Hi

If you’ve started a weight-loss plan or you’ve been on one before, then you know how hard it can be to control hunger throughout the day. Hunger can arise for a number of reasons, including a sudden drop in calories, not eating enough, or sometimes simply being dehydrated. However, the most likely reason for persistent hunger when starting a diet is hormonal imbalance.

Hormones communicate with your brain to tell you when you need to eat or when you're full. When these hormones are unbalanced, you may feel hungrier. One of the easiest ways to counteract this is by eating more protein. Protein consumption triggers your body to release less ghrelin, the hormone that signals hunger to your brain. By reducing ghrelin release, protein helps diminish feelings of hunger.

For women over 40, protein is even more crucial. As we age, maintaining muscle mass becomes more challenging yet essential. Eating protein at each meal and consuming a protein shake after strength workouts optimises your body’s ability to build and repair muscle. More muscle mass means a higher calorie burn and better performance in daily activities. Additionally, retaining muscle as we age is associated with a longer and higher quality of life.

If you’re just starting out on a diet and you’re feeling hungry all the time, increasing your protein intake might be the solution. You can do this by incorporating more lean cuts of meat, wild-caught fatty fish, poultry, protein shakes and plant-based protein sources into your meals.

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