be gradually expanded.

Increased appetite in the evening

Nutritionists explain the increase in appetite in the late afternoon for the following reasons:

• during the day the person did not receive enough calories;
• throughout the day consumed sufficiently high-calorie carbohydrate foods, which caused sharp increase blood sugar.

If the body does not have enough calories (for example, you are on a strict diet), then at the first opportunity it begins to demand food, and most often this happens in the evening or even at night.

If during the day you ate sweets, candy, or were tempted by a cake, then within a couple of hours there will be a sharp drop in blood sugar levels, and the body will begin to require an additional portion of sweets. Another thing - complex carbohydrates(for example, cereals): they do not cause sudden jumps in glucose levels, sugar rises and falls gradually, and the feeling of hunger is controlled.

When choosing a diet, remember that too large restrictions on the caloric content of food force our body to sooner or later demand food and arrange peculiar reserves in the form of fat deposits. Human body cannot allow death from exhaustion to occur, so the lack of calories at a certain point results in an attack of gluttony. And if at first you find fasting quite easy, then all subsequent attempts will end sooner and earlier in bouts of evening “eating.”

Sometimes evening overeating- it's just a habit. At work all day, there is simply no time to have a full breakfast or lunch. And what happens in the end: in the evening a person comes home and eats “at two lunches.” And so every day. The body gets used to it and calmly tolerates daytime fasting, knowing that in the evening food will arrive in plentiful quantities.

All of the above factors can be regarded as a violation of the diet. This is not good for both the digestive system and overall health. Therefore, eating habits should be reviewed and eat fully and correctly.

Nausea and increased appetite

Nausea can indicate many diseases and conditions. Thus, nausea is accompanied by some diseases of the digestive tract, disorders vestibular apparatus, toxicosis during pregnancy, poisoning and intoxication. What could the appearance of nausea and at the same time feelings of hunger indicate?

Nausea can cause increased salivation and increased production of gastric juice, which triggers feelings of hunger. In such situations, you don’t just want to eat: food is digested faster, the digestive tract works more actively. There may even be an increase in bowel movements.

Not to mention pregnancy, which may be accompanied by a similar condition, listed symptoms may be a consequence of the following diseases:

• pathology gastrointestinal tract(peptic ulcer, acute and chronic form gastritis, tumor in the stomach, esophagitis);
• pancreatic diseases (pancreatitis, tumors);
• gallbladder diseases;
• promotion intracranial pressure, meningitis, encephalitis, parkinsonism;
• seasickness.

Sometimes attacks of nausea and the desire to eat appear when taking certain medicines. These may be representatives of cardiac glycosides or antidepressants.

Increased appetite, drowsiness and weakness

Feelings of hunger and drowsiness, fatigue are observed when reduced level blood sugar. As a rule, this is a side effect of strict diets and fasting. Tests can be taken to make sure the amount of glucose in your blood is low. If your fears are confirmed, it is recommended to visit a nutritionist who will review your nutritional principles and create a special menu that will meet your requirements (for example, for weight loss) and will not negatively affect your well-being and health.

The feeling of hunger appears quite logically, due to lack of nutrition for the body. The stomach is empty, therefore the hunger center signals that it is necessary to take food.

Weakness and drowsiness are associated with irreplaceable energy expenditure, general dehydration and muscle protein loss. The person feels drowsy increased fatigue, he constantly wants to sleep, and the next morning he does not feel a sense of vigor.

Increased appetite and weakness may also occur with elevated level blood sugar associated with diabetes mellitus, adrenal or thyroid dysfunction. A persistent increase in sugar levels may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• frequent urination;
• dry mouth;
• emaciation;
• hunger;
• weakness;
• visual impairment;
• addition of infectious diseases.

In this case, the body is dehydrated and exhausted. A person doesn’t just want to eat: most often he feels the need for sweets. At the same time, he does not get better, but on the contrary, he loses weight, why the feeling hunger and weakness only intensify.

Fluctuations in blood sugar levels should not be sudden. You can monitor changes in balance by taking glucose tests several times. A subsequent consultation with an endocrinologist or therapist will determine whether there is a disease in the body. If so, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment and monitor the dynamics of the patient’s condition.

Very increased appetite

A “brutal” appetite is often a consequence of a carbohydrate metabolism disorder. Such disorders in most cases become the causes of overweight and obesity. People with such problems are drawn mainly to foods rich in simple carbohydrates: sweets, cakes, cookies, pies, baked goods.

