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Environmental Factors Involved In Hunger

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The body uses a balance of fuel (food); energy used, and body weight to determine homeostasis. When the energy level is low, and the nutrient reservoir (adipose tissue) is triggered. When the brain is low on glucose (glucoprivation), or the body is low on fatty acids (liporivation), it activates the hunger cycle. However, there are other factors involved in hunger. Environmental factors (senses), which may signal hunger even when an individual was not hungry. The five senses (smell, taste, sight, and sound) contribute to the feelings of hunger.
A stomach growling is a signal for a food, or even thirst. The body requires a certain amount of nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals) in order to survive. Metabolism is the chemical course in the body to keep it alive. There are two phases in metabolism, the absorption phase, and the fasting phase. In the absorption phase is the digestive system absorbs nutrients, and excessive nutrients are stored in adipose tissue for future use. The fasting phase occurs when nutrients are unavailable to the digestive system. …show more content…

Ghrelin sends a message to the hypothalamus that monitors body functions. Once the hunger is appeased, there is a reduction in the production of ghrelin. Researchers believe that overwhelming elevations of ghrelin is the cause of overeating; however, researchers are unsure why the hormone increases. The body stores the nutrients in the stomach, and a nutrient reserve. Carlson (as cited in Novin, VanderWeele, and Rezek, 1973) explained that the hepatic portal vein in the liver transmits hunger signals to the brain when glucose is low. Unfortunately, the body uses up more energy than it takes in, which is the time the hunger cycle begins

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