• Question: what happens in our stomach when we are hungry?and y how does it rumble

    Asked by anon-270212 on 13 Nov 2020.
    • Photo: Kirsty Lindsay

      Kirsty Lindsay answered on 13 Nov 2020:

      Great question-quite a lot thing happen! When our brain realises we are hungry it tells us that we need to eat; our stomach relaxes ( so there is space for food) and starts to produce acid and bile and a few other things we need to digest food. We also salivate ( or dribble) more. Our stomach can contract and relax to help mix and break up the food (after we have chewed and swallowed it, it is called chime) and when it does this without any food stomach, acid and gas can slosh around and make a grumbling tummy sound- think of it like listening to a washing machine running without any clothes in. If you listen with a stethoscope the stomach makes all kinds of noises- pops and crackles and grumbles and clicks- they are really quite noise parts of our body!

    • Photo: Madhumeeta Chadha

      Madhumeeta Chadha answered on 13 Nov 2020:

      That is a great question. Our stomach has the capacity to stretch and contains certain receptors (proteins) on it which signal the brain when the stomach is empty and is in need of food. Grumbling of the stomach does indicate that we are hungry, but that is not the case always. Most of the grumbling noises come from the stomach and small intestine due to contraction of muscles, in the presence of gas and liquids (partially digested food). The muscles work hard to break down all our food! When your stomach or small intestine are empty you can hear this noise very easily otherwise a doctor needs a stethoscope to usually hear it.
      Stomach grumbling sometimes also indicates that your body isn’t happy with the type of food you have eaten 🙁 If you are lactose intolerant and gulp a few glasses of milk, you will hear your stomach rumble. In short any food that increases the production of gas in the intestine will cause grumbling.

    • Photo: Joanna Giles

      Joanna Giles answered on 17 Nov 2020:

      The noises/rumbles are because of your stomach muscles contracting, and they make such funny noises because there are gases and liquids getting moved around in your stomach and small intestines.

      When you’re hungry and your brain is thinking about food, messages get sent from your brain to your gut. Your body is getting ready for a meal, and your stomach muscles will contract ready for the meal! Sometimes embarrassing when you’re in a quiet room!

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