This is an archive article published on February 9, 2025

Why don’t we crave junk food early in the morning — and what does it indicate when we do?

Factors such as blood sugar imbalances, poor sleep, nutritional deficiencies, and emotional triggers can lead to hormonal imbalances that increase our cravings.

Why do you not crave junk early morning? (Source: Freepik)

4 min readNew DelhiFeb 9, 2025 09:28 AM IST First published on: Feb 9, 2025 at 09:28 AM IST

Have you ever wondered why we crave junk food only at night, and generally never early in the morning? Veena V, Chief Clinical Dietician, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, said that normally we don’t crave junk food in the morning because our body are more focused on restoring balance after a night of sleep.

“When we wake up, our blood sugars are lower and our body craves balanced meal to stabilize them. So, normally most of the time our body is looking for macronutrients like proteins, complex carbohydrates and not sugary or fatty junk,” she said.

She explained that we have high levels of leptin which suppresses our appetite and lower levels of ghrelin which triggers our hunger. We are also dehydrated after sleep. Hence we are naturally inclined towards a hydrating and nutritious breakfast. So, junk cravings usually hit later in the day when blood sugar dips or emotional triggers kick on.

What does it indicate when we do?

Most of the time, our hormones function optimally, which helps reduce cravings for junk food. However, factors such as blood sugar imbalances, poor sleep, nutritional deficiencies, and emotional triggers can lead to hormonal imbalances that increase our cravings.

“For example, if you experience blood sugar imbalances, your body may crave quick energy sources, indicating that your blood sugar levels are low. In such cases, you might reach for high-calorie foods for a quick boost, often in the form of sugary drinks or excessive sugar in your morning tea,” said Veena.

Poor sleep is another common issue. “When you don’t get enough sleep, hormones like ghrelin — the hunger hormone — increase your appetite. Typically, ghrelin levels are lower in the morning, but in cases of hormonal imbalances, they can rise, leading to increased cravings. Nutritional deficiencies triggering cravings signal a lack of essential nutrients like magnesium or protein,” said the dietitian.

Decoding midnight cravings (Source: Freepik)

Edwina Raj, Head of Services – Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore added that post dinner cravings to indulge in desserts and sugary foods are observed when your dinner is generally not balanced with adequate fiber, protein and complex carbs. “As per research studies if the dinner is more focused on refined carbs such as polished rice, white flour based foods or potatoes with low protein and vegetable consumption which leads to sudden spike in blood glucose followed by a drastic drop in sugar levels.

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This can also be a behavioural issue where most individuals get habituated to treat themselves with a dessert that makes them feel good and addicted due to the release of dopamine which is known as feel good hormone that often increases the tendency of sugar craving.

“The craving towards junk and unhealthy is most likely in the evenings due to imbalanced eating patterns as a result of consuming low fiber and protein sources. Prolonged fasting hours increases the tendency to binge on favourite foods, and inadequate intake of fluids can be mistaken for feeling of hunger,” said Raj.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

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