When consuming these foods, the amount of glucose in the blood increases rapidly. Excessive amounts of insulin enter the bloodstream, which also quickly lowers glucose levels. As a result sharp fall glucose, the brain center again receives a signal that it is necessary to eat food. It turns out to be peculiar vicious circle– the more we eat, the more we need. As a result, carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted, followed by general metabolic processes. Excess energy accumulates, a large number of adipose tissue, the breakdown of which is blocked by the brain. And the result is obesity.

Excessive food cravings do not develop immediately - usually it takes years poor nutrition, unhealthy lifestyle, stress, physical inactivity, etc. Because of this, it is necessary to stabilize the work of the saturation center only by normalizing the diet and life principles.

Increased appetite in cancer

With cancer problems, appetite is usually reduced, not increased. This is due to severe intoxication of the body, the release of decay products by the tumor, as well as the use of potent drugs, which also negatively affect saturation centers.

The absence of a feeling of hunger in stomach cancer is due to the fact that the tumor seems to fill the gastric lumen, which creates a feeling of satiety.

Increased feelings of hunger can only be observed when early stages disease, or at the recovery stage, when the patient is recovering after a course of therapy. This counts good sign and means that the body is recovering and requires additional nutrients.

However, it is necessary to eat when you have cancer. It is very important to maintain the body in working condition, because if it is weakened, it will not be able to resist the disease. Meals should be complete, high-quality, high-calorie, in small portions, but often.

Worms and increased appetite

A constant feeling of hunger can be associated with worms if, along with increased cravings for food, there is weight loss and some of the other symptoms listed above.

In order to verify the presence of worms, you need to take a stool test several times, you can also take a smear or scraping.

Increased appetite in men

Men are no less susceptible to gluttony than women. It goes without saying that male need more high-calorie foods than women. However, sometimes even here you can’t restrain yourself and eat too much. There are also quite a lot of reasons why the body forces a man to eat more:

• thyroid function disorders, endocrine disorders;
• diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, ulcers, dysbacteriosis, etc.);
• depressed, depressive states, lack of self-realization (dismissal from work, low wages, family discord, etc.);
• frequent stress;
• chronic fatigue, overwork, lack of sleep, heavy physical labor;
• unbalanced diet, lack of adequate nutrition;
• alcohol consumption;
• dehydration.

Most often, most of the listed problems are solved in a relatively short time by establishing nutrition, daily routine, and providing time for sufficient rest and sleep.

If a man drinks alcohol, then the resulting increase in appetite may be a consequence of metabolic disorders, failure of production digestive enzymes and gastric juice, chronic damage to the digestive organs. And, in the end, any consumption of alcohol is accompanied by a dense “snack”, because alcohol-containing drinks irritate the stomach receptors and provoke a “brutal” desire to eat.

All this must be taken into account when starting to fight increased appetite. First you need to get rid of bad habits, improve your diet and lifestyle, put your nervous system in order - and the main part of the problem can be solved.

Increased appetite is a symptom that is characterized by excessive food consumption and can be a manifestation of both certain diseases and excessive physical activity, and certain physiological changes in the body. Also, increased appetite cannot be ruled out due to some psychological problems - depression, severe stress, fear of dying from exhaustion. Increases appetite and taking certain medications.

Only a qualified doctor can establish the root cause of increased appetite in a child or adult, using the necessary laboratory and instrumental research methods. Self-medication and ignoring symptoms are unacceptable.

Etiology

The manifestation of such a symptom can be provoked by both external and internal factors. External etiological factors include the following diseases:

• gastroenterological pathologies;
• problems with the thyroid gland;
• hormonal disorders;
• diabetes;
• bulimia;
• autoimmune diseases;
• malignant tumors;
• helminthic infestations - in this case, despite excessive appetite, the person will sharply lose weight;
• avitaminosis;
• impaired metabolism.

To external factors that can also trigger this clinical manifestation, should include:

• menopause;
• during early pregnancy, but not an exception and late dates bearing a child;
• before menstruation and during ovulation;
• chronic stress, depression, constant nervous tension;
• physical or psychological fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome is no exception;
• dehydration;
• taking certain medications that cause hunger.

Dehydration of the body - possible reason increased appetite

Increased appetite in older people may be due to memory problems, decreased concentration and diseases that are characterized by mental retardation. In this case, this will be due to the fact that the person simply forgets that he recently ate and against this background he may feel hungry.

