Causes of changes in appetite. What to do if you have no appetite - how to increase it? What are the consequences of prolonged lack of appetite?

A good appetite indicates good human health. The feeling of hunger signals that the body requires restoration of energy expenditure and replenishment of nutrients. It happens that a person loses interest in food, and sometimes even experiences an aversion to it. may be accompanied by nausea.

Nausea occurs as a result of a malfunction of the digestive system. Then the stomach, which should move food to the intestines, pushes it upward with reverse contractions of the esophagus. Often nausea ends with vomiting - an involuntary powerful emptying of the stomach through the mouth. Discomfort from nausea and vomiting is enhanced by general malaise in the form of:

  • general weakness;
  • pale skin;
  • dizziness;
  • active sweating;
  • rapid breathing and pulse;
  • increased salivation.

Lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting can be a safe but completely natural protective reaction of the body to some irritant, such as overeating or spoiled foods. Or they may be symptoms of serious illnesses and indicate the need for medical attention. Therefore, the causes of the disorder should be determined as soon as possible and the necessary measures should be taken to improve the condition.

Lack of appetite and attacks of nausea in women

Among women similar ailments more often occur against the background of hormonal changes during menstruation or during pregnancy. This is considered normal and is not a symptom of the disease. But, weakness, dizziness or strong painful sensations- a reason to see a doctor.

Menstruation and premenstrual syndrome:

  • Before the onset of menstruation, surges in estrogen and progesterone during the period of hormonal changes are accompanied by strong emotional experiences, neurosis, and insomnia. These processes are natural and pass with the beginning of a new cycle, but women may experience slight malaise and loss of appetite.
  • During menstruation, prostaglandins are produced, which have irritant effect on the circulatory, muscular, and nervous systems, provoking uterine spasms and the occurrence of severe but tolerable pain. The production of serotonin increases, leading to fluid stagnation and the appearance of edema. Changes negatively affect a woman’s well-being, being the norm, they pass quickly and do not require intervention.

Pregnant women, due to hormonal changes and changes in progesterone levels, may experience toxicosis that goes away by 14 weeks. Many expectant mothers feel a strong aversion to food, frequent attacks nausea and urges to. This is not a disease and early toxicosis does not pose a threat to the health of a woman or child if it does not bother the pregnant woman all the time. During this period, the expectant mother should be provided proper nutrition, walks on fresh air, complete rest.

An important reminder: a pregnant woman’s stomach should not be empty; she should eat in small portions. This will relieve painful nausea and vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting in children

In children, attacks of nausea and vomiting occur frequently. They may feel nauseous after vigorous gaming full stomach and motion sickness in transport. Vomiting in a child may occur as a result of overeating or nervous tension. If this happens occasionally and is not accompanied by other symptoms, there is no reason to worry.

For a cold, when the baby suffers from a runny nose, cough and sore throat, he usually gets sick from eating. It is necessary to treat acute respiratory infections. As you recover, a feeling of hunger will begin to appear.

If the child’s appetite has disappeared for a short time, the sight of food does not cause disgust in the child, there is no need to draw hasty conclusions and feed him with pills. Symptoms for which you should urgently call a doctor:

  • the baby is lethargic and sleepy;
  • he has pain or dizziness;
  • temperature appeared;
  • the pulse quickens or slows down;
  • vomiting is frequent, severe, mixed with blood or accompanied by diarrhea;
  • the child vomits as a result of an injury to the abdomen or head.

If disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract do not cause severe discomfort, pass quickly, and vomiting brings relief - there is no reason to panic. You need to alleviate the condition by taking an antiemetic drug or using folk remedy: drinking green tea, dill water or water with lemon. The main recommendation is diet. For several days after an attack, exclude everything fried, sour and dairy from the diet.

Urgent medical attention is required in case of complete failure from food frequent vomiting, severe nausea lasting more than a day, fever and diarrhea.

16 27 696 0

At first glance, it seems that stress and depression cause disturbances only in the nervous system. Any nervous disorder provokes a malfunction of all body systems, the autonomic nervous system.

Lack of appetite can lead to undesirable consequences under stress, which already has a negative effect on the body.

What to do if a person has experienced mental disorder and refuses to eat? We'll tell you in the article.

You will need:

Why there is no appetite during stress

  1. Any disorder provokes nervous exhaustion, emotional overload, and fatigue.
  2. When stressed, the autonomic nervous system, which controls the functioning of internal organs, suffers.
  3. Neurosis and depression are a provoking factor of general tension, organ spasm gastrointestinal tract, which is manifested by loss of appetite and altered perception of the taste of food.
  4. Being, the metabolism and secretion of hormones changes.
  5. Low levels of leptin and estrogen, sudden changes in cortisol due to stress are one of the main causes of nervous loss of appetite.

Negative thoughts and experiences completely fill thoughts, pushing into the background the need for regular food intake.

What could be the consequences?

Without treatment, the risk of rapid weight loss and nervous exhaustion very big.

  • A long-term lack of appetite can result in sleep disturbances and insomnia.
  • A common complication of nervous weight loss in women is menstrual irregularities.
  • In children's and adolescence there is a high risk of vitamin deficiency, sharp decline immunity, impaired formation of the musculoskeletal system, susceptibility to colds and viral diseases.
  • A dangerous consequence of neurosis and depression - with quick loss weight to the point of exhaustion.
  • Loss of appetite is accompanied by headache, severe drowsiness and weakness, muscle pain, arrhythmia, muscle spasms, impaired intestinal motility.

