Fiber. High-fiber foods not only provide volume but also take longer to digest, making you feel full longer on fewer calories. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains all contain fiber. Popcorn is a good example of a high-volume, low-calorie whole grain.
The foods with the longest time to digest are bacon, beef, lamb, whole milk hard cheese, and nuts. These foods take an average of about 4 hours for your body to digest. The digestion process still occurs even when asleep. Which means our digestive fluids and the acids in our stomach are active.
High-fiber foods not only provide volume but also take longer to digest, making you feel full longer on fewer calories. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains all contain fiber. Popcorn is a good example of a high-volume, low-calorie whole grain.
In many cases, fruits and vegetables can make your body feel full more quickly than eating a higher volume of other foods. You also can trick your brain into making that feeling last longer by mixing in some protein and fat that take longer to digest. Think peanut butter on fruit, or hummus or guacamole on vegetables.
Eating mindfully has been shown to decrease hunger and increase feelings of fullness. It may also reduce calorie intake and help cut down on emotional eating.
You may feel hungry frequently if your diet lacks protein, fiber, or fat, all of which promote fullness and reduce appetite. Extreme hunger is also a sign of inadequate sleep and chronic stress. Additionally, certain medications and illnesses are known to cause frequent hunger.
Aside from diabetes, chronic stress, and sleep deprivation (mentioned above), other health conditions can cause an increased appetite, as well. Hormone conditions, thyroid conditions like hyperthyroidism, genetic conditions, and even growth-hormone secreting tumors can all cause an increased appetite.
If you are hungry, replace the starch with a steamed or roasted vegetable such as broccoli, green beans, zucchini, squash, carrots, or Brussels sprouts. All of these are very low in calories but filling, because they are high in fiber.
One of the most effective ways to avoid empty calories is by ensuring your diet is full fiber rich, low calorie fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables not only provide the body with necessary vitamins and minerals but they also contain a wide variety of other nutrients that have many different effects on the body ...
What should I eat if I am still hungry after dinner?
If you don't find yourself feeling full during or immediately after a meal, try incorporating more foods that are high in volume but low in calories ( 10 , 11 ). These foods, such as most fresh vegetables, fruits, air-popped popcorn, shrimp, chicken breast, and turkey, tend to have greater air or water content.
The bottom line. A drop in blood sugar can be one of many reasons why you're feeling hungry shortly after a meal. Making adjustments to your diet and lifestyle — such as how much, how fast, and what you eat — can help to keep your hunger more balanced.
