Final answer:
Monique feels hungry because her stomach is empty and her brain is receiving signals triggered by low blood sugar and hormonal communication to eat. Physiological mechanisms and hormones regulate digestion and appetite, also influenced by external cues like the sight and smell of food. Signals indicating fullness take about 20 minutes to tell the brain to stop eating.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Hunger Mechanisms
Monique is feeling hungry because her stomach is empty and her blood sugar levels are likely low, prompting her empty stomach and other parts of her digestive system to send messages to her brain, which in turn signals her to eat. There are a number of physiological mechanisms at work when we feel hunger - our empty stomachs contract, and the associated hunger pangs along with chemical messages (such as from lower blood sugar levels) trigger a response in the brain to start feeding behavior. Hormones play a critical role in this process by signaling when the stomach is full or empty, thereby influencing our eating habits. Moreover, external factors like the sight or smell of food can also make us feel hungry even when we're not.
When we eat and our stomach expands, signals are sent to the brain to indicate satiety, usually about 20 minutes after we start eating, which reduces the feeling of hunger. Furthermore, eating smaller meals can help decrease the size of the appetite over time. Conversely, situations such as illness, stress, or emotions like fear and depression can lead to a loss of appetite. Understanding these physiological and psychological aspects can help us better manage our eating habits and maintain a healthy appetite.