Ever been so hungry, you are filled with a kind of incessant rage and end up barking at anyone who talks to you? It's called being 'hangry' and is actually a thing, according to science.
According to a study published in IFL Science, it's all to do with the brain, blood sugar and our survival instinct. If your blood sugar levels drop after a long period between meals, your brain thinks it's in a life-threatening situation, because it needs glucose to function properly.
Then your brain releases a chemical called neuropeptide Y - it is thought to increase appetite and a change in aggression and aggressive behaviour. And the brain's other response? Telling organs in your body to release hormones increasing glucose in the bloodstream.
Those hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, can make you more stressed. So is it any wonder that we become a bit more irritable when we need something to eat?
To avoid being 'hangry' in everyday situations, simply stock up on nutrient-rich foods, and keep snacks in your desk. And DON'T resort to junk food - it will send blood sugar into a 'crash and burn' situation where you'll be even hangrier.