Wednesday, December 17, 2014

How Does Caffeine Stimulate Appetite

Caffeine and Blood Sugar


Caffeine increases blood sugar in the body. This often affects the hormones of adrenaline and glycogen, which often leads to the feeling of being very hungry. People often reach for a candy bar or something sweet to satisfy this hunger. This is the prime way caffeine stimulates the appetite. Too much caffeine has been linked to being overweight because people tend to overeat.


Caffeine and the Appetite


When you drink too much coffee, it stimulates your body's desire for higher calories and sugar. The body gets this need met through eating rice, potatoes, fruit, breads and sweets. These food are high in carbs. Not only that, excessive caffeine can make you jittery and trigger emotional stress. This stress sometimes leads to overeating for comfort. The stress also creates a fight-or-flight response that triggers the body's need for food, hence the increased appetite.


Caffeine and Stress


Those on diets are encouraged to cut down on caffeine consumption. Often drinking too many cups leads to jittery feeling and low blood sugar. This increases cortisol, the stress hormone The rise in cortisol often triggers hypoglycemia, another term for low blood sugar. Elevated levels of cortisol over a period of time increase the amount of fat deposited in the belly.