Because of the survival system, we feel hungry whenever we see, hear, smell or think about food. #CBHealthNY

We can blame this overactive hunger response on a hormone called ghrelin. This hunger hormone, produced in the intestine, rises at mealtimes, when you see food, when you smell food, when you think about food, or when you see food on TV. Ghrelin is what makes your stomach feel empty. It travels to the brain and says, "Feed me."