Food is one of our basic needs for survival. According to Ayurveda, a person who has good appetite/ hunger (desire to eat food) is considered to be healthy. But unfortunately, the word APPETITE has wrong impression in the world of dieting. The lifestyle of 21st century: dieting, late night parties, stress, lack of exercise, depression, etc. cause lack of appetite. Lack of appetite is a common problem that affects both, physical as well as psychological health. A decrease in appetite can result in undernourishment, unhealthy weight loss and lack of interest in daily activities. It can be an indication of severe health conditions such as heart disease, anorexia nervosa and cancer. People want to increase their hunger due to different reasons like underweight, illness or treatment. If you are one who is finding ways to increase your hunger/appetite naturally, then following tips can be helpful for you in developing a healthy appetite.
Avoid Fluids Before Meals
Consuming fluids prior to a meal is an excellent method used by dieters for losing weight. Fluid intakes before meals make you feel fuller, after eating a small amount of food only. So, avoiding fluids before meal makes you feel hungrier and body will also take longer period of time to reach the sensation of fullness. Even if you are thirsty, consume fluid after finishing the meal instead of prior or during the meal. You can consume a small glass of fruit juice or wine at least 30 minutes before a meal to increase your hunger. You can drink smoothies or milkshakes between meals for getting nutrients.
Regular Exercise
Today’s sedentary lifestyle can decrease appetite in the long run. Increasing physical activity levels, not only stimulate and increase appetite but also enhance mood and sense of well-being. Just take a brisk walk or speed walk for one or two times a day at least one hour before your meal. You can also do cardio or high-intensity exercise. After workout, drink a healthy protein shake. While exercising, make sure that you consume more than you burn off. Also, add lots of protein in your daily diet.
Fix Meal Times
These days, people do not eat meals at fixed meal times because of their busy schedule. This can cause loss of appetite. Therefore, eating meals at fix meal time is very necessary to stimulate appetite and stabilize the body's hunger signals. Have smaller and frequent meals (4 to 5 small meals) a day in place of 3 large meals. Fix a meal time for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as stick to it. Although you are busy, carry your meals with you and take them at proper timing so that you won’t break your routine.
Add Color and Variety of Foods to Your Plate
Consuming the same kind of food daily may kill the appetite. So, try new recipes and add variety of foods with different colours in meal. It makes the food extra appealing and more pleasurable. A marketing research has found that colors like green, brown and red are the most appealing food colors whereas red, yellow and orange increase appetite.
Reduce Fiber Intake
Fiber is very important part of our diet but when it comes to increasing the appetite, you should reduce your fiber intake. Fiber suppresses appetite and makes you feel fuller for longer period of time by extending retention of gastric contents. Don’t cut down the fiber intake totally from your diet. Add small amount of foods rich in fiber in your diet, till your appetite increases.
Avoid Junk foods, Soda, Tea and Coffee
Junk foods are loaded with sodium that leads to loss of appetite. They are also high in calories and low in nutrition. Soda, tea and coffee have high amount of caffeine and low level of nutrients. Caffeine suppresses the desire to eat food. Stock up your pantry, fridge and freezer with good and healthy foods that you like.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere is also a key factor in increasing your hunger. Try to eat meals with your friends and family in comfortable surroundings. Set the table beautifully and play soothing music. Avoid places with strong smell like cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke can affect the taste and smell of food as well as decrease your appetite.
Ways to Increase Hunger Naturally
Avoid Fluids Before Meals
Consuming fluids prior to a meal is an excellent method used by dieters for losing weight. Fluid intakes before meals make you feel fuller, after eating a small amount of food only. So, avoiding fluids before meal makes you feel hungrier and body will also take longer period of time to reach the sensation of fullness. Even if you are thirsty, consume fluid after finishing the meal instead of prior or during the meal. You can consume a small glass of fruit juice or wine at least 30 minutes before a meal to increase your hunger. You can drink smoothies or milkshakes between meals for getting nutrients.
Regular Exercise
Today’s sedentary lifestyle can decrease appetite in the long run. Increasing physical activity levels, not only stimulate and increase appetite but also enhance mood and sense of well-being. Just take a brisk walk or speed walk for one or two times a day at least one hour before your meal. You can also do cardio or high-intensity exercise. After workout, drink a healthy protein shake. While exercising, make sure that you consume more than you burn off. Also, add lots of protein in your daily diet.
Fix Meal Times
These days, people do not eat meals at fixed meal times because of their busy schedule. This can cause loss of appetite. Therefore, eating meals at fix meal time is very necessary to stimulate appetite and stabilize the body's hunger signals. Have smaller and frequent meals (4 to 5 small meals) a day in place of 3 large meals. Fix a meal time for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as stick to it. Although you are busy, carry your meals with you and take them at proper timing so that you won’t break your routine.
Add Color and Variety of Foods to Your Plate
Consuming the same kind of food daily may kill the appetite. So, try new recipes and add variety of foods with different colours in meal. It makes the food extra appealing and more pleasurable. A marketing research has found that colors like green, brown and red are the most appealing food colors whereas red, yellow and orange increase appetite.
Reduce Fiber Intake
Fiber is very important part of our diet but when it comes to increasing the appetite, you should reduce your fiber intake. Fiber suppresses appetite and makes you feel fuller for longer period of time by extending retention of gastric contents. Don’t cut down the fiber intake totally from your diet. Add small amount of foods rich in fiber in your diet, till your appetite increases.
Avoid Junk foods, Soda, Tea and Coffee
Junk foods are loaded with sodium that leads to loss of appetite. They are also high in calories and low in nutrition. Soda, tea and coffee have high amount of caffeine and low level of nutrients. Caffeine suppresses the desire to eat food. Stock up your pantry, fridge and freezer with good and healthy foods that you like.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere is also a key factor in increasing your hunger. Try to eat meals with your friends and family in comfortable surroundings. Set the table beautifully and play soothing music. Avoid places with strong smell like cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke can affect the taste and smell of food as well as decrease your appetite.
Remedies to Increase Hunger
- Consume 1 cup of bitter melon every day.
- Consume 1 tbsp. of dandelion, wormwood, hyssop or yarrow juice in water 15 minutes prior to meal.
- Taking 1 tbsp fresh-juice of alfalfa herb before breakfast and lunch increases appetite naturally.
- Drink buttermilk after adding black salt, salt and powdered cumin seeds
- After completing your meal, consume powered bishop’s seeds and jaggery with little warm water Sip fennel, peppermint, fenugreek, lemon balm or chamomile tea all over the day. To make tea, use 1 tsp. herb per cup of boiling water.
- You can also take pomegranate seeds after your meal.
- Sprinkle a little cinnamon to your cocoa or sprinkle it over buttered toast with a little sugar to stimulate your appetite.
- Drink the concoction of grind orange peels and water (one glass) in the morning.
- Make a fine powder of Indian gooseberry (3 parts), Myrobalan (2 parts) and Belliric (1 part). Take this mixture with a little warm water at night before going to bed.
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