You know how when you're tired at night, you're hungry? You get the "munchies," as they say?
I learned why that is.
From a book.
Crazy, right?
It's because of leptin and ghrelin. And no, these aren't hobbits.
Leptin is a hormone that decreases your appetite and tells you you're full. Ghrelin is a hormone that increases your appetite and tells you you're hungry.
When you're exhausted, these hormones are out of whack. As you probably guessed, leptin is in low supply and ghrelin spikes. So, you feel like you're hungry when you really...well...probably shouldn't be eating. (But probably sleeping instead.)
After reading this, I was able to refrain from eating (or at least eating as much) in the late evenings of a long day.
Not because I discovered some miraculous superpowers to rebalance my stomach hormones.
But because I learned what's happening inside me. So that just for a moment, my logical brain can take charge and make better decisions.
That's the power of knowledge. Long as you apply it, of course.
Crazy, is right!! As u can imagine, i find the inner workings of the human body amazing & as a nurse, I excelled at teaching my patients about their bodies, what was working right & what needed tweaking!! Although, I should know better, I still get a snack before bed!! Lol