For any nervous disorder nutrition - important factor to maintain body functions.

How to recover from an eating disorder

Appetite regulates the function of food intake in the body nutrients, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The center of hunger and satiety is located in the hypothalamus. If your blood glucose level drops, it sends a signal to eat and increase your energy balance.

At unbalanced diet and the habit of snacking on sweets does not enter the body required amount nutrients.

You can recover from an eating disorder by following three simple rules:

  1. You should eat at least three times a day.
  2. In your diet you need to adhere to the formula of 50% carbohydrates, 25% proteins and 25% fats.
  3. Consume sweets in small quantities (up to 100 g) as a snack between main meals, and never eat on an empty stomach.

Replenishing the lack of amino acids

The cause of poor sleep and appetite, fatigue and malaise may be a lack of amino acids. The amino acid tryptophan is essential for humans and is involved in the regulation of vitamin B3 synthesis and appetite. You can fill the deficiency with certain products:

  • Soybeans and legumes, lentils, chickpeas, peas.
  • Dairy products, yogurt, milk, fermented baked milk, kefir.
  • All nuts contain tryptophan. It is enough to consume up to 50 g of almonds per day, walnuts, cashew, hazelnut.
  • Mushrooms and dried fruits, dates, raisins, figs.
  • Meat and fish, especially sea fish.

B vitamins

Essential vitamins in food:

  • Walnuts contain sufficient amounts of vitamin B1, B5 and B6.
  • Bananas are rich in vitamin C and B5-6.
  • Almonds and cashews are a source of a whole complex of group B - B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9.
  • Avocados and oats are rich in vitamins B1, B5 and B6.
  • Spirulina, spinach, asparagus and pumpkin are rich in vitamins B12 and B6.

Foods rich in zinc

In the body, zinc takes part not only in the metabolism of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and enzymes, but also promotes sexual development and functioning immune system and the work of the pancreas with the synthesis of insulin.

You can compensate for the lack of zinc with the following products:

  • Barley and buckwheat groats;
  • lean turkey, rabbit and duck meat;
  • peas, beans and chickpeas;
  • low-fat cheese and cottage cheese;
  • pine nuts, peanuts.

Medicines to increase appetite

First of all, you need to make sure the reason eating disorder, since the methods of treating psychoemotional disorders are extremely different from the treatment of somatic diseases.

    Antidepressants

    Restores appetite in anorexia nervosa syndrome, depression and neurosis.

    Drugs with antiserotonin action

    Indirectly affect appetite and improve psycho-emotional state.

    Hepatoprotectors and restoratives

    Regulate metabolism and increase tone.

    L-carnitine

    Participates in metabolic processes and restores the metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, thereby regulating eating behavior and appetite.

The importance of diet

Regular meals not only enriches the body with essential nutrients, but also sets the rhythm of functioning of all digestive and metabolic organs. At the same time, it is important to eat regularly and in a balanced manner, observing the intake of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Four or five meals a day are optimal.

  • Breakfast should be in the first 2 hours after waking up, in a ratio of 2:1 carbohydrate and
  • The first snack can be between breakfast and lunch. Fruits, light salad, dairy products are suitable.

  • Lunch should contain at least 40% protein, 30% fat and 30% carbohydrates. The share of simple carbohydrates - flour and sweets - should be one third less than the amount of complex carbohydrates (porridge, cereals, legumes).
  • Optimal second snack - protein products(eggs, cottage cheese), nuts, 1 fruit of your choice, vegetables in any form.
  • Dinner should be light, mostly protein with enough vegetables and fiber. Carbohydrates before bed are not recommended.

Appetite stimulants - spices and seasonings

Some foods especially increase hunger and appetite, and can rightfully replace medications.

  1. Marinades, pickles, canned and lightly salted cucumbers and tomatoes.
  2. Herbal spices - basil, cilantro, dill, red paprika and chili.
  3. Ground black and white pepper.
  4. Horseradish, mustard, ginger and wasabi.
  5. Fresh sour berries or fruit drinks made from cranberries, lingonberries, lemon and pomegranate juice.

However, if you have a stomach disease, gastritis or peptic ulcer, it is prohibited to stimulate your appetite with peppery, salty and sour foods. This can provoke inflammation of the gastric mucosa and exacerbation of the underlying disease.

Frequently asked questions and answers

    Why do you want to eat when you're stressed?

    During constant, prolonged stress, the adrenal glands increase the release of the hormone cortisol. The more of this substance in a person’s body, the more he wants to eat. When a person is in a sudden stressful situation (life-threatening, strong pain), then a large concentration of another hormone is released into the plasma - adrenaline, which, on the contrary, discourages a person’s appetite.

    What to do during nervous hunger?

    Rapid weight loss during nervous exhaustion - bad sign and can lead to anorexia. To prevent this, you should reduce your normal portion, under no circumstances force food into yourself, but regularly eat light foods: soup, broth, fruits, vegetables. You can support the body with sedatives or antidepressants. Walking in the fresh air also helps. sunlight– vitamin D. After two to three months, your appetite should return.

    Why do people lose weight due to nervousness?

    During stress, the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine are released into the blood. As a result, metabolism increases, and the connection fatty acids on the contrary, it decreases. Norepinephrine is also responsible for arterial pressure, which increases due to nervousness, forcing systems in the body to work more actively, and therefore nutrients are consumed faster. As a result, the person loses weight.

