There are several reasons why someone might want to boost their appetite. For example, if you are underweight or have lost weight due to illness, boosting your appetite can help you gain weight and get the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Additionally, CDC research has shown many benefits of healthy eating, including keeping healthy eyes, skin, and teeth and living longer. You can follow the ten tips below to boost your appetite naturally and prevent weight-related health problems like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Eat small, Frequent Meals
Eating smaller meals more frequently can help increase your appetite. Mini meals can help to satisfy hunger, maintain blood glucose levels, and provide vitamins to the body all day long. Making smaller, more frequent meals a regular eating habit would be best. Doing this facilitates a faster metabolism than when you skip meals. That is because eating stimulates the production of digestive juices, which can help improve your appetite. Avoid missing meals, whether on the move or spending time with your family; skipping meals results in diminished energy and reduced blood sugar and metabolism.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration can decrease your appetite. Ensure you drink enough water and other hydrating beverages to help improve your appetite. Water has no calories, yet drinking it before meals will modestly boost your metabolism. Likewise, many studies have proven that drinking lots of water can satisfy your appetite and lower your calorie intake. However, avoid drinking too much of it before meals.
Eat a Well-balanced Diet
A balanced diet can help improve your appetite and provide your body with the nutrients it requires to function properly. Ensure you get enough protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats to help boost your appetite. A well-balanced diet may include fresh fruits, whole grains, nuts, lean proteins, legumes, and fresh vegetables. If you adopt a vegan lifestyle, your diet will not include fish, meat, or dairy products. However, you can still consume alternative foods that supply equivalent nutrients.
Get a Larger Plate
A huge amount of food may appear intimidating to some, but presenting your meals on a larger plate may convince your brain that you’re eating less and whetting your appetite. According to research, even little changes in plate size might cause people to instinctively consume bigger servings. So, try serving meals on your largest dish and see if this makes it simpler to meet your daily calorie goal.
Exercise Regularly
There are disputes in the research as to which exercise is most beneficial for raising appetite. According to research, a lack of regular exercise leads to poor control of your hunger hormones. Yet, when you begin an exercise routine, you consume closer to the body’s required calories. Exercise can help increase your appetite by stimulating the production of hunger hormones. Make sure to get regular physical activity to help improve your appetite. Whether you enjoy deadlifting, bodyweight training or curling doesn’t matter; you only have to be active and consistent.
Schedule Your Meal Times
People normally eat when they are hungry. Yet, if you don’t become hungry, you may be unable to depend on your hunger cues to tell you when it is time to eat. Consider meal planning and set a notification at each mealtime to ensure you’re eating consistently. A regular meal plan is also vital for increasing hunger and ensuring that you eat sufficient calories and nutrients daily. You may take your breakfast within an hour of waking up. This way, you prevent blending your breakfast with your mid-morning nibbling, followed by lunch. Eat your lunch at least four hours after having your breakfast. If you eat breakfast at 7:30 am, you may have lunch before noon.
Eat Foods with Strong Flavors
Foods with strong flavors, such as spices and herbs, can help stimulate your appetite. Try adding some flavor to your meals to help improve your appetite. Fennel, coriander, mint, ginger, peppermint, black pepper, and cinnamon are appetite-stimulating plants and spices. To discover if they help stimulate your appetite, try incorporating them into dishes or brewing them into tea. They might even start working before you’ve finished them.
Use Positive Associations
Have you ever noticed that you eat more while with friends or attending a weekend sports game? According to studies, the distraction of social contact or television redirects people’s attention away from food and stimulates them to eat more subconsciously. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, respondents ate 18% more while dining with friends. Meanwhile, 14% also ate more when dining in front of the television. Associating eating with positive experiences, such as eating with loved ones or in a pleasant setting, can help improve your appetite. Why not make every meal a social occasion and watch yourself eat more?
Create Some Meal Anticipation
If you’re having issues with your appetite, use your other senses to generate suspense for your subsequent meal. On Instagram or Pinterest, you may sift through photographs of pizza, cake, and other favorites. Simply gazing at food photos has been found to cause the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin, which stimulates the appetite. The aroma may also be a very effective hunger stimulator. We’ve all had that feeling when the scent of spaghetti sauce boiling on the stove or sweet, freshly baked cookies fills the kitchen. You may create the same effect by burning a candle with a delectable aroma, such as vanilla or apple spice.
Avoid Stress and Anxiety
Stress might reduce appetite. Research reveals that the neurological system transmits signals to the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys and produce epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. Epinephrine contributes to the body’s fight-or-flight reaction, a heightened physiological state that momentarily suspends eating. Try to find ways to relax and manage stress, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing, to help improve your appetite. You may also use natural stimulants such as Delta 9 THC to cope with stress and anxiety and boost your appetite.
Following these natural ways to boost your appetite can help improve your overall health and well-being. Remember to consult a healthcare professional if you have concerns about your appetite or are struggling to maintain a healthy weight.
