The link between hunger and your hormones

Have you ever felt angry and irritable when you’re hungry or haven’t eaten for several hours? The feelings of anger and aggression you might experience when you’re hungry are mainly linked to the hormonal changes your body goes through when you have low blood sugar.

When you experience low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia, your brain lacks the glucose and energy needed to control your emotional impulses. As a result, you may end up lashing out unnecessarily when a loved one, friend, or coworker says the wrong thing or rubs you the wrong way when you’re feeling hungry.

A study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University explored the relationship between feelings of aggression and low blood sugar among 107 married couples who felt comfortable and satisfied with their relationships. Each person was required to measure their blood glucose levels throughout the day, and was provided with a doll meant to represent their spouses. For the course of the 21-day study, each participant was instructed to stick anywhere from zero to 51 pins in the doll that represented their spouse depending on how angry they felt with their spouses on that particular day.

At the end of the study, the researchers concluded that the study participants felt most angry with their spouses when their blood sugar levels were extremely low.

Where do hormones come into play? The hormone progesterone plays a vital role in regulating blood sugar levels. Those who experience hormonal imbalance can frequently experience low blood sugar levels as a result of having low progesterone. To treat hypoglycemia that stems from hormonal imbalance, men and women can undergo bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) and take steps to improve their diets and overall lifestyle. Exercising on a regular basis can also help correct hormonal imbalance, as well as avoiding chemicals and toxins that can disrupt hormones and normal bodily function.

Rock Creek Wellness offers bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to help you rebalance and sustain your hormone levels. Our pellet hormone program is designed for patients seeking a quick and affordable entry to bioidentical hormone therapy in Kansas City. Contact us today at 913-727-7700 to request a free consultation.