    What can cause loss of appetite?

    Lost appetite the following reasons:
    This may be the body's reaction to nervous fatigue and stress, when more adrenaline enters the blood, thereby speeding up metabolism, so a person loses appetite and loses weight;
    Appetite may decrease due to a decrease in the body's calorie needs due to old age, heat outside, insufficient active image life;
    I also don’t want to eat when I have ARVI, flu, or other illnesses.

    Weight loss with nervousness, why?

    Severe shock or frequent stressful situations lead to higher consumption calories by the body. Nervousness negatively affects metabolism. Stress causes gastrointestinal spasms, which interfere with normal digestion and reduce appetite. Therefore, a person does not feel like eating; any food causes vomiting reflex and thus the person rapidly loses weight.

    Is it possible to lose weight due to nervousness?

    During nervous stress, the body is saved by the release of the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine into the blood. All systems begin to function faster, more energy is consumed, and metabolism increases. Since the body is not accustomed to this pace of work, it digestive functions are disrupted, appetite decreases, and as a result the person loses weight.

    What to do with anorexia due to nervousness?

    Anorexia nervosa is defined obsession lose weight and refuse to eat. To treat the disease, the doctor determines a personal diet, taking into account the missing amount of nutrients. The patient is also prescribed medications that support the human body as a whole: vitamins, if the bones are fragile, hormones for amenorrhea, antidepressants. Psychologists work with the patient from the very beginning.

    What to do if there is no appetite after surgery?

    After the operation, the body uses up its energy and does not have enough strength to normalize the functioning of the digestive system, and metabolism is disrupted. Often a person loses his appetite after taking antibiotics, which are prescribed after surgery. These drugs disrupt the intestinal microflora. To restore the desire to eat, the doctor draws up a personal menu and diet for the patient. To stimulate appetite, various herbal decoctions are prescribed. Moderate physical exercise and walks on the street restore normal exchange substances and restore appetite.

    What is psychogenic loss of appetite?

    Psychogenic loss of appetite is associated with psychological problems person that lead to the disease – anorexia. This disease is more common among young girls and teenagers who think they are too fat. Loss of appetite due to nervousness leads to excessive weight loss in a short time.

    What to do if you feel sick due to nervousness?

    A stressful situation forces the body to turn on all systems. Alarm signal transmitted nerve endings, and the organs, in defense, try to get rid of the excess - hence the gag reflex. In general, when the stressful situation passes, then the malaise will pass. This will help with breathing exercises to calm the nervous system, also light physical exercise will force hormones to be redirected to muscle work. Reception sedatives and drinks made from herbal infusions will calm your nerves.

    Why does it occur increased appetite and drowsiness under stress?

    Constant, prolonged stress causes the body to release the hormone cortisol into the plasma, which increases appetite. Drowsiness by nature occurs when the brain needs oxygen, but the body does not release it. Stress leads to spasms of muscles and blood vessels, which causes tension, and it does not allow blood to flow to the brain. Often in stressful situations Blood pressure decreases, which also induces sleep.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Loss of appetite may not be the only manifestation of emotional overstrain and stress. To prevent nervous exhaustion and anorexia during depressed state, you should not resort to methods of increasing appetite without the advice of a doctor. Currently, an experienced psychoneurologist can easily identify the causes of poor appetite and prescribe the most suitable treatment and means that will not cause harm to the body.

Video for the material

If you see an error, please select a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

To the question: “An adult has no appetite, why?” there are many answers.

Nutrient deficiencies are a must will affect not only your well-being, but also your health. Therefore, the problem of their absence needs to be solved as soon as possible. How to increase appetite and why did it disappear?

The difference between hunger and appetite

Before diagnosing loss of appetite, it is important to understand the concept. Appetite is often confused with hunger, a reflex that occurs in the absence of food.

The mechanism of hunger development is triggered by a decrease in glucose levels, which causes a signal to be sent to the centers of the brain. When a hunger spasm occurs, a person actively salivates, their sense of smell improves, and a pulling sensation appears “in the pit of the stomach.”

All these symptoms help a person feel hungry and go in search of food. At the same time, he has no desire to eat certain foods; he is ready to eat any dish.

The manifestation of a feeling of hunger in which a person desires certain products, is called appetite. This feeling is influenced by many factors: time of day, country of residence, taste preferences, emotional condition.

A violation of habitual taste needs, when a person does not want food at all, is called a decrease in appetite. This condition leads to anorexia and other problems.

Associated symptoms

The brain sends a signal that the body needs to take food. It contains neurons that carry a signal to the digestive organs.

In the body of an individual experiencing a feeling of hunger, Insulin levels are increased and gastric juice is actively produced. The absence of hunger indicates that the brain is working on other needs. Decreased appetite – protection against certain diseases digestive system.

There are symptoms that often accompany a person with lack of appetite. Nausea and weakness are the most famous of them. Thanks to these signs, it is easier for doctors to determine the cause of loss of appetite.

Causes of decreased appetite

All the reasons why appetite disappears can be divided into two categories: pathological and non-pathological.

Pathological causes

Most often, poor appetite in adults indicates illness.

To forget about problems with appetite, you will need professional help.

