W hen you think Winters- what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Probably a cup of hot cocoa by the fire, a batch of delectable fudge cookies, or a delicious steak with a side of amazing vegetables. But did you notice that most of your winter’s fun is associated with having good food? And that is not really a coincidence. It’s actually very common to feel hungrier at this time of year and there are very good reasons why. The main thing to know is that colder weather leads to a drop in our body temperature, which means our appetites get stimulated as a result. Because it means we will be needing to eat more food to keep ourselves warm.
This is because eating helps to generate internal heat, subsequently leading to a rise in body temperature. During winter, the body works harder and spends more energy just trying to keep you warm, so your desire to eat more comes from your body’s natural increase in energy use. Also, the body works harder and spends more energy just trying to keep you warm, so your desire to eat more comes from your body’s natural increase in energy use. However, there is no need to use this as an excuse to overeat! There are other effective ways to keep warm, such as wearing extra layers of clothing or EXERCISING, which you will probably agree is preferable to an extra layer of fat from eating too much! But the fact is that in winter, all of us get super lazy. I mean who can blame us- it becomes hard to actually just get out of bed. We all get a little lazy as soon as the temperature drops. It is one thing that most people would agree with. Winter decreases our level of physical activity and makes us eat more often which poses a challenge for those trying to stay fit or shed kilos. But that doesn’t justify the need to actually pile on the pounds by the indulgence of unhealthy. There are other effective ways to keep warm, such as wearing extra layers of clothing or exercising, which you will probably agree is preferable to an extra layer of fat from eating too much. But let’s look into some of the leading reasons why you may be feeling way too hungry.
Another thing to know here is that there may be certain evolutionary changes which is leading to eating more in winter. According to some scientists, increased hunger during the colder months is the result of evolutionary biology. In primitive times, the cold meant the possibility of death to the scarcity of food and a higher likelihood of hypothermia. In response to this, the human body has developed an impulse to eat richer, fattier foods that provide more fuel during colder weather. Some may even be going through certain hormonal changes. As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, your brain chemistry changes, which can in turn cause imbalances in your hunger and satiety hormones. Having to adopt a proper schedule of eating and sleeping well is important. Sometimes the reason can be as simple as someone going through mood swings. This is why good, hot, streamy food just serves as a desire for comfort. Many people experience mood swings during the winter. Being cold can make you crave warm, heavy comfort foods such as stews, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese. So sometimes having to let go of strict restrictions really work. Some people may just be bored as you stay indoors more often as there isn’t much to do- so eating a whole lot is what keeps many busy. Then there are those who may be suffering from vitamin D insufficiency. Winters usually lead to a lack of sunlight which may lead to vitamin D deficiency, and this can make you feel hungrier. Many recent studies have reported that people deficient in vitamin D have a tendency to succumb to binging episodes.
