Many people get angry when they are hungry, is it normal or a sign of illness?

We often say that they are doing this because they are hungry. Nowadays, there is even a popular word for this, hangry.

A long meeting is going on in the office. The clock has passed noon. One colleague is suddenly annoyed, another is arguing but is calm in the same situation. Both have empty stomachs. So what is the difference? We often say that they are doing this because they are hungry. Nowadays, there is even a popular word for this, hangry. Although the word may sound funny, there is a complex relationship between the brain, body and emotions behind it.

Interestingly, although people have felt this link between hunger and anger for thousands of years, the word “hangry” only found a place in the Oxford Dictionary in 2018. However, there is relatively little research on how hunger changes our daily mood.

Until now, it was believed that people become irritable when their blood sugar drops. But a recent study says that the matter is not that simple. In the study, 90 healthy adults were fitted with continuous glucose monitors for a month. This device measured the body's glucose levels, which are the main fuel for our brain, every few minutes. At the same time, the participants reported on their mobile phones twice a day how hungry they were and what their mood was like.

The results were surprising. It turned out that low blood sugar did not make everyone feel bad. On the contrary, those who realized that they were hungry were more annoyed or in a bad mood. In other words, there is a mental stage between hunger and anger. This mental stage is called interoception. How clearly we understand the hunger, thirst, and fatigue that are going on inside our own body.

The hunger signal in the brain is first detected in the hypothalamus. Then a part called the insula tells us "I feel hungry." This insula is also involved in controlling emotions. Studies have shown that people with good interoception can control their emotions even when they are hungry. They do get hungry, but they do not suddenly get angry.

Complications

Mood swings caused by hunger are not just a personal matter. This affects relationships at home, in the office, and in friendships everywhere. It also weakens our ability to make decisions. That's when we rush to eat chips, burgers, or sweets. Ignoring body signals for a long time increases stress and can lead to physical problems.

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Young children still cannot understand all the body's signals. They don't feel hungry when they are excited about sports or surroundings. The result is sudden crying, anger, and stubbornness. Photo: Collected
Young children still cannot understand all the body's signals. They don't feel hungry when they are excited about sports or surroundings. The result is sudden crying, anger, and stubbornness. Photo: Collected

The risk is higher for children. Young children still cannot understand all the body's signals. They don't feel hungry when they are excited about sports or surroundings. The result is sudden crying, anger, and stubbornness. In fact, the situation of adults in modern life is much the same. In the crowd of screens, work and busyness, we also do not realize when the body's energy is running out.

Solution: Even if you feel hungry, you cannot lose your temper. However, although it is not very easy, there is a solution. Experts have given some suggestions. These are:

Eating meals at specific times

Paying attention to the small signals of the body

Walking or exercising regularly

These habits strengthen the connection between the body and the mind. It should be remembered that hunger is certainly not responsible for all bad moods. But with a little awareness, it is possible to avoid a lot of unnecessary anger, resentment and wrong decisions. Maybe before getting angry next time, ask yourself if you are really holding back or if it is because of hunger.

Source: NDTV