Increased appetite during the postpartum period is due to the following:

• habit of eating more food during pregnancy;
• breast-feeding;
• features of the daily routine - frequent lack of sleep, constant tension, chronic fatigue.

Increased appetite in a child is often due to the following etiological factors:

• individual characteristics of the body;
• accelerated growth phase;
• puberty;
• recovery period after acute infectious diseases;
• brain tumor in the hypothalamic region (this area is responsible for the feeling of hunger);
• taking steroid drugs.

A qualified doctor can determine why a child or adult’s appetite increases through an appropriate examination. Based on this, it should be said that self-medication is unacceptable and can lead to the development of serious complications, including irreversible pathological processes.

Symptoms

There is no general clinical picture with increased appetite, since this is a clinical manifestation of a certain illness, and not a separate pathological process.

With excess thyroid hormones, increased appetite will be accompanied by the following clinical picture:

• visual enlargement of the thyroid gland;
• hand tremors;
• disruption of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• frequent mood swings, emotional instability;
• rapid physical fatigue, reduced performance;
• tachycardia;
• high blood pressure;
• chest pain.

In addition, women may experience changes menstrual cycle, and in men there are problems with potency and decreased libido.

Paradoxically, increased appetite can also be observed with gastritis, however, in this case, we are not talking about all forms of this gastroenterological disease.

Increased appetite with gastritis can be caused by uncontrolled secretion of gastric juice, the syndrome of “hunger pains”. In this case, the following clinical picture will be present:

• pain with gastritis can be localized in the pit of the stomach, which radiates to the back, but other localization of the unpleasant sensation is also possible;
• hunger pains – a person will feel severe discomfort with a long absence of food in the stomach;
• change in bowel movements – may be present long-term constipation or, on the contrary, severe attacks diarrhea;
• nausea, sometimes with vomiting. This symptom most often appears after eating fatty, heavy foods;
• heartburn, belching with an unpleasant odor or air, depending on the form and severity of the disease;
• increased flatulence, rumbling in the stomach;
• a feeling of fullness in the stomach, regardless of the amount of food consumed.

Symptoms of gastritis

Increased appetite, accompanied by weight loss, is a clear sign of helminthic infestations in the body, which will be characterized by the following clinical picture:

• paroxysmal abdominal pain;
• increased salivation;
• frequent attacks of nausea and vomiting;
• constipation alternates with bouts of diarrhea. Undigested food particles and third-party organisms may be present in the stool;
• practically constant feeling fatigue, drowsiness;
• itching in the anus;
• pale skin;
• low-grade fever, in some cases heat bodies.

Increased and even uncontrollable appetite may be present with neurosis, severe stress, bulimia. In this case, the clinical picture will be characterized as follows:

• a person eats almost all the time, with the exception of sleep;
• high-calorie foods begin to predominate in the patient’s diet;
• isolation, depression;
• against the background of excessive food consumption, nausea and vomiting may occur, however, even after such reactions of the body, the person does not stop eating;
• the patient can swallow food without chewing;
• there are no restrictions on taste preferences;
• Bouts of overeating are especially intense at night.

It goes without saying that such a diet has an extremely negative effect on the condition digestive system and leads not only to obesity, but also to other diseases of cardio-vascular system, pancreas, musculoskeletal system.

Increased appetite may be a manifestation cancer, in particular stomach cancer. In this case, the following clinic will be present:

• despite increased appetite, a person sharply loses weight;
• feeling of fullness and distension in the stomach;
• lack of pleasure from satiety;
• aversion to certain foods, which was not the case before;
• dull, pressing pain in the stomach area;
• change in the act of defecation - diarrhea is replaced by prolonged constipation;
• weakness, lethargy;
• increased body temperature;
• general malaise, irritability.

It should be noted that a similar clinical picture may be present in other gastroenterological diseases, and the nature of the pain is almost identical to gastric ulcer, therefore, you need to contact a doctor who will conduct an examination and establish an accurate diagnosis.

Appetite increases in people with a brain tumor, namely with the tumor localized in the hypothalamic region, which will be accompanied by the following clinical picture:

• headache and dizziness;
• frequent attacks of nausea, which are rarely accompanied by vomiting;
• psychological disorders - decreased cognitive skills, sharp changes moods, previously unusual behavior, aggression;
• visual and auditory hallucinations;
• speech disorder;
• change in taste preferences.

As the tumor grows, other areas of the brain will be affected, causing the development of related symptoms.

