Do you ever feel like your stomach is always empty after meals? If so, it might be because you’re not alone. In fact, a 2011 study found that up to 53% of Americans suffer from gout while another study conducted in 2013 has revealed that more than half of people who are obese also suffer from gout. These results show that being overweight or obese is a known risk factor for developing gout, and the more weight you gain, the more likely you are to get it. However, what if these statistics are completely wrong? What if they’re just exaggerating how common gout is and how much we all eat? We’ll discuss why your stomach feels empty after eating , why we overeat , the myths and truths about gout, obesity and food .
Why Your Stomach Feels Empty After Eating
There are many reasons why your stomach feels empty after eating. Some people say that their stomach feels empty because they are eating too much. Others may say that their stomach feels empty because they are not getting enough food. Still others may say that their stomach feels empty because they are not digesting the food they are eating. The important thing is to figure out what is causing your stomach to feel empty after eating. If you can figure out what is causing your stomach to feel empty, you can start to fix it.
What Is Gout?
- Gout is a type of arthritis that is characterized by sudden attacks of severe pain, redness, and tenderness in the joints. These joint attacks are caused by uric acid crystals depositing in the joints. The most common joint involved in gout is the big toe, but it can also affect other joints such as the ankles, knees, elbows and wrists.
- Gout can be caused by a diet high in purines or a diet low in water. This causes uric acid to build up in the blood and eventually deposit into your joints.
- Gout is more common in men than women. This is because men are more likely to drink alcohol and eat foods high in purines.
- Gout attacks can last from a few hours to several days, depending on the severity of the attack.
- There are many treatments for gout including medications, changes in diet and lifestyle changes.
- Gout is not curable, but can be controlled with proper treatment and lifestyle changes.
Why Does Your Stomach Feel Empty After Eating?
- Not enough food in your stomach: You may feel like you did not get enough to eat, but it is important to note that it is not possible to be hungry and full at the same time. If your stomach feels empty after eating, this can be a sign of other issues such as lower blood sugar levels, low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia. This feeling of being hungry and full can also be a sign of emotional eating , which may be a side effect of depression or anxiety .
- Lack of water in your stomach: If you do not drink water with your meal, you will notice that your stomach feels empty after eating. This is because the food will digest faster if there is water present in the stomach. If you are trying to lose weight and do not drink water with every meal, then this feeling will happen almost every time you eat .
- Food intolerance: Another cause for feeling hungry after eating is due to food intolerance . Food intolerance could be from specific foods that trigger an allergic reaction in the body resulting in feelings throughout different parts of your body such as skin rashes or digestive issues . Food intolerances are different from food allergies because reactions are slower and less severe when compared to an allergic reaction. Some common foods that could be causing intolerances include gluten, dairy, eggs and soy products like tofu . If this is the case for you then try removing one specific food at a time and monitor how you feel after reintroducing the food into your diet.
- Lack of protein: If you are trying to lose weight and eat a low fat diet high in carbs, you may experience a lack of protein in your diet , which will lead to hunger after eating. Meats, fish and eggs are all good sources of protein and should be included in your diet instead of carbohydrates for a balanced meal . Try including a protein shake with every meal for added nutrition .
- Eating too much food: If you have eaten enough calories in one sitting then you are going to notice that your stomach feels full . This can also happen when you have eaten foods that do not move through the digestive system very quickly such as fried foods or fatty meats . Protein shakes can also curb appetite if you drink them early on during the day with breakfast or lunch. Since these drinks contain minimal calories, they will help keep you fuller for longer when compared to calorie rich foods like muffins, cakes and doughnuts. If hunger is an issue after big meals then try eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day at regular times vs. large meals less often during the day at irregular times . It is also recommended to drink 8-12 glasses of water daily depending on activity levels so that these last two issues do not happen due to dehydration .
The Myths And Truths About Gout
- Myth: Gout is hereditary. Truth : Many people think that if they have a parent or grandparent with gout, they are guaranteed to get it as well. While family history is the biggest risk factor for most diseases, this is not true for gout. The disease is caused by lifestyle choices and genetics play a very small role in its development .
- Myth: Gout is rare in women. Truth : During menopause, levels of estrogen drop which can increase uric acid levels in the blood . In men, uric acid crystals are generally deposited around joints whereas in women, since estrogen inhibits the male hormone testosterone, deposits are more likely to occur within tissues associated with reproduction like skin and soft tissues within the ovaries
What Causes People To Overeat And Get Gout?
- Stress. Overeating is often a result of stress and not all stress is bad. However, when your levels are chronically high, you will begin to turn to food more often in an attempt to cope with the anxiety and emotions that are causing you pain. Unfortunately, this is where gout occurs…if you produce too much uric acid and your body cannot flush it out fast enough. When that happens, circulation gets blocked and blood cells begin to clog up in your joints.
- Social pressures. When we have guests over, we want our homes to look beautiful and food plays a big role in this endeavor. We don’t just want to look beautiful on the outside but we also want our inner space (ie: stomachs) to look great as well! So, we load up on foods that aren’t so great for us – like rich desserts or unhealthy snacks such as chips or deviled eggs (don’t forget about the dip!). These types of foods tend to be very high in fat so they can lead to weight gain which then leads right into…
- Overeating due to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is associated with obesity which can then lead to type II diabetes because cells become insulin resistant due to being fat-filled (aka lots of white adipose tissue). In essence: metabolic syndrome = high uric acid levels + lots of excess weight = gout .
- Alcohol consumption. When people drink alcoholic beverages, their bodies are often processing the alcohol and helping them to expel it from their bodies. This means that more uric acid is released and may be stored within the body for later use (aka: when you don’t have alcohol around). If people keep this up, they may have too much of uric acid in their system and it can result in the classic gout attack.
How To Prevent Or Control Your Overeating
- Drink lots of water. Most people don’t drink enough water so they are dehydrated. Dehydration can make you feel hungry, crave food, and even cause you to overeat because your body is desperate for water and nutrients – especially when it thinks it’s thirsty!
- Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies have loads of antioxidants and phytonutrients that can lower your risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer, which means less chance of your body clogging up with fat cells!
- Lower your stress level. In order to do this, you will want to engage in guided meditations or find some other method that works for you to reduce stress levels so you aren’t consuming food in excess as an attempt at coping with this emotion.
- Exercise daily…and I mean EVERY DAY! Exercise is a powerful calorie burner as well as an energizer so if you are exercising regularly, you will have more energy getting rid of the excess pounds on your body (if any). In addition, exercise also helps boost serotonin levels thus keeping stress levels low as well…which is important to preventing gout symptoms from cropping up!
- And finally: avoid alcohol like the plague. Yes, I know I already mentioned this but it’s very important if want to avoid gout attacks since alcohol is a diuretic (aka forces uric acid out through urine) which then results in the acidic uric acid being
Conclusion
So there you have it – the best way to prevent and control gout. Take care of yourself, eat well and exercise regularly, drink lots of water, and don’t overindulge in alcohol. That’s all you need to know! Now go forth and live your healthiest!