TO pathological reasons decreased appetite include:

  1. Intestinal dysbiosis. Beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. If their balance is disturbed, the body does not receive the necessary microelements from food.
  2. Endocrine problems. Lack of hormones leads to nausea and vomiting. As a result, the person becomes weak and loses appetite.
  3. Chronic gastrointestinal diseases. Similar symptoms indicate a stomach ulcer, gastritis,. At the first signs of exacerbation of diseases, you should undergo preventive treatment.
  4. Mental problems, neuroses. High load, stress, lack of rest and moral support lead to apathy and depression. These problems are often accompanied by weakness, nausea, fatigue and lack of appetite.
  5. Intoxication of the body. Harmful bacteria can provoke intoxication, as a result of which a person will feel weak and aversion to food.
  6. Cardiovascular diseases. Wear and tear of blood vessels provokes general weakness body, and high blood pressure causes nausea.
  7. Drug addiction. The need to constantly take medications forces the gastrointestinal tract to work hard. Because of this, gastritis, ulcers, and pancreatic pathologies may appear.
  8. Oncology. During chemotherapy, many processes malfunction, especially in the functioning of the digestive organs.
  9. Viruses and infections in the body. When illness occurs, there is often a significant decrease in appetite, as energy is directed toward fighting viruses. To a large number of toxins did not lead to weakness and nausea, should be maintained water balance, namely drink plenty of fluids.

Non-pathological causes

Natural reasons cause a situation in which a person refuses to eat.

They do not depend on any disease, as they arise due to external pathogenic factors.

Distinctive features non-pathological reasons:

  • the duration of the symptoms does not exceed 4-5 days, then the increase in appetite occurs independently;
  • no need for medical attention or medication;
  • absent Negative influence for health;
  • symptoms recur no more than once a month;
  • loss of appetite does not lead to sudden weight loss.

The list of non-pathological causes includes the following conditions:

  1. Menstruation. In this period female body particularly susceptible to the influence of hormones. Sharp rise levels of estrogen and progesterone provoke weakness and loss of appetite. At the end of the cycle, abdominal cramps and headaches are often added to these symptoms.
  2. Binge eating. Absence good nutrition during the day leads to an increase in appetite at night. The gastrointestinal tract organs were not exposed to stress all day, so in the evening, when preparing the body for sleep, food consumed may cause bad dream, nausea and vomiting. All this will lead to a decrease in appetite.
  3. Prolonged fasting. If a person voluntarily refuses to eat, this can cause nausea and weakness. Since in for a long time food does not enter, the secretion produced negatively affects the mucous membrane, irritating it. In the absence of food, performance decreases and weakness and loss of strength appear.

Diagnosis of poor appetite

Normal functioning is ensured by balance, which is an alternation of feelings of hunger and appetite. Violation normal condition for any reason leads to a decrease in appetite, and then a feeling of hunger.

Eating high-calorie foods can increase the interval between the onset of the desire to eat to 4-5 hours.

However, if hunger does not come for more than 8 hours, this is a signal that problems have appeared in the body.

A decrease in blood glucose levels will cause dizziness, weakness, and loss of strength.

To diagnose the cause of loss of appetite, you should consult a doctor. He will appoint full examination body, including testing. If a woman has a problem with appetite, pregnancy should first be ruled out.

Video - How to gain weight when you have no appetite?

What can you do to increase your appetite?

The reasons that provoked the loss of appetite and were identified during diagnosis are eliminated by therapeutic methods. Parallel Doctors advise the patient to adhere to the following recommendations:

  1. Follow a meal schedule. You need to eat several times a day in small portions. You should have dinner no later than three hours before bedtime. Daily intake food in certain time will promote the production of saliva and prepare the body to absorb food.
  2. Food should be chewed slowly, without being distracted by extraneous stimuli (TV, computer). You should use attractive table settings and work on beautiful presentation of dishes.
  3. Food should be tasty and varied.
  4. When fighting poor appetite It is very important to follow a daily routine: sleep at least eight hours, do not forget about rest. Physical activity in mild form welcome, as sport stimulates the urge to eat.
  5. Stress should be avoided conflict situations, bad emotions.
  6. To digestive juice produced more actively, you need to eat foods that stimulate this process, for example, pickled and salty dishes. Spices increase appetite, spicy seasonings, herbs, sour berries, foods high in vitamins B and C, decoctions and infusions of bitter herbs.

Loss of appetite in old age


Lack of need to eat and persistent loss of appetite can occur in older people. Pensioners often limit themselves to healthy and nutritious foods due to financial problems. In addition, with age, it weakens, diarrhea begins, and the functioning of the receptors worsens. The body begins to digest food poorly.

The above factors affect appetite. To avoid problems with the gastrointestinal tract, you need to increase the number of easily digestible foods. The menu should include stewed vegetables, cereals, fish, meat low-fat varieties. Elderly people should remove fatty and fried foods, do not eat large portions and, if necessary, use a blender to grind food.

How to increase your child's appetite


Adults often have problems feeding their baby due to his refusal to eat. To increase children's appetite, you can take the following measures:

  • create an optimal diet age appropriate and the characteristics of the child;
  • maintain a meal schedule;
  • spend several hours a day in the fresh air;
  • include outdoor games and sports in the daily routine;
  • attractively design children's dishes;
  • add fruits and dried fruits to porridge;
  • do not force feed the child;
  • do not overfeed the baby;
  • reduce the number of snacks on cookies and other starchy foods;
  • Place small portions on a plate.

If the lack of appetite continues for several days, you should not look for the cause and treat it yourself. The specialist will quickly determine what is causing the loss of appetite and prescribe medications to increase it.