Brain tumor symptoms

Excessive food intake may be dictated by psychological problems(not to be confused with mental disorders). As a rule, in such cases there is no additional symptoms. In this way, a person can “seize” depression, nervous tension and personal problems, including fear. However, you need to understand that the presence of such a factor can lead to gastroenterological diseases and chronic overeating.

Increased appetite before menstruation and during early pregnancy may be a consequence of natural physiological changes in the body and does not pose a threat to life, but this does not mean that food consumption may be uncontrolled. The same applies to excessive amounts of food consumed during menopause or menopause, that is, a period of natural changes in the female body.

Diagnostics

Initially, the doctor conducts a physical examination of the patient, collecting a general history and the patient’s lifestyle in general. To clarify the diagnosis, the following laboratory and instrumental research methods can be used:

• general analysis of urine and blood;
• expanded biochemical analysis blood;
• blood sampling for the presence of tumor markers;
• blood test for hormones;
• Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
• FGDS;
• CT, MRI of the abdominal organs.

The exact examination program is determined individually, depending on the current clinical picture and the history collected during the initial examination.

Treatment

The course of treatment will depend on the identified underlying factor, since its elimination will lead to the normalization of the patient’s appetite.

In some cases, in addition to drug treatment And mandatory diet(as with gastritis and other gastroenterological, oncological pathologies Gastrointestinal tract) requires a course of psychotherapy.

If uncontrolled appetite is diagnosed in pregnant women or children, then drug therapy is kept to a minimum, as it can cause harm children's body in both cases.

Excessive appetite during menstruation, in most cases, does not require special treatment. A woman may be advised to make adjustments to her diet and increase physical activity.

Prevention

In this case there are no targeted preventive measures. You should generally follow a healthy diet and consult a doctor if feeling unwell, and not carry out therapeutic measures at your own discretion.

About ideal figure Almost everyone dreams. A thin person will never understand how much effort people who tend to be overweight spend on looking good. In the modern world there are many medical supplies, diets and a lot of other things that one way or another can help those who strive to improve their figure. There are indeed a lot of means for losing weight, but the enemy of those who are losing weight is still the same as it was before. We are talking about increased appetite. Because of this, achieving your goals in the fight against excess weight is very difficult. It is also worth noting that increased appetite, the causes of which we are considering here, is by no means always the norm, which means it needs to be dealt with. In some cases, it may even be a symptom of some disease or mental disorder.

Increased appetite: reasons

Some people experience hunger all their lives that cannot be relieved by anything, while others eat little, but from time to time something switches in their bodies, and they begin to eat for two, or even three. As a rule, an increase in appetite is not always observed, but only at certain hours. For example, late at night. Surely many now remember how more than once they got up after midnight and went to the refrigerator, wanting to eat everything that was there. In the morning, of course, everything that happened at night caused only confusion.

In general, it is worth noting that the satiety center, like the hunger center, is located in the hypothalamus. They receive signals from the stomach that indicate whether a person needs food. As a result of any disorders with these signals, various kinds of problems can arise. Increased appetite is precisely one of these problems. The reasons for all this, as has already become clear from the above, are various, but the main ones include the following:

1) Many women experience increased appetite before menstruation. This can be explained by the fact that in PMS time There is a lack of a hormone called estrogen in the body. This hormone makes people cheerful and is responsible for a good mood. It can also act as a pain reliever. It is also worth noting that before menstruation, as well as during it, the level of hemoglobin drops, and the woman begins to feel weak from this and tries to regain her strength with the help of food. There is nothing wrong with increased appetite during menstruation.

2) A person may constantly want to eat if he constantly experiences heavy physical activity (sports, hard work). All this is quite natural, since the body is simply trying to gain strength. In such cases, it is recommended to eat foods that contain a lot of protein.

3) Increased appetite may occur as a result of stress, mental disorder or serious emotional shock. The fact is that the process of eating is usually very pleasant. This means that a person always withdraws a little from reality while eating. The brain tells us that we should eat not because the body needs nutrients, but because we simply want to get away from the problems that have befallen us or forget about something very bad. IN in this case It is recommended to seek help from a professional psychologist, since it is quite possible that the problem will not go away on its own.

4) The main reasons for increased appetite also include problems with carbohydrate metabolism. With this disorder, people subconsciously gravitate toward eating foods that contain a lot of carbohydrates. In this case, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

5) The cause of increased appetite may be a brain tumor.

6) An increase in appetite in children is usually associated with their growth. Many adults start to worry when their child starts eating everything, but in reality there is nothing to worry about.

