The brain and body each have a variety of signals that they send in order to let you know that they need to be replenished. These signals are often experienced as feelings of weakness, dizziness, and headaches. Your stomach may feel hollow or feel like it’s tossing and turning.
But are you hungry or thirsty?
Thirst is your body’s signal to replace water loss, while hunger is a feeling of discomfort caused by a lack of food. Symptoms of both are very similar; weakness dizziness, and light-headedness. Sometimes your stomach may grumble and growl when both hungry and thirsty. So, as simple as it may seem, it is easy to confuse one for the other.
The thirst and hunger mechanisms are located in the same part of the brain. The hypothalamus is the area of the brain that helps your nervous system communicate with the endocrine system, which consists of your organs, glands, and hormones. The hypothalamus also helps regulate bodily functions. Regardless of whether the body is hungry or thirsty, it’s the hypothalamus’ job to trigger a reaction.
Sometimes, brain signals from the hypothalamus can get mixed up, and you might mistake hunger for thirst. Many times people will overeat thinking they are hungry and still not feel satisfied due to thirst. If you are experiencing feelings of hunger after a meal, it may have been water that your stomach really needed.
The next time you are craving a snack, try drinking a glass of water first and wait to see how you feel. It takes up to 20 minutes for the hypothalamus to signal your body that it’s full. Afterwards, if you still experience hunger pains, then eat a small healthy snack.
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with so many kinds of bottled water which ones are best when consuming 8 or more glasses a day?
Great question! When it comes to which bottled water is best, it really depends upon what you are looking for (cost, specific mineral content, least likely to contain microbes, environmentally friendly, etc…). Also, taste and quality of bottled water will vary among and even within brands depending on the source and quality of the water at the time of harvest. The best way to learn about the specific bottled water you are drinking, is to read its label and/or contact the producer directly. On the label, you’ll be able to identify the type of bottled water, its source, and the way in which it was treated. Here’s a link to an excellent resource that outlines the ins-and-outs of different types of water and what to look for http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/pdfs/fs_healthseries_bottlewater.pdf. I also recommend checking out this website: http://www.bottledwaterweb.com/. You can pick different brands of bottled water and view a complete water analysis along with other pertinent information including the company’s contact information. Based on the information from these resources, you can decide which type best fits what you are looking for. Whichever bottled water you choose, know that the FDA regulates all bottled water to ensure it is safe for consumption (http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm046894.htm ) just as the EPA regulates tap water. I hope this information is helpful! – Alexandra Miller, RDN, LDN
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