How Would a Pregnant Lady Feel About Appetite Increase Things to Draw Easy

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Your appetite is controlled by two hormones: ghrelin, which makes you think you're hungry, and leptin, which tells your brain that your stomach is full. These hormones can be thrown out of whack for a variety of reasons, but luckily, there are a few things you can do to balance these chemicals out. Even if your hormones are perfectly fine and you're just looking for a few simple ways to eat more in an effort to bulk up, there are tons of tricks you can use. Keep in mind, if your loss of appetite comes seemingly out of nowhere or you're dealing with any other health issues, it's best to talk to a doctor about this since a lack of appetite can be a sign of an underlying condition.

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   There are a variety of medical conditions that can cause a lack of appetite. A decreased appetite can be a sign of basically any illness, since we tend to shy away from food when we're not feeling well. This is why it's so important to visit your doctor if you experience a sudden or unusual lack of appetite.^[1]

   • Serious illnesses that cause a lack of appetite include cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, COPD, hepatitis, HIV, and certain thyroid conditions.
   • Other conditions that trigger a loss of appetite include influenza, the common cold, urinary infections, chest infections, acid reflux, and diabetes.^[2]
   • You may also experience a decreased appetite if you're pregnant, constipated, or nauseous.^[3]
   • Certain medications can cause a lack of a desire to eat. The main culprits are antidepressants, ADHD medications, painkillers, and chemotherapy.^[4]

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   Stress, anxiety, and depression are common causes for disinterest in food. Several emotional/mental conditions can also trigger a loss of appetite.^[5] If you're especially stressed out, you've been combatting anxiety, or you feel depressed, you're likely not going to be hungry. If you suspect you're dealing with depression or anxiety, talk to your doctor or reach out to a mental health professional for help. There are a lot of really helpful treatments out there.^[6]

   • If you're struggling with your body image or you've been extremely self-conscious about how much you eat, you may want to talk to a mental health professional about a potential eating disorder.^[7]

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   It's common for children and elderly people to have a lack of appetite. Children are naturally fussy about what foods they'll eat, so they often appear to have a decreased appetite. This is pretty normal, and it's not anything to worry about if they aren't losing weight or refusing to eat all day.^[8] People also tend to lose a bit of their appetite as they get older as well, although it's not entirely clear why this is the case.^[9]

   • So long as someone is eating a healthy, balanced diet and they're getting enough calories to maintain their energy levels, they're eating enough food.

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   Cut the sugary drinks from your diet. Sucrose, the type of sugar found in soda, tricks you into feeling full. Besides the fact that soda is really bad for you, it messes with the hormones that regulate your appetite.^[11] If you want to maintain a healthy appetite, avoid soda, sweetened juice, and energy drinks.^[12]

   • The other forms of sugar, glucose and fructose, won't have nearly the same impact on your hormones.^[13]

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   Eat 4-6 smaller meals to stay hungrier throughout the day. If you eat 3 full meals a day, you're likely to feel stuffed in between meals. If you stick to smaller meals and eat more frequently, you're unlikely to end up feeling put off by the idea of sitting down for food. This is also a great way to keep your metabolism stable, which can make it easier to maintain a steady appetite.^[14]

   • Ghrelin, the hormone that regulates hunger, runs on a 4-hour cycle. If you eat a little bit every four hours, your appetite should remain fairly stable.^[15]
   • Never skip breakfast. Even if you only have a snack, breakfast will get your metabolism going, which will make you hungrier earlier in the day.

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   Distract yourself while eating to trick yourself into eating more. It's easy to skip a meal if you're just sitting down quietly somewhere and eating. If you do something interesting while you eat, you're more likely to eat to the point where you're full without thinking about it. You could watch some TV, chat with some friends, or browse social media to keep your mind preoccupied while you're finishing your food.^[16]

   • This may not necessarily increase your appetite, but it will trick you into eating more food if that's your underlying goal here!

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   It depends on your age, gender, weight, and health. The right amount of food for one person is not going to be the right amount of food for another since everyone has a different metabolism. Your physical activity level plays a big role in this, too. If you work out heavily every day, you're going to need more energy than someone who spends the day sitting and sleeping. If you maintain a healthy, stable weight and you have enough energy to get through the day, you're eating enough food.^[28]

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   As a rule of thumb, men need 2,500 calories, while women need 2,000. If you want to ensure that you're getting enough daily calories, assume that you need 2,500 calories as a healthy adult man. As a healthy adult woman, shoot for 2,000 calories. Aim to get your calories from a healthy mix of vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and fruit.^[29]

   • If you're eating a balanced diet and you're consuming at least 3 meals a day but you still think you aren't eating enough food, talk to your doctor about it.

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Meal Ideas and Spices to Increase Your Appetite

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• Question

  What foods are good for cancer patients with no appetite?

  

  Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian specializing in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2010.

  

  Master's Degree, Nutrition, University of Tennessee Knoxville

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• Question

  What is the fastest way to gain weight?

  

  Courtney Fose, RD, MS
  Master's Degree, Clinical Nutrition, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

  Courtney Fose is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has worked as a Dietitian since 2009, and received her MS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Arkansas in 2016.

  

  Master's Degree, Clinical Nutrition, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

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  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

  To gain weight, you need to increase your calorie intake so that you eat more calories than you burn. To help you understand how many calories you need to consume, try using an app, like myfitnesspal, that tracks your calories eaten and calories burned.

• Question

  What should I eat to improve zinc levels in my body?

  

  Courtney Fose, RD, MS
  Master's Degree, Clinical Nutrition, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

  Courtney Fose is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has worked as a Dietitian since 2009, and received her MS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Arkansas in 2016.

  

  Master's Degree, Clinical Nutrition, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

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  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

  Great sources of zinc include oysters, beef, crab, and fortified breakfast cereal. Nuts like almonds and cashews and dairy products like milk and yogurt may also be able to help. Here is a fact sheet with other important information regarding zinc: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

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• There's a lot of research out there on foods that might decrease your appetite, but it's unclear if there are any ingredients that cause an increase of appetite. For example, dairy is often proposed as a category of food that stimulates your desire to eat. There's no evidence this is the case, though.^[30] Realistically, the only dishes that are likely going to boost your appetite are dishes you actively want to eat.

• MSG (monosodium glutamate) may cause you to gain weight if that's your overall goal here.^[31] However, it won't necessarily increase your appetite. If it does boost your desire to keep eating, it's probably just because you enjoy the flavor of it.^[32]

• Cinnamon is certainly good for you, but it won't boost your appetite. In fact, it may curb your desire to eat.^[33]

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To increase your appetite, try exercising before meals since your body craves food after burning off calories. Also, keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water or tea, which can help increase your appetite. You can also eat while watching TV or listening to some music since it can be easier to eat more when you're distracted. When you grocery shop, make sure you're buying foods that you really enjoy so you're more likely to want to eat them. For more tips from our Dietary co-author, like how to increase appetite as a bodybuilder, read on!

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