Thank you for sharing your question with the EmpowHER community.
Typically we associate stomach growling with hunger. But the truth is, stomach growling can happen at anytime, not just when you're hungry.
Stomach growling is part of the digestive system functionality originating in the stomach and the small intestines. During digestion, peristalsis happens which involves muscle contractions and digestive juices that push and churn our food down the intestinal path. Gas and air assist in this process and just like the food getting pushed and squeezed down the gas and air does too, creating the growling sound we hear.
If you have food in your stomach the food will muffle the sound of the digestion peristalsis process. If you have less food in your stomach, or little to no food, then the sound (growling) is much more noticeable.
You mentioned this happens as you get hungry around lunchtime. About two hour after your stomach empties, the brain sends a signal to produce hormones to restart the peristalsis process again. Muscle contractions will come and last 10-20 minute and will come every hour, along with growling until you eat.
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Hi Erin,
Thank you for sharing your question with the EmpowHER community.
Typically we associate stomach growling with hunger. But the truth is, stomach growling can happen at anytime, not just when you're hungry.
Stomach growling is part of the digestive system functionality originating in the stomach and the small intestines. During digestion, peristalsis happens which involves muscle contractions and digestive juices that push and churn our food down the intestinal path. Gas and air assist in this process and just like the food getting pushed and squeezed down the gas and air does too, creating the growling sound we hear.
If you have food in your stomach the food will muffle the sound of the digestion peristalsis process. If you have less food in your stomach, or little to no food, then the sound (growling) is much more noticeable.
You mentioned this happens as you get hungry around lunchtime. About two hour after your stomach empties, the brain sends a signal to produce hormones to restart the peristalsis process again. Muscle contractions will come and last 10-20 minute and will come every hour, along with growling until you eat.
I hope this helps.
Be well,
~Gillette
April 27, 2015 - 3:58pmThis Comment
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