When the supply chain grinds to a halt, when there is no food in stores, and when we are finally truly living off whatever we have stored or can grow, we will shortly thereafter look at what we really have and decide how our stores will be allocated to make them last as long as possible. And one of the first adjustments to be made will be to the diet—the calorie intake—of those who chose the path of pre-positioned food storage. You know, excess body fat.
Articles dealing with calorie management for the obese and safe weight loss for all who are overweight were posted earlier this month. However, the reality is that all of us, fit or fat, are going to be getting hungry in the near future. So we all need to know how to deal with it. There are ways to prevent becoming hungry in the first place, and other ways for dealing with hunger pang management. One size does not fit all here. And sometimes it will take a couple of different methods to do the job.
HABITS
Get away from the kitchen. While this won’t work for the person preparing the meals, for everyone else, keeping away from the food and from the delicious odors of food being prepared will help reduce hunger pangs. So many of us have grown up (and out) because we eat out of boredom—just because the food is available.
Get adequate sleep. Overeating and excess weight often occur as a result of poor sleep and sleep deprivation.
Avoid stress. This could be a bit difficult in TEOTWAWKI. We’re all going to be a little stressed at times. Recognize that stress is going to make some people very hungry.
Eat at regular intervals. The stomach releases ghrelin, the hunger hormone, when it’s hungry or time to eat. Because ghrelin is also released according to a schedule—for those who are on a schedule—eating at regular intervals can avoid having ghrelin build up and subsequent overeating when meals are delayed.
Eat slowly. The old ideas of chewing each bite 25 times—basically just eating slowly—allow extra time for the stomach to tell the brain that it’s full.
Chew sugarless mint gum. Chewing gum before and after meals helps reduce the number of calories consumed, and mint is a natural hunger reducer.
Try intermittent fasting. For some people, intermittent fasting works really well. Instead of the usual five days of regular eating with two diet days of 500-600 calories each, these intermittent fasters consume a normal diet during a set 8-hour period each day, and then nothing but water for the other 16 hours.
DIETARY CHOICES
Choose nutrient dense foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein like beans. Popcorn (without the butter) is a whole grain and very filling. Eat protein with every meal.
Avoid junk food. Junk foods contain a lot of sugar and simple carbohydrates which serve to spike insulin levels, which then also drop just as quickly, which then triggers hunger pangs. Fortunately, avoiding junk food will become pretty easy when there isn’t any.
Fill up on low calorie foods. Salads, vegetable soups, and green smoothies are very filling—just what is needed to reduce ghrelin levels.
Keep hydrated. Water is filling and keeping well hydrated will prevent dehydration and related health conditions. Interestingly, the symptoms people feel when they are thirsty and when they are hungry are very similar and many cannot distinguish between the two. Just like hunger, thirst can also cause symptoms like stomach pains, shaking, irritability, and lightheadedness.
HERBS/SUPPLEMENTS
The following herbs and supplements have been shown to help people lose weight.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dandelion tea (reduces sugar cravings)
- Gelatin
- Pectin
DISTRACTIONS
When people do not truly need calories, distractions can serve well to allay hunger pangs. In a societal collapse, we will be working a lot more to raise our food and satisfy other needs. We may be walking more and exercising in other ways. Socializing will become more important as cell phones and other electronic pacifiers no longer work. Engaging in an enjoyable project or hobby also works well.
Links to related posts:
How Many Calories Do the Obese Need in TEOTWAWKI?
The Apocalyptic Diet and Safe Weight Loss
The Medicinal Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar
The Medicinal Uses of Dandelion
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