Difference between real hunger and false hunger? What to do with the latter?

Reading Shelton, Moser, Fuhrman one gets to know that most of us do not experience real hunger. Real hunger is a sensation in the throat and mouth, the quality of this sensation is very instinctive rather than thought out, and it is probably felt once a day in its fullness.

I have not experienced this. What I do experience is a sensation in the stomach, sometimes going up to the chest. The quality of this sensation is like gas building up in my stomach, or something churning. At times I can also feel the muscles of my stomach pulsating, or moving in other subtle ways. It seems to occur 3-4 hours after a meal, unless I am constipated or sick. Sometimes it can be very strong and hard to ignore.

So what is the latter, if not true hunger? Why does it occur? And most importantly, what does one do with this sensation if it is raging in one's stomach?

I read in Fuhrman and Moser that anything other than true hunger is a sign of detoxification. How exactly is this sensation I describe detoxification - I do not understand.

I know people who eat just because it is time to eat, or because they feel drowsy or weak or tired. I no longer eat on those cues but I used to think that the sensation I describe is a good signal to eat. In ayurveda there is the idea of agni, the digestive fire, which must be present when you eat. If you eat without it, you are not going to absorb nutrition. There are specific remedies to stoke the digestive fire, like ginger tea. The ayurvedic books even say that if you don't have a good digestive fire you cannot live a healthy life or a long life.

How does one reconcile ayurveda with naturopathy on this matter?

One reason I ask this is that I became pretty slim and felt fit after my 7-day fast about two months ago. In the last week I feel I am gaining fat in my abdominal area, more fat than I think should be there. I feel slightly less fit, although so far the changes are only mild. I have been eating according to the sensation I described above. I am strongly considering ignoring that sensation now, and just eating one large meal of salads and some nuts a day, and if hungry, two small servings of fruit. That would be according to Shelton's prescription. If I don't do this I think I will end up with a paunch and therefore, more fat than one should have.




Tweet