Science has discovered that there are several types of appetite, not only in humans, but in many animals; in fact, appetite is a much more complex phenomenon than it seems at first glance. The body is a sophisticated piece of engineering that always seeks balance. .
The first thing we have to say is that hunger is not the same as appetite, the first is a strictly physiological necessity. This happens because the body needs the nutrients it needs to function properly. It is, so to speak, a demand for “fuel” work.
- Appetite.
- On the other hand.
- Is a more complicated process.
- At first it is more associated with pleasure than survival instinct.
- It is not necessarily stimulated by the basic needs of the body.
- But also for other reasons.
- So scientists claim that there are several types of appetite.
“Your diet is like a bank account. Good food decisions are good investments. -Bethenny Frankel-
Before talking about the different types of appetite, it should be noted that this need to eat is regulated by the hypothalamus in humans, it sends signals of when nutrients are needed to compensate for energy expenditure and also indicates when the amount we have is enough.
However, in the past it has been found that food is sometimes consumed in reasonable quantities, but the hypothalamus does not send the “enough” signal, this happens when we consume fats and sugars, meaning that many of these foods can be eaten without feeling satisfied.
On the other hand, sugars and fats also stimulate the production of two neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, both related to the feeling of well-being and pleasure, so these foods can be addictive, as it would be with a drug.
To this knowledge already recognized have been added other very interesting, this new data we owe to the biologists David Raubenheimer and Stephen J. Simpson, who have been studying the subject for over 30 years. After his studies, the book Eat Like the Animals was published.
The title, in itself, is already very suggestive and literally refers to what these two researchers found in their research. His central study was conducted with locusts. A group of these animals received a high-nutrient, low-carb diet; another group was offered high-carb, low-nutrient foods.
Different types of foods were used, always with the same principle, and locusts distributed what they ate in a balanced way, so they consumed the right amount of protein, no matter how much carbohydrates they had.
To advance the research, the scientists tested two other groups of lobsters. One was given a high carbohydrate, low protein diet; with the other group they did the opposite: they proposed foods rich in protein and low in carbohydrates, each specimen could eat whatever they wanted.
The group that received a lot of protein ate few carbohydrates, while those who received a lot of carbohydrates ate much more to compensate for the lack of protein Why do these animals prefer proteins?Simply because proteins better guarantee their development and survival.
For example, researchers found that there were several types of appetite in locusts. Most surprisingly, scientists have replicated this experiment with humans and the result was the same as for locusts.
Finally, the researchers concluded that there are five types of appetite: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, calcium and sodium (salt). In the case of humans, they include the first three in the category of “macronutrients”.
Ultra-processed foods contain mainly fats and carbohydrates, so a diet based on this type of food causes more food to be ingested to reach the level of protein the body needs, as they are present in small proportions in these. Food.
Research findings indicate that humans, as well as at least 50 species of animals, have mechanisms to seek balance in food; However, it only works properly when we eat the food we live with; otherwise, the appetite changes. For the same reason, it may be better to “eat like animals”.