What to do if you are still feeling hungry after a meal...
Have you ever felt hungry, but you know you've eaten enough already? And perhaps you eat more, but it doesn't really satisfy you? In my experience, sometimes the signals that our body sends to our brain that we interpret as "hungry for food" are actually about finding the correct source of nourishment for that particular time. For example, sometimes I will still feel hungry after a lunch that at another time would leave me feeling quite satisfied. Chances are the answer isn't about eating more food (although it could be), but one of these three solutions:
1. You are dehydrated. In Western culture, so many of us are too disconnected from our feeling of thirst that we end up merging our thirst and hunger mechanism into the one sensation. They are different things.
Solution? Have a glass of water. You may suddenly feel that "Aha! That's what I was after." All is well. This is not about 'tricking' your body into feeling full, this is assuming you've eaten enough, say, a nice decent bowl of porridge, or an omelette, but you need something more.
2. You are lacking nutrients.
For many of us, it takes focus to pack in enough green vegetables into our diet.
Solution? For a powerful nutrient hit, try an all green juice. A nice sweet tasting green juice you can try is 1 bulb of fennel, 1 cucumber and a bunch of mint juiced. Serve over a few ice cubes, and you have a beautiful, nourishing drink. This is particularly great in the morning, as from the word go your body is being energized with pure, alkalizing goodness.
3. You are in need of good fats.
Solution? Stir a teaspoon or two of organic coconut oil into a cup of green tea. Seriously, I know it sounds pretty effed-up at first, but it works to make you feel completely satiated by in a nice way, not an over-stuffed way. I was researching the science behind exactly why coconut oil is so filling, but what I found was either too piece-meal to share or inconclusive, so I offer you this tip merely from experience. I got it from Sarah Wilson and Miranda Kerr (not that I take any dietary advice from M-Kerr as I find her media persona disingenuous, but I will admit, this tip works).
I hope you find this useful in listening to what your body needs, and making sense of the different signals. Remember, your body knows exactly what's what, it's simply your job to listen to the messages it sends!
Also, cool irrelevant picture of a picnic because whatever.
