3 signs of your true hunger

What type of hunger controls you?

In our fight against excess weight, often our biggest enemy is that sneaky feeling of hunger.

You might think you eat because you're hungry, but your cravings could be driven by emotions, habits, or even gut bacteria! Find out which type of hunger dominates your life.

In partnership with

Ready to elevate your daily moments?

Discover precision-engineered cannabis drops that work in 20 minutes or less.

Our thoughtfully crafted microdoses combine THC with powerful plant medicines for targeted experiences – from enhanced focus and energy to deep relaxation and restful sleep.

Each drop delivers the perfect balance: precisely dosed THC, botanicals, and modern science for optimal results.

Experience why thousands choose 1906 for clean, consistent cannabis without sugar, smoke, calories, or compromise.

Try 1906 Today

Why do we eat even when we’re not hungry?

Scientists identify three types of hunger (hunger types according to Alessio Fasano):

1. Homeostatic - physiological need for energy

2. Hedonic - food cravings due to emotions and pleasure

3. Microbiotic - signals from gut bacteria that make us eat

Homeostatic hunger - real need.

This is genuine hunger - when your body truly needs energy and nutrients. It occurs when glucose levels drop, and energy stores are depleted.

Symptoms include stomach growling, weakness, and reduced concentration.

How to recognize homeostatic hunger:

• 3-5 hours have passed since your last meal

• Any food would satisfy you, not just something tasty

• After eating, you feel full, and food cravings disappear

Hedonic hunger - pleasure dependency.

When food isn't about nourishment, but emotions!

This type of hunger connects to pleasure centers in the brain that activate when eating tasty, calorie-dense food.

What triggers hedonic hunger?

• Advertising and constant food availability

• Stress, boredom, habits

• Social factors - eating with others, rewarding yourself with food

Did you know that sweet and fatty foods stimulate the brain similarly to drugs?

But there's an even more hidden type of hunger that few people consider...

Microbiotic hunger - when bacteria decide for you.

Your gut can also "ask" for food - not always healthy!

Research shows that gut microbiota directly affects appetite:

• Some bacteria increase ghrelin production (hunger hormone)

• Others stimulate GLP-1 and PYY production, which suppresses appetite

• Microbiota imbalance can cause unexplained cravings for sweets, bread, or fatty foods

Signs that your gut controls your appetite:

• You constantly crave specific foods (chocolate, bread, fast food)

• Fullness doesn't come immediately after eating or doesn't last long

• You often feel hungry even if you ate recently

Is your life insurance keeping up with your life?

• Getting married or having kids changes financial needs.

• Make sure your life insurance policy reflects this.

• Comparing plans often helps ensure you’re appropriately covered

View Money’s Best Life Insurance list to find coverage for as low as $1/day.

How to beat each hunger type.

For homeostatic hunger:

• Balance macro and micronutrients.

• Consume more complex carbohydrates instead of simple ones.

• Eat more fiber-rich vegetables to maintain fullness.

• Include animal proteins and fats for long-lasting satiety.

• Chew food thoroughly until all solid food becomes liquid in your mouth.

• Drink enough water, as thirst can masquerade as hunger.

• Listen to your body signals: eat when you feel true hunger.

• Check iron and magnesium levels as they affect appetite.

For hedonic hunger:

• Mindful eating involves asking yourself, "Am I really hungry?" and eating without distractions from TV and gadgets.

• Don't eat when stressed; rest instead of rewarding yourself with food.

• Find other ways to get pleasure (sports, socializing, hobbies).

• Eliminate processed foods that artificially enhance food cravings.

• Manage stress: yoga, walking, and sleep (7-8 hours) help reduce food cravings.

For microbiotic hunger:

• Include fermented foods in your diet (yogurts, sauerkraut, kimchi, etc.) - prebiotics and probiotics.

• Increase fiber intake (vegetables, whole grains) to balance gut bacteria and help reduce inflammation.

• Eliminate sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods that "feed" harmful bacteria.

• Avoid ultra-processed foods.

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Sign up now!

Test: 

Which hunger type dominates you?

Answer these 5 questions. Count which answers (a, b, c) you have more of.

1. How often do you feel hungry during the day? 

a) Every 3-5 hours (Homeostatic)
b) Suddenly, especially when seeing tasty food (Hedonic) 
c) Constantly, but especially craving sweets and bread (Microbiotic).

1. What do you feel before eating? 

a) Stomach growling, weakness (Homeostatic) 
b) Desire for something tasty but not necessarily nutritious (Hedonic) 
c) Cravings for certain foods, especially sweets (Microbiotic).

1. What happens after eating?

a) I feel full and can avoid thinking about food for several hours (Homeostatic)
b) I still want something tasty after meals (Hedonic)
c) I want to eat again after a short time (Microbiotic)

1. How do you react to stress?

a) Stress doesn't affect my appetite (Homeostatic)
b) I start overeating or want something tasty (Hedonic)
c) I experience strange food cravings, especially for sweets or bread (Microbiotic)

1. How does your diet look?

a) Balanced, keeps me full for a long time (Homeostatic)
b) I eat what I want, often craving "something tasty" (Hedonic)
c) I love carbohydrates, lots of sweets (Microbiotic)

Test Results:

• Mainly "a" answers - Homeostatic hunger predominates

• Mainly "b" answers - Hedonic hunger predominates

• Mainly "c" answers - Microbiotic hunger predominates

If you have mixed answers, it means multiple hunger types influence you.

Please help us improve. Please select below how many times a week you would like to receive our emails with science-backed cheat sheets, guides, tips, and news.

From our archive:

Missed this gem? Explore more interesting articles about health:

🐇 11 smart food prep hacks

🐇 11 hidden weight loss blockers

🐇 5 eating habits for better you

Warm regards,
Kos and Helen.