A healthy person has a healthy interest in food. To maintain the body in working condition, it has to be fed regularly. Feeling hungry is a signal of the need to “recharge.”

But sometimes we don’t feel like eating at normal times, and sometimes we feel indifference or even aversion to food. Why does my appetite disappear? The reasons can be different, from the most banal to the extremely serious. Therefore, you should not neglect this.

We have to find out why people lose their appetite and what problems the body signals by refusing to accept food. How to react if your child has lost his appetite? What to do if the expectant mother has no appetite?

Lost appetite: reasons

Easy to install and not dangerous reasons loss of appetite

There is a mild form of appetite disturbance, that is, a decrease in appetite (hyporexia) and a complicated form, when a person has no appetite at all (anorexia). At the stage of hyporexia, you can still try to fight the disorders on your own, but anorexia is great danger for human health and life, which means self-medication is unacceptable!

Loss of appetite may indicate serious violations in the functioning of internal organs. Especially if your appetite has suddenly disappeared. There is no doubt about the seriousness of the situation when the temperature simultaneously jumped and the appetite disappeared.

If loss of appetite is the only symptom, then we're talking about about temporary disruptions in the functioning of the body. Let's look at why this happens.

  • Appetite decreases under the influence external factors, often weather conditions. Personally, I eat almost nothing for days on end during abnormally hot summers. It’s normal that you don’t feel like eating; the body correctly requires more fluid to restore its loss. Drink a lot and don't force yourself to eat. Your appetite will be restored as soon as the heat subsides.
  • Changing your usual place of residence can be a challenge both physically and psychologically. If you've lost your appetite after moving, don't worry. Give yourself time to get used to new conditions and circumstances, and your body to adapt.
  • Chronic fatigue may lead to appetite disturbances. The fact is that the body spends a lot of energy on the process of digesting food. When a person is tired, the subconscious mind tells you to conserve your strength. In addition, when you fall off your feet from unbearable stress, not only physical, you can be so lazy to take care of food that it is easier for the body to refuse it.

  • Another common cause of loss of appetite is the body's protest against certain medications. If you take medications for a long time, biological supplements, doping, contraception, weight loss drugs, view side effects in the instructions and expiration date of the drugs. To restore your appetite, you will have to replace a specific drug or stop using such drugs altogether. Stop self-medication, in particular with herbs, and categorically refuse expired medications. Simple steps can easily restore lost appetite.
  • Abuse of diet In order to lose weight, you risk inflicting great harm health. Diets are dangerous because because of them a person artificially creates a deficiency of vital necessary substances. Due to wrong diets nutrition becomes irrational, which in turn leads to rapid weight loss and loss of appetite. If it comes to this, gradually exit the diet. Next time, choose a diet after consulting a nutritionist and strictly follow his recommendations.
  • Loss of appetite is often a consequence bad habits . Smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking narcotic substances in any way they slowly but surely destroy internal organs and disrupt processes occurring in the body, in particular digestion. Lack of appetite is a predicted result of long-term unhealthy image life. It's never too late to give up unhealthy foods. Finally do it!
  • Psychological reasons Loss of appetite is common. Any strong unrest The body perceives it as stress. It doesn’t matter what they are, positive or negative. A wedding or divorce, a long-awaited meeting or its cancellation, an important victory or defeat - such events can significantly reduce your appetite. The only difference is that after positive experiences, disruptions in the body associated with an unwillingness to eat quickly normalize, while negative ones often develop into a depressed state or even depression. If you have not only poor appetite, but also mood swings for a long time, consider this a sufficient reason to consult a doctor. Don't expect depression to go away with time. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for you to get back on track. normal life. Know: along with your mood, your appetite will return.

Loss of appetite as a symptom

Unfortunately, lack of appetite is often a sign serious problems with health. Learn about the symptoms that may accompany food aversions and the causes of this condition.

If you just don’t feel like eating, and there are no other painful symptoms, then you shouldn’t dwell on it. Most likely, this is a temporary symptom and it will go away soon.

But often poor appetite is accompanied by parallel symptoms, for example:

  • headache + lack of appetite;
  • nausea + lack of appetite.

If you are suffering from a complex of symptoms, consult your GP or family doctor. A primary care specialist will refer you to one of his highly specialized colleagues: psychotherapist, gastroenterologist, nutritionist, endocrinologist, oncologist. Hurry up for a consultation.

Dangerous causes of loss of appetite:

  • Poisoning (intoxication) - food, drugs, gases, toxins, alcohol... The body does not perceive anything, on the contrary, it works to remove the poison. If you suffer from nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite and diarrhea at the same time, you are most likely poisoned. This is exactly the case when it is better to refuse food for a certain time. Call an ambulance immediately or rush to the infectious diseases department.
  • Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: cholecystitis, dysbacteriosis, gastritis, ulcers. The most common set of symptoms with them: lack of appetite, abdominal pain.
  • Dysfunction of the endocrine system.
  • Diseases of the nervous system, mental disorders.
  • Diseases of the liver and pancreas may be accompanied by symptoms: lack of appetite, nausea, weakness.
  • Infectious diseases, in particular tuberculosis, are a number of other possible reasons why you don’t want to eat.
  • Oncological diseases. Cancer patients refuse certain foods, most often meat. In the combination of severe weakness and lack of appetite lies the danger of cancer.

