By, Lauren Kolacki
Have you ever experienced being “hangry”?
It is the irritation and angriness that is a result of extreme hunger. It is not just an amusing, made up word to perfectly describe our short temper that accompanies our starvation; there is actually science behind it. The carbohydrates, pro- teins and fats that we consume work as energy. When we don’t have enough to fuel our bodies, our blood sugar levels drop as the metabolic system attempts to conserve.
When your blood sugar drops, you may become weak and uncomfortable, triggering an emotional response.
Some of the same appetite hormones that signal to your brain that you are hungry, also fire up those brain regions linked with stress and anxiety, causing your hunger to be interpreted as strong emotions about other people or situ- ations.