Loss of Appetite
A healthy appetite is commonly considered to be a sign of general health - at least for people with normal weight. But that can be deceptive because appetite is a psychological desire. It is a signal for the feeling of hunger and is linked to it. Sometimes, appetite can also be abnormal or compulsive.
In contrast, hunger is a physical need for food intake which demonstrates that the body needs to replenish its energy.
Lack of appetite usually indicates that something is not working properly in the body system – psychologically or physically. This means that loss of appetite is not an illness. It is an accompanying symptom of other diseases or feeling unwell. Therefore, it is important to clarify its causes!
Loss of appetite can have many causes. Hunger is the signal with which our body shows that we need to eat food as an energy source. This is comparable to thirst, which signals a lack of liquid and encourages us to drink.
The appetite, on the other hand, literally makes our mouths water. This means that it stimulates the digestive organs to produce digestive juices so that the upcoming meal can be digested properly.
Sometimes, the healthy balance of appetite and hunger is disturbed. This includes symptoms such as loss of appetite, ravenous hunger attacks, or even eating disorders. The reasons for these symptoms are often difficult to recognize and must be assessed individually.
Stress and grief cause some people to reach for chocolate for comfort while others lose their appetite.
However, many other things can trigger loss of appetite:
- Acute disease or diseases we have just recovered from
- Inflammation or infections of the stomach or intestines
- Diseases of internal organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys
- Lack of gastric acid and digestive juices
- Digestive disorders, nausea
- Anemia
- Alcohol abuse, drug addiction
- Stress, lack of drive, and psychological disorders (depression, anxiety)
- Disorders of the nervous system (dementia)
- Various medications – primarily chemotherapy and those that influence the psyche
- Pregnancy
- Natural reduction of the appetite with age
Loss of appetite is not a disease per se, but rather a symptom with psychological or physical causes. Thus, it is important to clarify the underlying reason.
A serious disease may potentially be hiding behind this. Moreover, long-term loss of appetite also has consequences as it can rapidly lead to deficiencies of essential nutrients. This, in turn, can have far-reaching consequences such as a weakened immune system or lack of physical capacity.
It is natural for older adults to have a decreased appetite over time. The digestive organs are often less active when we age.
Less digestive juices are produced in the stomach and gut. Therefore, the food lies heavily in the stomach for a long time. When we feel full, it does little to stimulate the appetite.
A further problem is that many older people eat alone. This results in less desire to eat, since loneliness at the dining table does not boost the appetite! Also, we are often less inclined to spend time and effort preparing meals just for ourselves.
Here are some simple tips:
- Choose easily digestible foods.
- Nutritious drinks, smoothies or soups can be helpful for those who suffer from dry mouth or tooth issues.
- Take plenty of exercise in the fresh air.
- Ensure your food is attractively presented.
- Also, try to create an enjoyable dining atmosphere when eating.
- Bitter substances promote the production of digestive juices. A bitter aperitif or herbal bitter, therefore, increases the appetite.
Pregnancy
Many women experience appetite changes and/or loss of appetite in pregnancy. Loss of appetite in early pregnancy is often a result of nausea and vomiting due to morning sickness. Later in pregnancy, the growing baby can cause pressure on the stomach.
It can be helpful to
- prepare smaller portions and eat small meals more often throughout the day
- have salty snacks and light, nutritious food
- drink plenty of liquids during the day, this can also improve pregnancy constipation
Reasons for appetite changes vary greatly from person to person. However, if the loss of appetite causes weight loss during pregnancy it is important to consult your gynaecologist or midwife!
Children
Especially younger children can have periods where they have a reduced appetite. Reasons can be various and include teething, sickness and/or taking medication, constipation, excitement, or a normal slowing in growth rate.
Sometimes eating in between meals or drinking too much juice or milk leads to less appetite at meal times. However, if you observe a sudden loss of appetite and feeling full along with weight loss, you should consult a pediatrician.
This can indicate more serious causes such as stress or mental health issues. Drastic weight loss in older kids can also be a sign of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa.
The following applies as a general rule:
- Don't force food intake and give your child enough time
- Offer several smaller portions throughout the day rather than overloading your kid’s plate
- Favour light, easily digestible food
- Let your child drink enough, but not right before meals
- Don’t offer sweet drinks but either water, tea, or healthy smoothies
- Setting regular meal times and doing sports often helps with appetite
If the loss of appetite persists you should contact a pediatrician! You should also consult a doctor if your child suffers from abdominal pain, weight loss, or tiredness.
"What is bitter to the mouth is healthy to the stomach" is an old German saying. Modern research has confirmed that bitter substances stimulate the appetite and support the digestive system.
Bitter substances help:
- Increase food tolerance
- Stimulate salivation
- Stimulate the secretion of gastric juices
- Stimulate the digestion of fats
However, the proportion of bitter-tasting foods is decreasing more and more in modern nutrition. As a result, our taste buds hardly know “bitter” anymore. Many people even have a distinct aversion to anything bitter.
The food industry responds to this by pushing sweet tastes and cultivating bitter greens that no longer taste bitter. As a consequence, the many positive effects of bitter substances on health no longer come into play.
However, bitter substances have become firmly established in naturopathy to treat digestive disorders and loss of appetite. Many medicinal plants contain bitter substances. These include cinchona bark, cinnamon bark, gentian root, bitter orange peel, and others.
If you have a strong aversion to bitter tastes you can slowly re-accustom yourself to bitterness.