Why you lose your appetite in hot weather: Doctor reveals little-known reason
Photo: Why we lose our appetite in hot weather (Magnific)
Why do so many people lose their appetite in hot weather? There's a scientific explanation for it.
Daily Star explains why it happens.
Why you don't feel like eating in the heat
It's not just your body being picky or a lack of motivation to cook. According to physician Dr. Nighat Arif, there's a physiological mechanism that causes the brain to temporarily "switch off" hunger to help the body survive.
She explains that loss of appetite during extreme heat is a complex protective response that puts the body into survival mode.
The key player is the hypothalamus, the body's built-in thermostat.
Its primary job is to keep the body's core temperature at around 37°C (98.6°F). When outdoor temperatures rise dramatically, the body has to work much harder to cool itself down.
To do that, the hypothalamus redirects blood flow away from the digestive system and toward the skin, which is why people become flushed and sweat more.
Digestion, which requires a lot of energy and generates additional heat, becomes a lower priority.
Why water replaces food
Hot weather also triggers major hormonal changes.
Levels of ghrelin, the hormone responsible for stimulating hunger, decrease significantly. At the same time, hormones linked to fullness, including GLP-1 and peptide YY (PYY), increase.
The brain may also begin confusing thirst with hunger. Staying hydrated becomes the body's top priority, although some people may not even recognize the signs of dehydration during extreme heat.
As a result, people may experience bloating, fatigue, sluggishness, and an overall feeling of discomfort.
What should you eat when you have no appetite?
Dr. Arif stresses that this is not a malfunction but a perfectly normal protective response. However, the body still needs nutrients.
Instead of eating large, heavy meals, she recommends having smaller, lighter meals throughout the day.
Choose foods with high water content, such as yogurt, juicy fruits like watermelon, melon, and peaches, as well as fresh salads made with cucumbers and tomatoes.
Don't forget fiber, which helps support healthy digestion when blood flow to the digestive tract is reduced.
Drink water regularly, even if you don't feel thirsty.
"If you've lost your appetite, ask yourself: are you really not hungry, or are you simply overheated? If it's the latter, it's time to cool down," Dr. Arif concludes.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