Finally, I would like to say that people who cannot lose weight because they are constantly tormented by hunger are recommended to eat something that reduces appetite. The most simple ways to reduce it is:

Drink a glass of carrot juice;

Eat oatmeal;

Eat grapefruit.

Increased appetite, the causes of which we have discussed, can of course become a big problem. It cannot be ignored.

Most likely, every person is familiar with the feeling of increased appetite. Many of us start every day or every Monday new life: they monitor their food intake and calories all day, and in the evening, when they get to the refrigerator... But in the morning, of course, you can start a new life again. And infinity is not the limit!

The list of main reasons for increased appetite includes carbohydrate metabolism disorders. Most often, due to these very violations, excess weight appears. At the same time, a person experiences a need for products with high content carbohydrates: white bread, pies, pasta, pizza, white rice, potatoes, various desserts and sweet drinks. The level of glucose in the blood immediately rises, insulin is produced, and in excess, immediately greatly reducing the level of glucose. And because of this decrease, the brain again sends signals that it’s time to eat. These are disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, in which the body accumulates calories, produces a large amount of fat, but its breakdown is blocked! To break this vicious circle, it is necessary to normalize glucose levels. And this is only possible if you bring all aspects of your life back to normal: organize proper nutrition, reduce fatigue, avoid stressful situations, eliminate a sedentary lifestyle, etc.

Appetite may also increase psychological reasons. If life revolves only between work and home, there is no sports, little communication, not enough positive emotions, that is, life is monotonous and joyless, then a person tries to replace it all with gluttony. Food distracts from sad thoughts, calms you down after a stressful situation, and even lifts your spirits. At the moment of stress, all a person’s muscles tense, the reaction worsens, while during eating the opposite happens: the area of ​​the nervous system that is responsible for proper digestion of food and relaxation is turned on. That is, a person cannot digest food under stress. In this case, you cannot strictly limit yourself in nutrition, otherwise the stressful state may intensify. You need to eat foods that are easy to digest: fruits, nuts, vegetables. Sweets should be replaced with dried fruits or honey. In addition, you need to find some other way to relax other than food. This could be yoga, belly dancing, or just walking in the fresh air. Failures in your personal life also contribute to increased appetite. With a lack of attention and love, a person unconsciously strives to increase the consumption of sweets, and all because they act on a certain center of the brain, creating a feeling of satisfaction. Also, psychological reasons for overeating include intimidation of children with threats or punishments when they refuse to finish their portion. After all, up to a certain age, children are able to intuitively eat exactly as much as they need. This also includes the fear of offending the hostess who invited you to a rich table.

The busy rhythm of life and constant time pressure lead to haste when eating: a person is in a hurry and swallows in large pieces, as a result of which the food is not digested well enough, the brain cannot receive a signal of saturation on time, and again - overeating! Eating while working at the computer or watching TV also does not contribute to weight loss.

PMS: Before the start of menstruation, many women experience an incredible increase in appetite or cravings for sweets. This occurs as a result of a lack of the hormone estrogen, which takes part in the formation of substances that promote vigor and good mood, and are also natural pain relievers. During menstruation, the level of hemoglobin drops, weakness and powerlessness are felt, which the woman tries to compensate for with sweets. You should try to control your desire to eat by choosing foods high in fiber and replacing sugar with fructose. You can, for example, have a snack with bran bread and some fruit. Eating salad greens, red meat and seafood will help replace your zinc levels. IN drinking water you can add lemon juice.

Exercising can whet your appetite, especially when a person is just starting out and the body is not yet accustomed to the new routine. In this case, a sports doctor or nutritionist will help you cope with your appetite and will create an individual menu for the period of training. If it is impossible to consult a doctor, then you just need to follow the general recommendations of proper nutrition and drink more, trying to prevent dehydration.

Very often, intense intellectual activity affects appetite, and the most desired product in this case is chocolate, because it is an antidepressant, stimulates the brain, restores strength and supplies the body with magnesium.

Surprisingly, it is the desire to quickly lose weight and strict diets that can provoke the body to accumulate calories in reserve! The metabolism is under stress, the body tries to replenish lost energy. Therefore, all diets should be rational. Love your body, don't torture it!

It happens that appetite gets out of control to such an extent that after a feast a person has to use laxatives or enemas. This is already an eating disorder - bulimia. In this case, the help of a doctor is necessary.

Below are some general tips to combat increased appetite.

