Scientists Say Being 'Hangry' Is Normal And Perhaps Even Genetic
“饿极成怒”是正常现象
Do you get impatient and lose your temper when you've gone without nourishment for a long time? Then you are suffering from 'hanger', a newly coined term that describes the inexplicable irritation some of us experience when our stomachs are growling. Turns out there is logical scientific explanation for this often uncontrollable reaction.
在长时间没吃东西的情况下，你会失去耐心甚至发怒吗？现在有“Hangry”这个新词来形容我们肚子饿得咕咕叫时无端的愤怒感了。事实上，这种失控的反应是符合科学原理的。
Though there are a number of factors that result in hanger, they all stem from low glucose levels in the bloodstream caused by lack of food. While other body organs can function using other nutrients, the brain relies solely on glucose. Thus when the levels start to get low the brain panics and sends instructions to other body organs that release hormones to increase the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Among them is adrenaline, the same hormone that evokes a "flight or fight" response, when we face a dangerous situation.
产生饥饿感的原因有很多，但是都是由于身体缺乏食物补给，血液中葡萄糖水平降低导致的。其他身体器官正常运转可以通过吸取别的营养物质，而大脑只依赖于葡萄糖。当血糖降低时，大脑十分惊慌，随后会命令其他器官释放荷尔蒙在血液中升糖。其中一种荷尔蒙就是当我们面对危险时，激发“或战或逃”反应的肾上腺素。
Fortunately, for most people this is a transient irritation that is easily resolved with the intake of food. However, for a select few it results in hard to control violent aggression. Dr. Brad Bushman at Ohio State University thinks it may be worth investigating if there is a link between hanger and violence, a better understanding of hanger may also help people struggling with obesity.
幸运的是，对大多数人而言，这只是暂时的愤怒感，进食后即会消失。但还有个别人难以控制自己情绪，做出暴力行径。俄亥俄州立大学的Brad Bushman博士认为，饥饿和愤怒之间是否有联系是值得去研究的，对饥饿感更深层的了解也许能够帮到肥胖症患者。
However, before we can use this study to our advantage, there is one mystery that still needs to be resolved - How is the feeling created? Salis says that if scientists can identify the exact 'molecular mechanisms' in the brain that triggers the sensations of hunger and hanger, they may be able to come up with a solution to mitigate its negative impact. Unfortunately, until they do find a cure, people with hanger issues will just have to keep it in check by eating lots of yummy (healthy) food!
然而，在我们利用这项调查造福大家之前，仍有其他问题需要搞清楚。比如，这种愤怒感究竟是怎样产生的。Sail表示，如果科学家能揭开大脑激发饥饿或愤怒感的确切分子机制，也许能找到缓和“饿极成怒”现象的方法。不幸的是，在他们调查成功之前，挨饿的人只能靠吃美味（最好是健康）的食物来控制自己的情绪。
译文属原创，未经允许，不得转载。