Why Do You Get Angry When You're Hungry?

You may think that it’s only in your imagination, but is it possible to get sort of angry when you’re hungry? Perhaps you know of somebody who gets this way. If you have ever felt yourself get irritable or frustrated when you are missing out on a meal, then you’re not alone. There is a very real connection between food and mood—but why is this?

You may tend to become angry when you’re hungry because, when you go without food for a significant amount of time, your blood sugar levels start to plummet. This may not seem like a big deal at first or if you aren’t that hungry, but wait a while and see what happens. Sooner or later you will notice that you become agitated, irritable, and eventually downright angry. Blood sugar levels need to be kept at a constant and regulated level in order to keep you going strong. When you haven’t eaten in a while, everything becomes truly out of whack and your mood can sour.

Keep Your Body Running Properly with Mini-Meals

Another thing to consider with regard to getting angry when you’re hungry is that your hormone levels and body functions become out of whack, too. Your metabolism is not properly fueled, and this can indirectly affect your mood. Your hormone levels may even be impacted. Therefore, you want to be sure that you don’t let it get to this point. Though you don’t want to overeat, you also don’t want to eat too little. The body may even go into starvation mode to try to protect you if it’s too long between meals. Thus, trying to avoid eating, or forgetting to eat, can really be problematic in the long run.

If you have ever felt angry when you’re hungry, then, it’s not all in your mind. You may find that keeping a little snack with you helps you in a pinch. Making a concerted effort to eat meals even when you’re busy or on the go is another important step. You should really be eating smaller meals more frequently, anyhow, as part of a healthy lifestyle. Never let yourself get too hungry; if you do, it can produce undesirable consequences. Stay in control by eating well so that hunger doesn’t make you—and everyone around you—miserable!