Have you ever found yourself feeling irritable, frustrated or short-tempered when you’re hungry? If so, you’re not alone.

This phenomenon is commonly known as being “hangry,” which is a combination of the words “hungry” and “angry.”.

But why does hunger affect our mood in such a significant way? What is the science behind feeling hangry?.

Physiological Reasons

One reason that hunger affects our mood is due to physiological factors. When we’re hungry, our blood sugar levels drop. This drop in blood sugar can cause us to feel tired, weak, and irritable.

Our bodies also release cortisol, a stress hormone, which can make us feel more anxious and agitated. This combination of low blood sugar and high cortisol levels can contribute to feelings of anger and frustration.

In addition, when we’re hungry, our bodies may start to release ghrelin, a hormone that regulates hunger. Ghrelin has been shown to stimulate the release of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that can give us feelings of pleasure and reward.

When our levels of dopamine drop due to hunger, we may experience cravings for particular foods that can help to boost our mood.

Psychological Reasons

Another reason that hunger affects our mood is due to psychological factors. Hunger can divert our attention away from other tasks, making it difficult to focus. This can lead to increased stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact our mood.

Being hungry can also make us more susceptible to negative emotions, such as anger, annoyance, and frustration. This is because we may be less likely to have the mental and emotional resources to control our reactions to certain situations.

Additionally, hunger can impact our decision-making abilities. When we’re hungry, we may be more likely to engage in impulsive behaviors, such as eating junk food or arguing with others, that may not align with our long-term goals or values.

This can cause us to feel guilty or regretful later on, which can further negatively impact our mood.

Evolutionary Reasons

Finally, the reason why hunger affects our mood is also due to evolutionary factors. Hunger is a basic survival mechanism that drives us to seek out food.

When we’re hungry, our brain may perceive it as a threat to our survival, triggering the fight or flight response. This response can cause us to become more aggressive and short-tempered as a means of protecting ourselves and securing food resources.

Moreover, being hangry may have been a means of communication in our evolutionary past, signaling to others that we needed food and support.

By expressing our frustration and anger when we’re hungry, we may be more likely to receive assistance from others in finding food. This behavior may have helped our ancestors to survive in times of scarcity when food was scarce or when they needed to act quickly to secure scarce resources.

Conclusion

The next time you’re feeling hangry, remember that there are both physiological, psychological, and evolutionary reasons behind your mood.

By understanding the science behind feeling hangry, you can take steps to manage your hunger levels and improve your overall well-being. This may include finding healthy snacks to eat throughout the day, practicing mindfulness to reduce stress and anxiety, and seeking support from others when needed.