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Because it’s a natural part of life, having an appetite is something most people take for granted. We expect to be notified by our bodies when it’s time to eat, and we trust our stomachs to tell us how much we should be consuming. For some people, however, an appetite can be a tricky thing; any number of conditions and circumstances can work to diminish a person’s appetite and cause them to eat less food than they typically would. While this may not seem like a pressing concern, a prolonged lack of hunger can take a toll on a person’s body over time, so it’s important to address any issues with nutrient intake as soon as they appear. If you’ve recently asked yourself, “Why am I eating less than usual?”, keep reading as the team at ENU – makers of nutrition shakes for people with appetite issues – discuss this critical question.

Common Reasons Why People Eat Less Than Usual

A diminished appetite is a fairly common occurrence, so it’s no surprise that many of the causes of this widespread phenomenon are pretty pedestrian. That said, there are also a number of more serious medical conditions that can cause a person to eat less than they normally would; we’ll look at some of the typical reasons you might be eating less than usual below:

Bacterial Infection

Although the word “infection” tends to bring to mind a serious medical issue, some infections are quite minor – think the common cold. Depending on the nature of an infection, a person suffering from one can lose their appetite, which is a defensive mechanism that actually helps your body fight the invading organism; by stopping you from eating and lowering your blood sugar, your system essentially starves the bacteria affecting your body. Luckily, most infections are short-lived, as long as you stick to your treatment, so you should start eating as usual before long.

Mental Illness

For many people, mental illness is a touchy subject, but the truth is that it’s a medical issue like any other, complete with an array of symptoms – appetite loss being one of the more common. If you’ve been suffering from depression, anxiety, severe stress, or an eating disorder like anorexia, it could limit any feelings of hunger and cause you to eat less than usual. If this is true in your case, getting help with your condition with a weight gain shake for anorexia or other eating disorder can provide a long-term solution to the problem and help you regain your appetite.

Medication Side Effects

People around the country rely on medications to treat conditions of every kind, but most of these drugs come with one or more side effects of varying severity. For some of these users, a dry mouth may be a small price to pay to reduce the frequency of seizures, but when a medication makes you eat less than usual, it may be worth exploring other options, especially if the difference is significant.

Cancer and Chemo

There are many symptoms and side effects associated with cancer and its treatments – especially chemotherapy – which range from the relatively minor, such as appetite loss, to the outright debilitating, such as nerve pain. While eating less than usual may not seem like an alarming development for someone battling this life-threatening illness, it absolutely should be addressed, as nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition can seriously dampen a patient’s prognosis; this is why nutritional support for cancer patients is so important.

What to Do If You Are Eating Less Than Usual

If you’ve ever had to deal with it, you know that appetite loss can be a frustrating ailment to battle. Of course, it may seem like the simplest solution is just to eat meals anyway, but doing so without an appetite can cause discomfort, and people inevitably eat less than usual, despite their best efforts. This is why it’s important to suss out the cause of your condition, as treating it and restoring balance in your body may be the only way to get you eating again.

The first resource you should turn to in this event is your doctor, as they have pertinent information about your medical history that can help diagnose the underlying problem. When speaking with your doctor, be sure to detail your symptoms as specifically as you can. Ask yourself questions like, Is the appetite loss consistent throughout the day, or does it come and go? Does it seem tied to my mood? Are there any other symptoms that have shown up recently? The more precise you can be, the better equipped your physician will be to help you deal with the issue.

In the meantime, there are a few at-home steps you can take to help you eat more regularly. First off, consider adjusting your eating schedule to something that fits your situation. If you have an appetite in the morning but not later in the day, eat a big breakfast; if you’re rarely hungry, break up your meals into smaller portions throughout the day to avoid taxing your stomach. Exercise may also work to stimulate your appetite, and keeping snacks and nutrition shakes for weight management on hand for when hunger arises can be a helpful adjustment as well. Essentially, you’ll need to be flexible with your body and your habits, at least until the situation is sorted out.

Try an ENU Nutritional Shake When You’re Eating Less Than Usual

Though they’re not a treatment for the problem, meal replacement shakes and nutritional powders from ENU can be a useful tool for those looking to maintain their weight when eating less than usual. Each shake provides more than 300 calories, not to mention 20 grams of protein and more than 20 key vitamins and minerals. Learn more about ENU shakes by visiting us online or calling (855) 266-6733 today.

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