High temperatures in summer cause the body to lose water faster through sweat and breathing. Not only causing fatigue, dizziness or exhaustion, dehydration can also increase cravings and make many people eat more than usual.
According to Dr. Aravinda SN, chief consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore (India), the body can sometimes confuse a thirst signal with a feeling of hunger. This makes many people turn to sweets, fast food or salty foods while in fact the body only needs to replenish water.
Experts explain that mild dehydration can cause fatigue, dizziness, reduced energy and make the body prone to cravings. Many people tend to look for sugary, salty foods or caffeine-containing drinks to quickly regain energy.
In hot weather conditions or after exercise, the body not only loses water but also loses important electrolytes such as sodium and potassium through sweat. If not replenished with water in time, the body's energy regulation process may be affected, thereby increasing feelings of hunger and need for snacks.
Dr. Aravinda SN said that dehydration can also make blood sugar control more difficult. When blood sugar levels fluctuate erratically, many people will experience sudden hunger pangs or a feeling of wanting to eat continuously throughout the day.
In addition to cravings, dehydration also causes many other signs such as headache, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, muscle cramps, constipation, dark urine or reduced heat tolerance. Some people, even if they lose appetite, still tend to crave sweets.
To limit feelings of hunger due to dehydration, experts recommend drinking water regularly throughout the day instead of only drinking when you feel thirsty. Supplementing water-rich foods such as watermelon, cucumber, orange, yogurt or coconut water also helps maintain fluid balance for the body.
In addition, you should limit consuming too much coffee, sugary soft drinks and processed foods containing a lot of salt because these foods can make the body lose water faster.
According to experts, when cravings appear, people should try drinking a glass of water and wait a few minutes before eating. In many cases, the feeling of hunger may decrease after the body is replenished with enough water.
In addition to drinking enough water, maintaining balanced meals with enough protein and fiber also helps better control hunger and limit snacking in the summer.
