What is hangry, and why does hunger make you lose your cool

We’ve all been there: you skip lunch, get stuck in traffic, and suddenly, everything, texts, noise, and small delays, feels irritating. That sudden shift from calm to cranky is what people call being hangry, a blend of hungry and angry. But it’s not just a catchy word. In a 2022 experience sampling study , researchers had 64 participants report their hunger, anger, irritability, and pleasure five times per day over 21 days. Their findings showed that rising hunger levels were strongly linked to increased anger and irritability, and reduced pleasure. When you go too long without food, your blood sugar levels drop. Glucose is the brain’s main fuel, and when it runs low, your brain struggles to function efficiently. The body reacts by releasing stress hormones such as cortisol and a