Cold Weather Makes Us Hungrier? Here Are Seven Ways to Fight It
These last few months of the year are filled with leftover Halloween candy . . . then gravy . . . then sweets. But maybe that weight we’re all gaining ISN’T our fault?
The site “Study Finds” has an article on how cold weather MAKES us crave food. Some of it comes down to our biology, not a lack of willpower.
The average person gains one to two pounds during the coldest months of the year. And it’s partly because your body just WANTS to.
Cold weather triggers hormonal changes that make you hungrier, and prevent you from feeling full. And less sunlight doesn’t help either. It lowers dopamine and serotonin levels, making us crave more carbs.
That doesn’t mean you HAVE to gain weight though. Here are a few science-backed way to suppress your winter appetite.
1. Spice up your meals. The compound that makes peppers hot can suppress hunger and help you eat less. It also boosts your metabolism a little.
2. Start with fiber. The order you eat things in matters. Eating vegetables or other high-fiber foods first will slow down digestion and make you feel full faster.
3. Eat some dark chocolate. The bitter compounds in it tell your body it’s time to stop eating. Anything that says “70% cocoa” or higher should work.
4. Eat protein for breakfast. It takes longer to digest than carb-heavy things like cereal, so you feel full longer. Healthy options like Greek yogurt are better than bacon.
5. Add omega-3s. They’re in fish, but also things like seeds and walnuts. They enhance something called “leptin sensitivity.” It’s the hormone that tells your brain you’re full and not hungry anymore.
6. Use smaller plates. It sounds dumb, but studies have shown it tricks your brain into thinking you ate more than you really did.
7. Drink lots of water. Sometimes we feel hungry when we’re actually thirsty. Plus, it just makes you feel full. A study found people automatically ate less if they drank a big glass of water 30 minutes before meals.
(Study Finds)
