Stupid, idiotic, annoying, dumb. These are just a few of the insults that have escaped my lips when I've gone too long without eating. Not to mention the exaggerated sighs, eye rolling, and death glares even the most innocent of bystanders may receive when my blood sugar is dangerously low. It's safe to say you really don't want to be around me when I'm hungry. Or as I like to call it, hangry.
Hangry. Yes, you read that correctly. It is quite literally the fusion of the two words 'hungry' and 'angry'. Although this phenomenon can be expressed in many different ways, it is characterized by acting grumpy and short-tempered when hungry. The first 300 times I heard the word I truly could not take it seriously. In fact, for many months when someone told me that I was acting hangry, it usually just made my temper flare even more.
Chances are, you have experienced this phenomenon from both perspectives: that of the hangry individual and that of the poor soul who is stuck with a hangry individual. Bottom line is, neither situation is enjoyable for anyone.
The crazy thing is, this phenomenon is completely controlled by the processes within your body. OK, science lesson of the day: Your body converts everything you eat, from the pancakes you ate for breakfast to the handful of almonds you popped in your mouth for an afternoon snack, into simple sugars (such as glucose), amino acids, and fatty acids. These nutrients then move into your bloodstream and distribute to your organs and tissues. As time passes between meals, you blood-glucose level will begin to drop as the nutrients are absorbed. Unlike the rest of your organs, your brain is highly dependent on glucose to function. This is why completely simple tasks can feel so difficult when you're hungry.
Acting in a socially acceptable manner when you're hungry can be difficult because all of your brain power is being used to help you concentrate and avoid making silly mistakes. This is why we often lose our temper and say things we don't necessarily mean when we're hungry.
Second science lesson of the day (last one, I promise): Being hangry is partially controlled by your genes. How cool is that?! Basically, hunger and anger are both controlled by common genes. One of these common genes produces something called neuropeptide Y, a chemical released in the brain when you are hungry. This stimulates various receptors in the brain, one of which is the Y1 receptor. The interesting thing is, in addition to regulating hunger, the neuropeptide Y and Y1 receptor also control anger. Researchers at the University of Chicago discovered that people with high levels of neuropeptide Y in their cerebrospinal fluid are more apt to act aggressively.
So, for all of you who fall victim to this evil being when you're hungry, it may not completely be your fault. However, there are countless ways you can prevent hanger. The easiest way by far is to keep healthy snacks handy. Ditch the junk food and stock your purse, glovebox, desk drawer, backpack, etc. with healthy, nutrient-rich foods that will satisfy your hunger before the hangry beast takes you captive.