Symptoms that, in combination with loss of appetite, should alert you

Call ambulance if loss of appetite is accompanied by dangerous sets of symptoms, such as:

  • diarrhea, lack of appetite
  • pain, lack of appetite, nausea
  • vomiting, lack of appetite
  • fever, lack of appetite.

With such symptoms, it is extremely dangerous to remain without medical supervision.

No appetite: what to do

It is not for nothing that a good appetite is considered a sign good health. When a person doesn't feel hungry for longer than usual, it causes anxiety. It immediately becomes clear that not everything is in order with your health, mental or physical. No one has ever managed to feel good without refueling the body on time. The discomfort and weakness caused by the lack of nutrients that enter the body with food are so strong that people literally lose their zest for life. If you lose your appetite, what to do is not always clear. At first, people tend to neglect the situation, but meanwhile it becomes so complicated that the strength and desire to correct it disappear. We offer a selection of effective, proven tips on what to do when you don’t feel like eating anything.

First of all, try to restore natural need in food using elementary methods.

  • Why not work up an appetite in the park or on the embankment? Choose a place for a walk where there is a lot of greenery. Having saturated your lungs with enough oxygen, you may want to eat very quickly. It wouldn't hurt to walk past a place where street food smells delicious. The mouth-watering smells will surely wake up your sleeping taste buds!
  • Physical activity in nature is an excellent appetite activator. Jogging, cycling, any sport with a ball or rackets, fitness, dancing, yoga, or better yet, swimming are suitable. Exercising in water makes you ravenous! But don't overexert yourself, because exhaustion can lead to reverse effect. It’s very good if you don’t study alone. Good company and pleasant fatigue will certainly restore your lost appetite.
  • Often, interruptions in appetite are associated with non-compliance with sleep and eating patterns. Restore your usual daily routine if it has been changed or just wait until a period will pass adaptation.
  • It happens that loss of appetite is caused by the monotony of your diet or loneliness. Perhaps you are simply tired of the usual menu or too lazy to cook something new for yourself, and have no one to share the meal with. Make an effort - treat yourself to something delicious. "Colored food" fresh berries, vegetables and fruits, pleasing to the eye, greatly stimulate the appetite. If you don’t feel like doing something for yourself, invite guests. You won’t feed them banal potatoes, will you?! But stuffed zucchini with potato sailboats will seduce you even during the cooking process. There is also a simpler option for those who are not capable of culinary feats. Organize a meeting of old friends. With them for company you will enjoy everything!

  • There is a high probability of overcoming your lack of appetite by doing your favorite things. Just find time to do what makes you happy. In a depressed state, there can be no talk of new hobbies, but remembering old ones is very useful. Listen to the music you've been listening to, look through the exhibits of a long-forgotten collection, re-read a book that made an impression on you. It may happen that you won’t even notice how you start snacking on everything that comes to hand.
  • if you have bad habits, do your best to refuse them. We do not promise that appetite will return immediately, because the body’s recovery process from negative impacts– long lasting. However, after a while you will definitely feel a surge of energy and hunger.

If you have no appetite during pregnancy

With the help of her own body, the expectant mother ensures the development of a new life. This requires more physical and psychological resources than usual. Extraordinary emotions excessive anxiety, increased responsibility, sharp hormonal surges are factors that significantly change a person’s condition. Of course, they, in turn, affect appetite. IN different periods During pregnancy, it either disappears or grows exorbitantly. A pregnant woman finds herself between two extremes: eating for two, but not overeating. At first glance, it is paradoxical that appetite worsens during pregnancy. We will explain why this happens.

The worst thing that loss of appetite during pregnancy can indicate is an exacerbation of existing diseases, any of the above. It is clear that you will have to undergo treatment, as well as the fact that self-medication is out of the question.

In a healthy pregnant woman, sluggish interest in food has clear explanations directly related to her condition. Mostly, lack of appetite during pregnancy is observed in the first trimester.

Toxicosis is the most common reason why a pregnant woman eats little. It usually lasts up to three months, during which a woman can even lose weight. The pregnant woman is feeling nauseous and has no appetite, that’s understandable. But toxicosis itself is a consequence of certain processes characteristic of the pregnancy period. Exacerbation of olfactory receptors causes aversion to certain odors. A woman's increased sensitivity and vulnerability to the changes that occur to her is often expressed by poor appetite. Hormonal surges suppress appetite due to reduced function digestion. In addition to the above reasons, a pregnant woman’s reluctance to eat can be explained by a lack of iron or folic acid. They are necessary in sufficient quantity for the formation of a healthy fetus. If they are lacking, the body signals this by refusing to accept food, especially one that does not contain them. We should not forget about the factors that greatly influence the desire or reluctance to eat. The good news is that all these are normal and temporary phenomena. At the same time, we warn you not to take the fact that you lost your appetite during pregnancy as infantile, because you simply must provide your unborn child with everything necessary.

If a woman in the second trimester of pregnancy complains: “I don’t feel hungry,” this basically only means that the uterus, putting pressure on the intestines, provokes stagnation of digested foods in the body.

In the third trimester, the baby’s enlarged body presses on the stomach through the wall of the uterus, and accordingly, the stomach’s capacity decreases, which suppresses the feeling of hunger. Women are also often worried about gaining excess weight and “not to feed” the fetus, fearing a difficult birth, so they subconsciously limit themselves in food.

The basic principle of nutrition for a pregnant woman: eat little, often and only the best!

What should a pregnant woman do to improve her appetite?

