HomeTagsPosts tagged with "hangry"

hangry

We all know a person in our lives that goes from happy and carefree to breathing fire and rage when they are hungry.

If you don’t know that person, then FYI, it is probably you.

So whether or not you are the person people avoid when you go into Incredible hungry hulk mode, there is a scientific explanation behind it.

The word “hanger” has been thrown around and slapped as a label to those who throw tantrums that could rival toddlers and, given to those whose irritability grows with every tummy rumble. So much so, that it was added to the dictionary as an official word last year.

However, rejoice hangry individuals! Our jokes have been in vain as evidence suggests that there is a genuine connection between hunger and anger.  

A Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at King’s College London, Sophie Medlin, explained their findings surrounding hanger.

“We’ve long recognised that hunger leads to irritability in science,” she said during a Women’s Hour interview on BBC Radio 4.

“But the wonderful world of social media has merged the two words for us and now we know it as ‘hanger’. When our blood sugars drop, cortisol and adrenaline rise up in our bodies – our fight or flight hormones.”

These hormones are responsible for triggering a release of small, protein-like molecules called neuropeptides, which impacts the way the brain works.

“The ones that trigger for hunger are the same ones that trigger for anger and rage and impulsive type behaviours,” Medlin says. “So that’s why you get that sort of same response.”

The research found that hunger causes an increase in neuropeptide Y, which is interconnected to feelings of aggression.

It offers the explanation to why ‘hanger’ can affect your emotions when it comes to your nearest and dearest, who have to endure the outburst.

A study from 2014 found that low glucose levels relates to greater aggression in married couples. Which led to scientists to advise couples to resolve challenging issues on a full stomach, rather than an empty one.

Additionally, another study found that 62% of people make the wrong decisions when they’re ‘hangry’.

So, how do combat this hanger and keep it under control?

“It depends on how long it’s going to be until your next meal,” says Medlin. “Ideally you want something that’s going to bring your blood sugars up a little bit and also maintain them there. So a sort of savoury carbohydrate type snack would be the best thing to have.”

We will let you decide if you should be more empathetic towards those who are hangry, or you could remind them they’re probably making the wrong decision.

Trending

So, if you've ever snapped at a co-worker during an afternoon slump, or even forgotten to say your please and thank yous to the everyday heroes that make your morning coffee – there's a high possibility you were feeling hangry.

A dangerous combination of hungry and angry for anyone who doesn't know.

And while it's an emotion most of us will experience at some point (or you know, on a daily basis, whatever), there has never been any scientific evidence to back up this old wive's tale.

That is, until now.

According to New Scientist, there is actually a link between blood sugar levels and hormones that trigger aggression and anger.

Simply put – when your blood sugar is low, your rage is high.

As scientist and columnist Simon Oxenham discovered, low levels of blood sugar prompt the body to release cortisol and adrenaline, two chemicals associated with higher levels of stress.

Combine that with a spike in neuropeptide Y levels, a hormone that has been linked to aggression, and what have you got?

A recipe for disaster, that's what.

And this isn't the first time Simon has tested his theory.

In a 2014 study, the scientist asked a number of married couples to “stick pins into voodoo dolls that represented their loved ones, to reflect how angry they felt towards them.”

Results showed that participants inserted more pins into the voodoo dolls when their blood sugar levels were low.

So, even though the method of testing was albeit, a little creepy – at least there's an actual reason for those pre-lunch blues.

Trending

Do you go from wanting to sit back and watch the world burn just before lunch, to wanting to buy everyone you know a tiny puppy and a bunch of freesias once you’ve eaten?

This phenomenon, as we’re sure you know, is called being ‘hangry’. You’re not just hungry, or just angry – oh no, you’re a delightful little cocktail of both.

We all have that one hangry friend in work, the one who can't control her hunger rage, the one we have to supply with emergency snacks, just to talk her down…

1. Just before lunch you turn into (a nastier version) of Regan from The Exorcist

OK, so your head’s not quite spinning around, nor are you shouting expletives (well at least not out loud) but it’s fair to say in that half hour before getting food in your belly you’re a complete wagon.

