Definition
Ghrelin is a hormone secreted primarily by the stomach that stimulates appetite and influences reward, stress, and sleep. It rises before meals and falls after eating.
Why it matters
Understanding ghrelin clarifies why sleep loss and stress can drive hunger, and why simple willpower rarely wins against a dysregulated appetite system.
The Science
Ghrelin rises with sleep deprivation and stress. It influences dopaminergic reward and interacts with anxiety and mood systems.
The NSI Perspective
NSI treats appetite hormones as legitimate biology, not tests of moral fiber.
Clinical Implications
Sleep and stress management are appetite interventions, not adjunctive to them.
Practical Application
If you have felt insatiable during hard times, that is ghrelin doing what ghrelin does.
References
- 1.Müller TD, Nogueiras R, Andermann ML, et al. Ghrelin. Mol Metab. 2015;4(6):437–460.