  1. First of all, walk a lot. Be physically active without excessive loads, Certainly. Do things that make you happy and avoid things that make you sad.
  2. Take tests on time, saturate the body essential microelements nutrition or, if necessary, vitamin preparations.
  3. Eat in small portions, but often, 5-7 times a day. Consume liquid foods. Drink a lot.
  4. Sleep longer at night and allow yourself naps during the day.

During pregnancy, lack of appetite is a mostly alarming symptom. However, it is forbidden to ignore it, if only because up to 80% of the health of the unborn child depends on the mother’s nutrition. And the woman herself needs to prepare for childbirth. Pretty compelling to do your best to eat a balanced diet during this crucial period, isn't it?

The child has lost his appetite: what to do?

The ideal child in terms of nutrition for many parents is the one who eats everything that is given and when given. Indeed, it is very convenient. But this practically never happens and should not happen. This is easy to explain: you can’t convince a child that he needs to eat, it’s healthy. He eats when he wants, and doesn't eat when he doesn't want to.

In general, a child refuses to eat in the following cases:

  1. The child is full. This is good.
  2. The child is sick. This is bad, but in this case you need to treat, not feed.
  3. The child does not like what is offered. Well, there is only one way out: prepare something else, after asking what the child would like.
  4. A child shows temperament or whims while eating - this is defensive reaction. Do not encourage him by persuading him to definitely eat, do not succumb to provocations.

None of the reasons mentioned gives adults the right to force a child to eat! This won't do any good. Any coercion is very harmful: for relationships, for the psyche and for health, first of all.

Of course, a child’s lack of appetite can be looked for in other ways. We have collected possible reasons and recommendations for eliminating them.

Useful tips

Teach your child to healthy food childhood. And then he will not have problems with lack of appetite, and even with weight. Let the child not know the taste harmful products as long as possible. Instead of candy - dried fruits, instead of chips - homemade crackers, instead of sugar - honey, instead of store-bought juices and water - plain water, compotes and compotes. Enlist the support of relatives and people in contact with the child. Prohibit giving your child lollipops and other edible garbage!

It is difficult to accustom a child to food culture and healthy food, if you yourself do not demonstrate this every day in everyday life. Be an example or do not demand from your child what is unusual in his environment.

If a child has no appetite, the reasons may not be related to satiety. By making eating a cult, you let your child know that food is important to you. And the child uses this as a means of influencing you.

Reduce the importance of food. Let me not eat. The stubborn little guy will miss several lunches. So what? He won’t die of hunger, but he will make sure that blackmail with food doesn’t work.

Remember the right balanced diet- a guarantee of health. Make sure your child has a healthy appetite, but don't force him to eat too much. Let everyone develop according to their individual needs.

Often, illness due to lack of appetite sends us an alarm signal. Usually in such cases there are associated symptoms. However, not always. If the child simultaneously has elevated or low temperature, lack of appetite, weakness - act without delay.

Poor appetite: how to regain interest in food

In the absence of appetite, the reasons cannot always be determined quickly. But in the meantime, you can try to regain your interest in food. If walks physical activity, improving your mood with all available methods did not work, there are many other ways that will help you achieve a positive result.

Treat yourself to vitamin therapy. Helps to normalize impaired appetite special medications. We do not specifically name them, because self-medication can cause more harm than good. See your doctor and start with taking a multivitamin, or one of the following vitamins: B12, iron, ascorbic acid, strictly observing the dose.

But foods that increase appetite can be safely consumed in moderation. If you have a poor appetite, enter daily diet the following products: lemon and other citrus fruits, sour apples, pomegranates, black radishes, onions, garlic, sauerkraut, wild garlic, cranberries, rowan, blackberries, raspberries. Be sure to drink fresh juices.

Another option, which also requires consultation with a doctor, is tinctures and herbal decoctions that stimulate the appetite. These include: dandelion roots, ginseng, rosea, marsh calamus, wormwood, mint and lemon balm, yarrow, thyme, dill seeds and greens (fennel for newborns), plantain leaves and others. You can use single-component products or pharmacy preparations.

RECIPE FOR HERBAL TINCTURE FOR APPETITE: Prepare a mixture: 50 g of wormwood, 100 g of St. John's wort, 100 g of calamus root. 2 tbsp. l. After collecting these herbs in the evening, pour them into a thermos and pour two glasses of boiling water over them. In the morning, strain and divide into 4 servings (150 g each). Take 4 times a day 15 minutes before meals.

RECIPE FOR MELISSA TEA FOR APPETITE: Grind 2 tbsp. l. lemon balm. Pour two glasses of boiling water and let it brew for four hours. Drink ½ glass before each meal during the day.

In general, short-term appetite disturbances do not pose a health threat. But complete absence appetite can have irreparable consequences. Be attentive to your health and get diagnosed on time!

A common cause of loss of appetite is fasting, especially if you resort to it without preliminary preparation and without the supervision of a nutritionist. Before you decide to go on a hunger strike, make sure that you do not have an illness for which it is contraindicated.

4.9 Rating 4.90 (10 votes)

To understand the cause of poor appetite, it would be good to know when this very appetite comes to us. This sensation depends on enzymes and gastric juice. When the required level of these substances accumulates in the stomach, a person begins to want to eat. Judging from the opposite, a person loses his appetite when enzymes and gastric juice poorly produced or not produced at all. It also happens that bile is thrown into the stomach from the liver, and it suppresses the acidity of the stomach and thereby suppresses appetite.