2. You see someone else eating and your colleagues have to hold you back

How DARE she open that burrito in my presence! Does she not know I’m teetering on the edge here? Guac, she’s eating guac? BUT SHE KNOWS I LOVE GUAC! Wait, how did those deep, animal-like scratch marks get onto my desk?”

3. You’re offered a crisp, so you grab the whole bag and hand them back ONE CRISP

Aren’t you a charmer? And when they politely ask you for their bag of crisps back, you point behind them and say, “Is that Superman?” using the moment they turn around to leg it out the door laughing hysterically.

4. You get sassy – particularly with your email sign off

You really should have had a snack. Because maybe if you had you wouldn’t have replied to one of the company’s most valued clients, “Yours sort of sincerely”.

5. When it’s someone’s birthday YOU blow out their cake candles… just to speed things along

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to… blah blah blah enough of that – time to cut the cake. Yep, I’ll have a nice big slice there thanks. Bigger. A little bigger. BIGGER THAN THAT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!”

Luckily even the hangriest so-and-so can keep this phenomenon at bay with Carr’s Crinklys, the delish new savoury baked cracker crisps from Carr's in Cheese & Onion, Salt & Vinegar and Bacon. A pack of these babies is just the right size to keep you ticking over, but won’t spoil your lunch or dinner – and they’re baked not fried, so are way healthier than normal crisps. We know what we’ll be filling our drawer with for those hangry moments!

Trending

While most of us are guilty of getting a bit hangry from time to time, we all have that friend who takes it to the next level.

She’s grumpy, irritated and snappier than a Chandler Bing one-liner – all because she hasn’t eaten for a few hours.

So if you’re wondering why your mate is getting a bit thick with you for no reason, she’s probably just hangry. Check the signs:

1. She’s rolling her eyes at everything you say

No matter what you say, her response is an energetic eye roll. Don’t worry, it’s not you – she just needs a snack.

2. She takes compliments badly

“You look gorgeous today” is met with, “Will you stop, the state of me. I’m like a dog’s dinner,” followed by an angry fold of her arms. Oh, OK.

3. She asks if you have any food ‘on you’

So you search your handbag in the vain hope you can find something to quell the ‘hangriness’. This is where Carr’s Crinklys would come in a treat. These baked snacks are crunchy, tasty and perfect for filling the gap (and preventing your pal from having a hangry meltdown).

4. She makes food-related Freudian slips

So distracted is she, her friend Brenda becomes ‘baguette’, Rory becomes ‘roll’ and Mary is ‘mayo’. “Hey Baguette, I mean Brenda, how are you?” Someone feed that girl, quick!

5. She covets your food

Each bite you take is scrutinised with a hangry glare, until you’re eventually forced to ask if she would like a bite. Of course she accepts.

Thankfully keeping hangriness at bay is easy peasy with Carr’s Crinklys, the new savoury baked snacks from Carr's in Cheese & Onion, Salt & Vinegar and Bacon – and they’re baked, so are WAY healthier than fried crisps. Pop them in your handbag, and you’re good to go. Delish!

Trending

‘Food regret’ is REAL. You know what we mean: that utter devastation when you realise you’ve made a grave error with your food choice.

And making it even worse is when your mate has picked the winner – and tucks in happily, blithely unaware you’re shooting her looks to kill.

Here are five times you’ve definitely experienced the pain that is food regret:

1. When you’ve dithered too long – and panicked

Panicked decisions are one of the main causes of food regret. You’ve been dithering for ages (because everything looks nice), but when the waiter arrives you blurt out the first thing you see on the menu. Noo!

2. When your date’s meal is WAY nicer

You were torn between two choices – so you pick one and your date picks the other. When the food arrives his is clearly the superior dish. Oh WHY didn’t we listen to our instincts?

