Ghrelin

Ghrelin is the “hunger hormone” that rises before your usual meal times—not because you’re running low on energy, but because your body expects food. Research by Cummings showed ghrelin peaks preprandially, before meals, not in response to fuel depletion. Crucially, hunger comes in waves: ghrelin spikes, peaks, then recedes on its own within about two hours. If you wait out the wave, it passes. You can also retrain ghrelin by changing eating patterns. This companion covers ghrelin’s role, the learned schedule, hunger waves, the circadian connection, and practical implications. (4 min read)

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You don’t need more information about eating. You need the right idea to show up at the right time — before hunger, before decisions, before habits kick in.

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There’s more to read here — a companion essay that goes deeper into this topic. It might explore why willpower fades by evening, how your kitchen layout shapes what you eat, or what it really means to become someone who simply eats well. Each one takes a few minutes and leaves you thinking.

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One thought like this, every morning.

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