Updated from September 14th, 2015. This is one of the most helpful tricks I have learned over the years which keeps your weight in check. Yes, most of the times when you think you are feeling hungry, it is your body craving for water. You can get hungry for water if you are not drinking enough of it.
We all get hunger pangs at different times of day. What is your immediate reaction? Grab a snack? Or, reach out for that bag of chips lying in front of you? Well, this is one of the major reasons why we tend to overeat. We do not regulate our bodies and we do not even understand our body signals. The first thing to reach out when you have hunger pangs is a glass of water.
Of course, regulating your meal times and looking into what you are putting in your meal is also a good place to start. But, the first thing is your body is hungry for water. Interestingly, I experienced this first hand tonight. I was reading a book when I started feeling hungry. Its late and I usually take my dinner light and I go for a walk later. So, it is quite possible that my body is low on the fuel.
Instead of gorging on anything (I did not have access to anything either which is helpful), I thought of testing this theory and had a glass of water. And, voila, my hunger pangs subsided, did not recur and I went to sleep happily. So, if you ever feel hungry, try drinking water. It may be as simple as that!
How to find out if you are just hungry for water?
You start feeling hungry at irregular times. This is one of the most common symptom which we often fail to diagnose correctly. Not having a regular routine is also the culprit. So, a good place to start would be to regulate your meal times and not skipping any of the meals very diligently.
Feeling Low on Energy. If you suddenly start feeling low or sleepy or dizzy or less energetic, drink some water. Mixing a bit of honey will help raise your sugar levels and give you instant energy. But, make sure you have your next meal on time. A glass of fresh fruit juice or a cup of green tea is also recommended.
Loads of Body Aches. If you start experiencing body aches suddenly instead of over a course of time, it usually means your nutrition is not balanced. Drink lots and lots of water, take lots of fruits, eat balanced meals with good amount of proteins and get yourself tested for vitamin D or B12 just in case.
And, yes, after you do all this, do not forget to keep an eye on your urine. Dark urine usually means dehydration and severe dehydration can cause enough of body issues to make you weak for at least a week. Now that you know your body can get hungry for water, it is time you have your next glass of water.
Till then, ciao.
Thatz a very informative post Swati 🙂
But let me eat food itself when am hungry 😛 Only then I may gain some pounds to combat my underweight pron.
haha…I don’t think just eating would really help in gaining weight…did you consult a doc regd this???
Wow! This is some piece of info..I gained 8 kgs on my visit to home this sem break and I’ve to work really hard to shed off the excessive fat. And this is something really interesting
even I have to shed off weight, Harshita!! but, yes, this was news to me as well 🙂
I think this happens to me, as I hardly drink any water 🙁
so, now you can remember this and drink water 🙂
Hey, I have heard of it. But for me, since I sip on water almost the whole day, when I am hungry nothing short of food calms my growling tummy!
wow…you seem to be really regular with water!!! sometimes, I simply forget 🙁 and, that reminds me to drink water 😀 😀
This is true…I have read it in magazines and have experienced it too. When I don’t drink enough water, not only do the hunger pangs strike, I also feel irritated and lethargic and sometimes get slight headaches….
hmmm…Marianne, you really made me think about my bouts of headches and moodiness too!!!
This happens to me as well! Many times my headaches are brought on by dehydration especially if I’m out in the sun and haven’t had water for a while
So true about headaches from dehydration!! I always get them!!
I drink water while having food…some say it’s not a good practice…but I can’t really eat without drinking water between…what do u think about it Swati ?
By the way have u read the book…”Don’t loose your mind…loose your weight”…it’s a fun book…read it if you haven’t…
yes, its not a good practice but in fact, in japanese culture, they drink green tea or warm water with food. so, it can also be interpreted in a way that how much of the quantity is one taking.
nah…haven’t read that book but will surely check it out 🙂
guess it’s not a good practice because water fills up the stomach allowing little food…But the worry part is some say it increases the tummy …not sure how true it is…
But drinking green tea and warm water helps in digestion I guess…huh makes me remember Oshene telecasted on DD 🙂 that lil gal was adorable
yup, they do say it makes the tummy big!! but, donno if its true. yes, even my mom says that water fills up the stomach and that will make you hungry soon enough. I generally avoid drinking water with my meals. I take water afterwards and make sure that my meal quantity is same everyday.
Hello Swati, I’m Dilcia from Richmond, Virginia, USA. I’ve know about this for a while, though I’ve being seeing recent articles on this subject lately. I’ve shared this with my children, and of course, they’ve rolled their eyes at me, as if I don’t know what I’m talking about. But it seems to have sunk in. When I have shared this with friends and co-workers, some get it and others don’t, I just tell them to Google it. But yeah, isn’t it amazing how our brains work. 🙂
P.S. I did read some of the other comments. Drinking water regularly, will not only keep you hydrated, but also, if you drink water with trace essential minerals, if you are very active and sweat a lot, this will help keep you from experiencing terrible muscle cramps (trolley horse pain) in thighs and legs. I have also experienced this in my feet. Aside from all of that, it will also help gases move through your digestive track and prevent bloating.
I’m also sure I’ve left other benefits out. Anyway, thank you for allowing me to share. 🙂
Hi Dilcia. Haha…true, there are innumerable benefits!
best way to become lean
true!
This happens to me as well! Many times my headaches are brought on by dehydration especially if I’m out in the sun and haven’t had water for a while
This happens to me as well! Many times my headaches are brought on by dehydration especially if I’m out in the sun and haven’t had water for a while
guess it’s not a good practice because water fills up the stomach allowing little food…But the worry part is some say it increases the tummy …not sure how true it is…
But drinking green tea and warm water helps in digestion I guess…huh makes me remember Oshene telecasted on DD that lil gal was adorable
Thatz a very informative post Swati …
Wow! This is some piece of info..I gained 6 kgs on my visit to home this sem break and I’ve to work really hard to shed off the excessive fat. And this is something really interesting and good
I think this happens to me, as I hardly drink any water..
Hey, I have heard of it. But for me, since I sip on water almost the whole day, when I am hungry nothing short of food calms my growling tummy!
This is true…I have read it in magazines and have experienced it too. When I don’t drink enough water, not only do the hunger pangs strike, I also feel irritated and lethargic and sometimes get slight headaches….
I’m also sure I’ve left other benefits out. Anyway, thank you for allowing me to share. 🙂
best way to become lean
I’ve shared this with my children, and of course, they’ve rolled their eyes at me, as if I don’t know what I’m talking about. But it seems to have sunk in. When I have shared this with friends and co-workers, some get it and others don’t, I just tell them to Google it. But yeah, isn’t it amazing how our brains work.
I have also experienced this in my feet. Aside from all of that, it will also help gases move through your digestive track and prevent bloating.