1. If you are trying to lose weight, then you simply need to master the ability to control your appetite. It is imperative to satisfy it in small quantities when it appears. If you constantly hold back when thinking about food, then at some point you will definitely break down and eat everything you can. You need to fight a very strong appetite - gluttony, the desire to “eat an elephant”. In this case, you need to try not to think about food, distracting yourself with your favorite activity, something very exciting.

2. Try to divide your meals into 5-6 times a day, but in small portions. This will make your stomach smaller and you will feel full faster!

3. You should not start your meal with fatty, boiled or fried foods, because they are digested slowly, creating a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. Try not to eat incompatible foods at the same time: this also makes digestion more difficult.

4. You can’t wash down your food right away. This way, undigested food is washed out of the stomach with drinks without having time to be absorbed. As a result, the person continues to feel hungry.

5. Try not to get overtired. Overwork devastates the body, depriving it of all vitamins, minerals and nutrients, starving cells and increasing appetite.

6. Cleansing from toxins will help reduce your appetite. The villi of the slagged intestine are clogged, they are not able to absorb nutrients normally. A person remains hungry because most of the food simply cannot be digested.

7. Don’t neglect physical exercise to curb your appetite at least for a while. Sports are a great distraction from food.

What not to do? Take pills that suppress appetite. They have too many very unpleasant side effects, the cause of which is active substance- phenylpropanolamine (PPA), which suppresses the activity of the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls appetite.

If you still overeat, try to take a walk in the fresh air, warm up a little by doing a few slow exercises, and breathe properly. Movement will help you digest food faster. Lying down after overeating is not recommended: the food will stagnate and give rise to a chronic disease. In the evening you should make yourself herbal tea or drink unsweetened juice, take cold and hot shower and rub yourself with a towel. When you wake up in the morning, you need to immediately drink a glass of water with honey and warm up, stretch your abdominal muscles. It is better to have breakfast with thin porridge, and then take a short walk to move food down the intestines. During the day you should eat only light foods, vegetables and fruits, washed down with clean water. The intestinal walls will be cleansed.

Let the consequences of overeating be a lesson to you! Eat as much as your body needs. Take care of your health and beauty!

Foods that reduce appetite include vegetables, fruits and milk, but sweets, cereals, white bread, pasta, on the contrary, increase it! Sweets can reduce your appetite: you can eat a piece of chocolate or candy and your hunger will subside. But you can’t snack on buns and cookies! If you get used to such snacks, then you are unlikely to lose weight. You can eat a carrot or tomato (but without salt), drink a little low-fat milk, chew dried fruits. Kefir, freshly squeezed citrus juice, and low-fat fish also reduce appetite. Eat snacks between meals and avoid overeating during lunch.

Try to control your thoughts, and then you can easily control your body!

Increased appetite in women: causes and methods of combating

As soon as you decided to eat less or decided to immediately move on to the most difficult and “reliable” method - stop eating dinner, your good intentions began to break down against the cruel truth of life. Hunger has claimed its rights over you, your body and your mind. Why is this happening?

Many of us have experienced this at least once. unpleasant phenomenon like increased appetite. It seems like you ate recently, but you didn’t feel full. Intellectually, we understand that an extra portion of food will lead to problems with our figure, but it is impossible to stop. This is an increased appetite, an incessant feeling of hunger.

Causes of increased appetite

To understand the causes of unhealthy appetite, it is important to understand how the hunger mechanism is formed.

Information about hunger enters the food center located in the hypothalamus of the brain in two ways:

1. through nerve impulses from the stomach and intestines;
2. through substances in the blood that signal a decrease in glucose levels.

Based on these signals, the brain makes conclusions about hunger or satiety. Various malfunctions in the hypothalamus lead to eating disorders.

Appetite disturbances may be caused by for various reasons. Some of them can be corrected independently, others require the intervention of specialists.

