What Controls Hunger - Brain Or Body?

Were you aware that your brain and your body work together when it comes to what and how you eat? One is signaling to the other about how hungry you are, how much food you are eating, and whether you want a salty or sweet snack. Different foods cause new signals to be sent back and forth between your brain and your body.

Your brain controls everything that goes on in your body. Hunger, fullness, appetite, and metabolism are controlled from your brain by billions of brain cells known as neurons. Neurons communicate with each other by sending messages about moods, emotions, feelings, and physical hunger. All of these messages are carried throughout your body by chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Have you ever noticed that certain foods make you feel certain ways? Some scientists think that what you eat affects the balance of neurotransmitters in your body, such as serotonin and dopamine, which play a role in mood and appetite control. These can also affect how you feel.

It can also happen the other way around. When you are in certain moods you it will affect the types of foods that you eat. For example, some people when they are nervous may crave carbohydrates. When they finally get their fair share of bread or crackers, they feel calm again.

Other chemicals in your brain and throughout your body influence when, how much, and what types of foods you eat. The amazing thing about this is they are some how tied mood. Have you ever heard of endorphins? If you haven't, these are chemicals that your body naturally produces to help you deal with stress and pain. 

They make you feel better. Any food that makes you feel good, such as chocolate or ice cream seem to trigger the release of endorphins. This is why some people think of these foods as "mood elevators." This can be a nasty little trap. If you are using food to control your moods, this could definitely become a problem if not controlled.

What it really comes down to is that your brain and body have a connection and work together. You can control what you crave, but in order to do this you must control your associations to food. Don't use it to control your mood or to feel better. Use food as a way to fuel your body. If you are using food to feel better, find something more constructive to replace food as such as exercise.

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