Sometimes loss of appetite is caused by overindulgence in foods rich in saturated fat or sweets. Smoking and alcohol can also reduce appetite in some people. Heredity plays a big role in the amount of food eaten, so sometimes “little people” fall into the category of people with poor appetite. And in some cases, the cause of decreased appetite cannot be determined. Most likely, it will be in the field of psychosomatics.

Causes of poor appetite

First of all, appetite may decrease or disappear due to serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, chronic liver diseases, kidney infections and hepatitis. Another reason for this phenomenon is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular the intestines, as well as cancer of the stomach and colon. For acute respiratory diseases, flu and colds, this can also very well happen, because it is with these diseases that the body wants to direct all its strength to fight the disease. Another group of diseases that occur with loss of appetite: diabetes, decreased hormone levels thyroid gland, and endocrine problems. Disorders of the immune system, psyche and nervous system can also be accompanied by an aversion to food.

Sometimes the reason for lack of appetite lies in. If there are signs such as poor sleep, lethargy and nervousness, this may be due to a lack of vitamin B1. An organism that does not receive vital substances, microelements and vitamins simply refuses poor food - this can be called self-defense.

In addition, loss of appetite can occur due to medications such as anesthetics, antibiotics, diabetes medications, and chemotherapy.

How to get your appetite back

If the loss of appetite is not caused by serious illnesses, then you can try to correct this situation. First, you can increase the acidity of the gastric juice with foods that help produce digestive enzymes and stimulate appetite. This includes hot seasonings, for example, horseradish, mustard, pepper, as well as herbs (greens). Juices of plantain, garden cabbage, infusions of bison grass and St. John's wort will also help.

It will also help improve your appetite the right combination dishes during meals and correct distribution their. For example, contrary to tradition, the meal should begin with the second course, and soup should be eaten ten minutes after the second course. Then the gastric juice that is in the stomach will not be diluted with liquid soup, and digest solid food it will be easier for him. You can also slightly acidify the food with vinegar or salt well.

Cooking for a person who has a poor appetite follows certain rules. So, it is better to fill the cereal with water and keep it like that for a while, and then just cook it. Do not cook the meat and potatoes completely, leave them as if undercooked or undercooked. It’s better to cook the fish longer.

You can include mini meals and nutritious snacks that are rich in protein in the diet of a person with poor appetite. Or try drinks containing high amounts of protein. Another way is to take nutritional supplements in the form of yeast, which includes vitamin B. Green vegetable salads, with big amount(especially those containing zinc) can also restore lost appetite.

To increase appetite, decoctions and infusions of herbs are sometimes prescribed who drink half an hour before meals. These remedies will help stimulate appetite, which has disappeared during psycho-emotional disorders and stress. These are healing chamomile teas, peppermint, lemon balm or dill. They put the nervous system in order, and at the same time interest in food returns.

Signs of poor appetite

How to determine whether loss of appetite is caused by a serious reason or is it a temporary phenomenon? Let's look at the points:

  • Loss of appetite is accompanied by weight loss, this process occurs gradually and steadily. These signs may indicate the presence serious illnesses and you need to go for examination to the clinic. Sometimes the cause can be determined by a blood or urine test. These indicators can identify liver disease, diabetes or hormonal imbalance. A urine test can help identify an infection in the kidneys. Using X-ray chest You can check your lungs for pneumonia and other diseases. Ultrasonography will help check abdominal cavity, as well as examine the function of the liver, kidneys and thyroid gland.
  • If a person is sick and has lost his appetite, it is better not to force himself to eat. We know that some people cure such diseases much faster with the help of fasting. The fact is that the body spends a lot of energy on digesting food. Disease is additional load, which means additional energy is needed. So the body refuses food in order to direct all its strength to fight the disease. Here you can remember wise animals who refuse food and even drink when unwell.
  • Rescheduled severe stress can also cause loss of appetite. During stress, the walls of the esophagus spasm, the body understands that food simply will not pass into it, and refuses it. In this case, you need to overcome the effects of stress by any means and try to eat liquid food. Gradually, the body will understand that nothing threatens it, and it can safely accept any food. But if such stresses are repeated frequently or a person constantly lives amid them, then the problem may turn out to be chronic. A favorite activity, walks in nature (preferably near water), meditative music, a massage or a bath will help you get rid of stress. Everyone can also find their own way. However, the most effective method– getting rid of the source of stress.
  • Lack of a clear or at least some kind of daily routine, full breakfasts and lunches can throw the body off rhythm and worsen appetite. Eternal snacking with sandwiches, coffee and a cigarette can lead to stress throughout digestive system, and she will refuse food. Treat yourself to home-cooked dinners at least occasionally so you don’t completely forget what it’s like a good appetite and healthy intestines.
  • The desire to lose weight and compliance different diets may cause psychological aversion to food. This is already a problem in the field of medicine and psychiatry, and it is not easy to overcome. Therefore, we need to understand why we need this or that diet, and love ourselves for who we are. And don’t walk around the clinic looking for lost appetite. After all, even famous models who shone on the catwalk for many years could not always cope with this problem and died from anorexia.

Anyway, Whatever the reason for loss of appetite, you cannot put up with it. A lack of nutrients, vitamins and minerals can ultimately lead to depletion of the body and new diseases. Therefore, it is simply necessary to find out the reason and get rid of it.

CATEGORIES

POPULAR ARTICLES

2023 “kingad.ru” - ultrasound examination of human organs