3. When you’re trying to be ‘good’

So you order the kale salad while your BFF goes for a mahoosive burger with all the trimmings. Big mistake. HUGE.

4. When you thought you could watch a film without snacks

The queue for the snacks in the cinema is so long, you tell yourself you don’t need anything anyway. Cue the torture of listening to the sounds of munching and crunching throughout the movie, and you wishing to God you hadn’t made such a rash decision.

5. When you’ve made a grave takeout error

You went for Indian, your friend chose Thai. Suddenly you smell the lemongrass and chilli emanating from her dish and realise you’ve made a huge mistake. Of course you chance your arm at a swap, but she having none of it. Dammit!

Well you won’t have to worry about food regret with Carr’s Crinklys, the DELISH new range of savoury baked (not fried!) snacks that come in at just 122 calories. Now all you have to decide is which flavour to go for  Cheese & Onion, Salt & Vinegar or Bacon!

Trending

Do you ever  have those days when you are so hungry, you could eat everything in the fridge?

When nothing seems to keep you full, or satisfied you can quickly find yourself developing a dreaded 'hangry' tantrum.  It could be because you aren't eating the right types of food during the day.

According to Australian fitness guru Kayla Itsines instead of reaching straight for the junk food to cure your grumbling tummy, we should try these 5 foods that are known to keep you feeling full for longer! 

 

Berries

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries – any will do the job! They contain belly-filling fibre, are low in calories and they contain phytonutrients that increase fat metabolism. 

Minestrone Soup

The broth fills your stomach with lots of liquid while the vegetables fill your stomach with fibre which slows digestion so you won't feel hungry straight after. If you can find or make one with beans in it – even better! Kayla notes to stay away from the soups with white pasta in them as refined carbs spike your blood sugar levels up and leave you wanting more.

Eggs

Eggs are packed with protein, which will keep you satisfied and help avoid binging. Eating two eggs for breakfast can help keep you full for a good portion of the day. Hard-boiling eggs in advance are also great for snacking on later during the day. 

Olives

Now, most people either love or absolutely HATE olives. However, they are a source of good-for-you unsaturated fat, meaning they will take longer to digest and leave you feeling fuller for longer. You can add a couple of teaspoons of chopped olives to salads and sandwiches at lunch to kiss afternoon hunger pains goodbye.

Spinach

Research has shown that people who consume spinach during a meal feel much more satisfied than those who don’t. This might be because spinach is a veggie that helps to fill the stomach. You can add spinach to almost anything and you can enjoy it fresh or wilted. 

Trending

by

Every year, the famed Oxford English Dictionary introduces new and popular words to its online database – and this year, ALL the best ones made it.

From manspreading, bruh and even awesomesauce, here are the great new additions that made the final cut:

Awesomesauce, adj.: (US informal) extremely good; excellent

Bants (also bantz), pl. n.: (Brit. informal) playfully teasing or mocking remarks exchanged with another person or group; banter

Beer o'clock, n: an appropriate time of day for starting to drink beer

Brain fart, n: (informal) a temporary mental lapse or failure to reason correctly

Bruh, n: (US informal) a male friend (often used as a form of address)

​Cakeage, n: (informal) a charge made by a restaurant for serving a cake they have not supplied themselves

Fat-shame, v: cause (someone judged to be fat or overweight) to feel humiliated by making mocking or critical comments about their size

Fur baby, n: a person's dog, cat, or other furry pet animal

Hangry, adj: (informal) bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger

​Manspreading, n: the practice whereby a man, especially one travelling on public transport, adopts a sitting position with his legs wide apart, in such a way as to encroach on an adjacent seat or seats

Mkay, excl: (informal, chiefly US) non-standard spelling of OK, representing an informal pronunciation (typically used at the end of a statement to invite agreement, approval, or confirmation)

Pocket dial, v: inadvertently call (someone) on a mobile phone in one's pocket, as a result of pressure being accidentally applied to a button or buttons on the phone

Wine o'clock, n: an appropriate time of day for starting to drink wine

 

Trending