The main causes of constant hunger

1. Premenstrual syndrome. Many women experience increased appetite before menstruation. Most often this is due to hormonal imbalance, preparing the woman’s body for possible pregnancy and mood swings during this period. Not all women suffer from excessive appetite before menstruation; many do not notice any changes in eating behavior.
2. Pregnancy and breastfeeding. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, appetite increases, as additional energy is needed to maintain a new life. During this period, it is important to maintain a balance in nutrition: with food, a woman needs to get enough proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. If the balance is maintained and the woman adheres to a certain daily routine, then abnormal cravings for food should not arise.
3. Stress and depression, overwork and chronic fatigue. Common cause strong appetite under nervous stress, the desire to eat becomes stressful, since food is associated in our minds with pleasure. The increased release of cortisol (stress hormone) into the blood requires compensation in the form of additional energy. Many people experience stress constantly, which leads to appetite disorders. The body simply needs additional energy.
4. . The hormone leptin, which is responsible for appetite, is produced during sleep. Lack of sleep slows down its production and the body strives to get it from food, which leads to an increase in appetite.
5. Dehydration. The areas of the brain responsible for hunger and thirst are close. Therefore, lack of water is often perceived as hunger.
6. Boredom, idleness. They make you want to eat something just like that, out of nothing to do. The way out in this situation would be an interesting activity, a walk, or physical activity.

In my opinion, the main reason for increased appetite in women is stress and excessive emotional stress. We live in a world that is changing rapidly. We have to live in multitasking mode. We strive to be on time at work, in family, in social life. This mode of life keeps constant voltage and very tiring.

Very often, women, unfortunately, are not accustomed to putting themselves and their interests first. We care about loved ones, about family, about work. We care about the impression we make on others, but we don't care about ourselves. This all leads to a state of overwork.

A woman simply needs to find time for herself, even at the expense of other things and people. The driven horses are shot, but we drive ourselves every day.

Women need to learn to take care of themselves first. Learn independently, with the help of all kinds women's practices, or with a professional psychologist - it's up to you.

You can cope with emotional stress and, at the same time, take care of your figure in classes.

They give an outlet for energy, and along with the energy we throw out negative emotions. Plus, we gain a toned body and self-confidence.

But if, regardless of the reasons listed above, you experience a constant strong feeling of hunger, then this is a reason to consult a doctor. Only with the help of analyzes and research can we identify reasons for big appetite health-related, so it should not be ignored. Severe hunger is not necessarily the cause of a serious illness, but its possibility should be ruled out.

If you suffer from persistent increased appetite, consult your doctor. I don’t want to scare anyone again, but self-medication in such a situation is not an option.

If you experience unhealthy hunger only before your period, then there is no reason to worry. This condition is normal, just like during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The only thing that can be advised in this case is not to indulge in sweet, fatty and salty foods.

Physical activity, daily routine, principles of proper nutrition, positive emotions will help in cases where hunger is caused by stressful situations, overwork, and boredom.

The main thing is to understand the cause of unhealthy hunger; when you know the enemy in person, it is easier to deal with him.

You have already identified the reason constant hunger at your place? Write to us in the comments.

It’s sad, but more often than not, what provokes anxiety in us is not a reduced appetite, but, on the contrary, an excessive appetite. Therefore, we even accept the loss of the latter with pleasure. This situation is especially relevant for women who always dream of losing weight. But the fair sex does not always think about the fact that partial (hyporexia), and even more so complete loss of appetite (anorexia) is extremely dangerous to health. Depriving yourself of products important for life is fraught, at a minimum, with the occurrence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). At most – fatal.

A good appetite is not a deviation from the norm, as many people mistakenly believe. On the contrary, doctors consider it an indicator of mental and physiological well-being. We will talk about the reasons for reducing food cravings, how to safely and effectively increase appetite, including in little ones.

Why you don’t want to eat, or reasons for loss of appetite

Our body is an almost ideal system, which, with the reasonable attitude of its “owner,” works almost without failures or errors. In this complex structure, each element is interconnected with others. Everything that happens to our body is due to the impact on it environment, not always favorable. It's the same with appetite. It cannot decline without reason, much less disappear altogether. Therefore, the first step is to find and neutralize the root cause of the unpleasant condition.

The most common causes of decreased appetite in adults:

• Violation of sleep and rest patterns.
• Avitaminosis.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Flaw fresh air.
• Some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver (gastritis, pancreatitis, stomach ulcers).
• Acute infectious diseases.
• Autoimmune diseases.
• Diseases with disruption of the endocrine system.
• Diabetes.
• Mental illnesses.
• Oncological diseases.
• Anxiety, depression or frequent stress.
• Some medications and therapies: antihypertensive drugs, antibiotics, cancer treatments, radiation therapy, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Smoking.
• Alcohol abuse.

Doctors call dehydration – insufficient water intake – one of the reasons for loss of appetite. You need to drink at least 5 to 7 glasses of filtered or bottled water per day, or mineral water. Liquids such as tea, juice, coffee or other drinks are not included.

