Sometimes hunger isn't hunger; it's thirst. But how do you know? Follow the signs with these cues from Livestrong.
- Hunger: weakness, irritability or moodiness, stomach rumbling, and feeling empty. True hunger is felt gradually (that is, if you're paying attention to your body).
- Thirst: dry eyes, headache, sluggishness, nausea, dizziness, dry skin, and constipation. Dark yellow urine and a dry mouth are signs of dehydration.
- Eat at regular intervals, probably of about four hours each, but some people find smaller, more frequent eating is best for them and others have to follow someone else's clock so a snack between meals at longer intervals might be helpful.
- Drink water frequently throughout the day. Don't get thirsty, because that's a first sign of dehydration already starting. The recommended amount of water per day is 64 ounces, but more will probably be needed if you're working out or in a very hot environment.
If I'm feeling hungry, I can first compare my hunger to the last time I ate. An hour or two ago? I am probably not hungry but I can try a snack to see. If five hours, I'm almost-certainly hungry.
If I eat a snack and food doesn't help, however, that's a sign I'm probably thirsty. After drinking a glass of water (about 8 ounces) and waiting 15 minutes, I can determine if I'm still hungry. Is my stomach still growling? Or am I now satisfied? Is my headache or fatigue gone?
This can be new territory, even for someone like me who has known that sometimes thirst masquerades as hunger. Having this information is one thing; using it is another. But when considering feelings of hunger, thirst cannot be discarded as a reason. And that's worth remembering before piling on a lot of food that won't satiate the hunger being felt.
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