It’s safe to say that most people have problems controlling their appetite especially with the not-so-healthy foods such as cookies, cakes, donuts, candy and all the other processed carbs that are on the grocery shelves and served in fast-food restaurants. They taste so good, but they are extremely low nutritional value, so they don't add to supporting the body. In the past four decades, obesity has become a major health problem leading to a host of other health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other heart-related issues. This is a problem that requires learning how to manage your food intake for optimal weight loss, but typically not for one losing their appetite.
When an individual is losing too much weight because they are not eating as well as they should, this is an issue that means there is a physical or mental or emotional reason behind their decreased appetite, and their body and organs cannot function properly if they lose essential nutrients, which is an extremely serious problem. If a person is not overweight, the loss of too many pounds can greatly affect their quality of life and the ability to fight off disease.
Here are several reasons why a person may lose their appetite and not want to eat healthy meals any longer:
Recovering from a surgical operation
Depression
Losing a loved one
Adverse reaction to certain medications
Cancer or another serious illness
Aging
How To Increase Your Appetite
Food and the nutrients they provide are necessary for life; most people cannot do without food for longer than a three day fast as a body cleanse or for religious purposes. If you have found yourself not desiring good healthy, nutritious meals for longer than a week or two, it’s time to stimulate your appetite again and get back into a healthy eating schedule. The first action to take is to notify your family doctor, so he or she is aware of the issues you are facing. Don’t try to go through a troubling time on your own. Physicians are available for the very purpose of advising and assisting you in good health.
There are several effective ways, both medical and all-natural remedies to stimulate your appetite again. An appetite stimulant is referred to as an orexigenic; they increase the individual’s desire for food. This can be accomplished either through direct correlation with your body chemistry or resulting as a side effect.
Three Medical Methods to Increase Appetite
The FDA recognizes three medications that are routinely used to increase one’s appetite:
Megestrol Acetate, which is progesterone-based.
Oxandrolone, which is an oral steroid.
Dronabinol, which has only recently been released is cannabis-based.
Other drugs may promote hunger within certain people, but these are routinely used as an orexigenic. If you and your doctor choose one of these medications, know that there are side-effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, mood changes, upset stomach, menstrual changes and more. Be sure to ask your doctor what side effects might be expected with each of these.
Ten Natural Food and Supplement Orexigenics
Losing your appetite and therefore limiting the number of nutrients coming into your body could result in significant weight loss and malnutrition. Making a decision not to eat as in going on a diet or an intermittent fast is completely different from losing the desire to eat. Don’t mix-up the two; your body is designed to absorb the nutrients through the digestion process and then expel the remainder daily. If the process is deferred for too long, problems begin. Using natural methods to instigate your appetite to return to normal is optimal for many reasons, the most important being that there are no side effects and you cannot overdose.
Here is a list of 10 natural ways to restore your appetite especially if you have become deficient in essential vitamins and minerals your body requires. Try several, and use each of them a few times until you find what works for you.
The first and easiest originate is to plan to have some dishes and/or foods that you know you like! Plan to have them at every meal, and take a quality one-a-day vitamin to supplement nutrients.
Vitamin B-1 – or thiamine is essential for growth and development, and a deficiency may be attributed to poor brain functioning.
Zinc – a zinc deficiency can cause a poor appetite, changes in taste, hair loss, and a poor functioning immune system, which is vital for preventing disease.
Omega-3 fatty acids – either in supplement form or in fatty fish such as salmon; fatty acids are essential to the brain, joints and are known to improve the appetite.
Include foods high in protein such as peanut butter, eggs, nuts, chicken, steak, and other meat and fish.
Foods that are high in calories including all varieties of cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
High-calorie beverages to have a meal or as a snack, such as whole milk, delicious fruit smoothies with or without protein powder, and such pre-made beverages as Boost and Carnation Instant Breakfast.
Instead of forcing yourself to eat one meal a day, have fun with creating three to five smaller meals by using new spices, herbs, sauces, and marinades.
Play music or eat with friends and family to make mealtime more enjoyable.
Check practical problems such as dentures that don’t fit properly.
Maintaining a weight that is appropriate for your height with a variety of nutritious foods will keep you interested in your meals. Create new dishes while still repeating the dishes that you really enjoy. Invite someone over and ask them to bring one of their favorite dishes. Both of you will get to try a new dish while also enjoying a pleasant conversation during your meal. Check back with your physician frequently to report your progress.
