Many people want to raid the refrigerator after a workout. Science now suggests that these cravings are linked closely with the type of exercise performed. It all has to do with the hunger hormone ghrelin which lines the stomach walls and signals the brain to eat. According to a study from the Else-Kroner-Fresenius Center of Nutritional Medicine at the Technical University of Munich, people who cycled at 50 watts (light effort) for 30, 60, and 120 minutes, experienced a serious spike in ghrelin release that triggered the desire to eat. However, ghrelin secretion remained unchanged when exercisers kicked up the intensity to 100 watts (moderate effort) during a short, 30-minute workout. The authors state that “low rather than high intensity exercise stimulates ghrelin levels independent of exercise duration.” Other researchers suggest this is due to the temporary blunting of ghrelin release and increased secretion of peptitde KYY-the hormone responsible for appetite suppression. So shorten your workout, increase your intensity, and you’ll eliminate the nagging hunger pangs that can interfere with making sensible nutrition choices.
