Have you ever wondered why the brain stops thinking on an empty stomach, then let us know the logic behind it.

New Delhi: If the stomach is empty, physical weakness comes first. Due to this, one feels tired and less energy while doing any work. But according to experts, an empty stomach also disrupts the wiring of our brain, which affects our ability to think and understand. In fact, the re-wiring of the brain, also known as neuroplasticity, is affected by our diet, which can lead to mental problems. Along with this, excessive hunger also increases stress and depression.

effect of empty stomach

Dieting for weight loss has become a trend, but when you are hungry, the gut hormone ghrelin increases in the blood, which affects the brain. After eating anything its quantity becomes normal. Having an empty stomach can increase blood sugar levels, which can lead to feeling lethargic and tired. An empty stomach increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which causes the body to become stressed and lead to cognitive impairment.

Hunger and brain connection

According to a research, the part of the brain that helps in decision making and ability building depends on the hunger hormone present in our intestine. The hunger hormone ghrelin crosses the blood-brain barrier and directly affects brain activity. About 50% of the dopamine and 95% of serotonin produced in the body is produced only in the gut. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that makes us feel happy and satisfied when we get some kind of satisfaction, such as the pleasure we get from eating or sleeping.

That’s why the mind stops thinking on an empty stomach

Also, serotonin affects mood and sleep, strengthening memory. But eating on an empty stomach does not produce these two neurotransmitters, but produces cortisol, which creates stress in the entire body, which spoils the mood. The vagus nerve, which runs directly from the brain to the stomach and colon, sends signals to the brain from the gastrointestinal tract.

When the stomach is empty, it sends an emotional stress response, which causes the brain to not function properly. This is the reason why when a person gets nervous, he starts having stomach pain. With so many connections, it’s clear that the gut has a direct connection to the brain. Therefore, when the stomach is empty, the mind thinks less.