Do You Have an Appetite?
Photo by Luke Brugger on Unsplash
If I asked you, “Do you have an appetite?” how would you answer?
I ask this question often in the clinic because the presence—or absence—of a healthy appetite is revealing.
What Do I Mean by Appetite?
I’m not asking how much you eat, how much you think you should be eating, how much you love food, what you crave, or whether you stress-eat. These are all useful investigations, but what I want to know when I ask “Do you have an appetite?” is:
What is your experience of hunger?
Do you feel genuinely hungry before meals?
Importantly, can you distinguish between healthy hunger and “hanger?”
Healthy hunger feels like a good, gentle emptiness—your stomach grumbles lightly, indicating that your body has processed your last meal and is ready for more. It’s often accompanied by a sense of clarity, and even energy.
Hanger, on the other hand, feels gnawing and uncomfortable. You might feel irritable, lightheaded, or nauseous, with a strong sense that you need to eat, immediately.
Regular healthy hunger is a sign your metabolism is functioning well. Your internal “engine” is running efficiently, digestion is strong, and your body has good energy—we call it qi, and specifically yang qi, the energy of wakefulness, movement, and activity.
Frequent hanger, however, signals imbalance, often related to blood sugar regulation. Unfortunately, many people only know hanger, which makes the idea of “letting yourself get hungry” feel uncomfortable, or even stressful.
Why Appetite Matters
A lack of regular, healthy hunger isn’t a disaster, but it does indicate your system could use support or regulation. Over time, neglected imbalances can evolve into chronic health challenges that are harder to treat than the much simpler symptoms that preceded them - like lack of appetite.
When appetite is diminished, we typically look at three areas:
Digestion Overload
Are you overeating, eating too many rich or calorically dense foods, or experiencing regular constipation? An overburdened digestive system slows both metabolism and evacuation, so your body doesn’t signal that it’s hungry—you’re too full up for your body to be ready for more.Digestive Energy (Qi) is Low
Even if bowel movements are regular and your food choices are appropriate, your digestive organs may lack sufficient energy to process food efficiently. This could involve low stomach acid, insufficient enzymes, or—uniquely in Chinese medicine—insufficient digestive qi or yang qi, the internal heat that powers digestion and metabolism. Supporting and activating this “digestive fire” can help rev up your metabolism, which re-ignites your appetite. We do this with acupuncture, food, and targeted herbal remedies.Movement and Exercise
Regular physical activity stokes metabolism, generates energy, and builds yang qi. In some cases, our lack of hunger isn’t pointing to intrinsic weakness in our digestion or poor food choices, but rather to our movement practice—or lack thereof. Getting moving will stoke not just our appetite for food, but our overall energy levels and appetite for life, itself.
Reflection and Practice
Ask yourself: “Do I have an appetite? What is my experience of healthy hunger?”
Notice the patterns throughout your day—the presence or absence of hunger, the quality of the sensation, and any tendency toward hanger.
If you realize you rarely feel healthy hunger…
if you notice that you tend to hanger…
and if you’re interested in being as healthy in body mind and spirit as is possible for you over the long term…
then I’d invite you to take an interest in your hunger and your appetite.
Your appetite is more than just a signal to eat—it reflects your vitality, your energy, and your connection to life. Paying attention to it is a step toward cultivating a deeper, healthier relationship with your body.
✅ Want to go deeper? Watch the full video version here.
✅ Subscribe to my newsletter for seasonal wellness insights and self-care tips rooted in Chinese medicine. See sign-up link, below.