How to increase your appetite: effective ways

Try watching this video, maybe it will help whet your appetite :))

1. Medicines

There are quite a large number of medications that can increase appetite. Not all of them are safe and harmless, so you should consult a doctor before using any of them. At a minimum, study the pharmacological action of the medication, contraindications and indications for use, as well as side effects. To the most effective means relate:

• Insulin.
• Peritol.
• GHRP peptides.
• Anabolic steroid.
• Pernexin elixir.
• Elkar.
• Primoblan depot.

Some of these medications can be used to increase a child’s appetite. Also, drugs and vitamins for children such as Linex and Anaferon have a less pronounced but noticeable effect.

Some antidepressants can significantly increase appetite: Fluoxetine, Paxil, Cipramil, Amitriptyline, etc. They can only be taken as prescribed by a specialist and under his supervision.

2. Vitamins

Puzzled by the question of how to increase your appetite, do not forget about the benefits of vitamins. They are especially important for the body during the period of adaptation after an illness, with a weakened immune system or during the off-season - in early spring or late autumn. The most effective microelements and vitamins that increase appetite:

• Iron preparations – Ferrum lek, Fenyuls, Sorbifer, etc.
• Vitamin B 12.
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

When raising a child’s appetite, it is preferable to use children’s vitamin complexes:

• Multitabs.
• Alphabet.
• Pikovit.

It is not necessary to take vitamin tablets. Products with a high content of essential substances will help compensate for the lack of important components in the body. Vitamin B12 is found in dairy products, eggs, liver, kidney, meat and fish. Increased concentration ascorbic acid in rose hips, sauerkraut, currants, parsley and dill, bell pepper.

3. Traditional medicine recipes

Bitterness and acids taken immediately before eating help to increase appetite - preferably 20 - 30 minutes before meals. The necessary substances are found in many medicinal herbs, fruits and berries:

• Sour apple varieties.
• Orange.
• Grapefruit.
• Pickles (cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.).
• Sauerkraut (you can drink 2 - 3 tablespoons of cabbage brine).
• Lemon juice or pulp.
• Wormwood decoction (1 tablespoon three times a day).
• Dandelion root tincture (¼ cup three times a day).
• Centaury infusion (one tablespoon 3 – 4 times a day).
• Infusion from the series (one tablespoon 4 times a day).
• A decoction of sunflower petals (2 to 3 tablespoons).
• Honey (1 teaspoon on an empty stomach).

4. Fight bad habits

The myth that a person who quits smoking always gets better is not entirely a myth. Quitting cigarettes can really increase your appetite. Little of, bad habit dulls our sensitivity to smells and tastes. Those who quit smoking often say that food has become much tastier, new taste sensations have appeared, and the previously blurred sense of smell has intensified.

5. Physical activity and being outdoors

This method is especially effective in restoring a child’s appetite. Parents often wonder why their child, who spends the whole day motionless at the computer or TV, almost never feels hungry. And this is quite normal. The body does not burn calories and does not need additional energy.

Take your child out for a walk, send him to the pool or water park, or go on a hike. And you will be amazed at how a tired baby with cheeks flushed from the fresh air will absorb his portion of lunch or dinner.

For adults, these indications are no less effective. Finally tear yourself away from your office chair or home sofa and spend the whole day in the fresh air. Start doing exercises, join a sports club, run around the house. The main thing is to start. Movement is truly life. And also vigor and... appetite!

6. Diet and diet

To increase your appetite, be sure to normalize your diet and the content of your diet. It is enough to follow a few simple but important rules:

• Don't force yourself to eat large portions. Eat less, but more often. The best option is 5 – 7 times a day.
• When preparing dishes, use natural appetite stimulants - spices and seasonings.
• Set the table beautifully. Eat brightly colored vegetables and fruits, especially yellow and red ones. Science has proven that these colors stimulate the appetite.
• Say a firm “no” to emergency snacks on the run. Each meal should become a small, pleasant ritual - leisurely, in a comfortable position and in a good mood.

7. Mental health status

Learn to relax and experience a sense of pleasure from life. Very often, the causes of decreased appetite are precisely frequent stress, anxiety, dissatisfaction with oneself and one’s life. If you can’t cope with the problems on your own, make an appointment with a good psychologist.

And yet, do not rush to look for an effective way to increase your appetite. To begin with, it is wiser to seek qualified help from a specialist. Atrophy of taste sensations, decrease or complete absence appetite are clinical signs of many quite serious diseases. Self-medication can result in loss of precious time and irreversible development of the disease.