Why do I get chills when I'm hungry? The link between nutrition and body temperature

October 11, 2025 •

5 min read

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can lead to a variety of symptoms, including feeling hungry, shaky, sweaty, and sometimes experiencing chills. These physiological responses are your body's urgent alarm system, signaling that it needs fuel. Understanding why do I get chills when I'm hungry? starts with exploring the delicate balance of glucose in your bloodstream.

Quick Summary

Feeling cold and shivery when you are hungry is often a sign of low blood sugar. This triggers a hormonal stress response to raise glucose levels, leading to shivering and clamminess. Insufficient calorie intake also forces the body to conserve energy, further reducing body temperature. A balanced diet and regular, mindful eating can help stabilize blood sugar and prevent these symptoms.

Key Points

Hypoglycemia is a primary cause: A drop in blood glucose levels triggers a stress response that can manifest as chills and shaking.
Hormonal reaction plays a key role: Low blood sugar prompts the release of adrenaline, causing a fight-or-flight response with side effects like trembling, sweating, and chills.
Energy conservation affects body temperature: When underfed, the body conserves energy by reducing heat production, leading to a lower core body temperature.
Balanced eating is the solution: Consuming regular, nutrient-dense meals with a good mix of protein, fiber, and complex carbs helps stabilize blood sugar and prevent these symptoms.
Underlying conditions may be a factor: Persistent hunger-related chills could indicate a medical condition like diabetes or a thyroid disorder, warranting a professional consultation.
Hydration is important: Being dehydrated can exacerbate symptoms of low blood sugar, including feeling cold.

The Body's Energetic Alarm System

When you haven't eaten for a while, your blood sugar (glucose) levels begin to drop. Glucose is the primary source of energy for your body's cells, and especially for your brain. The sensation of chills when you're hungry is often a direct result of this dip in blood sugar, a condition known as hypoglycemia. The body interprets this lack of available energy as a state of emergency, triggering a cascade of physiological responses designed to correct the problem and signal the need for food.

The Hypoglycemia-Hormone Connection

As your blood glucose levels fall, your body's endocrine system kicks into gear. The adrenal glands release stress hormones, most notably epinephrine (also known as adrenaline). This release of adrenaline triggers a 'fight or flight' response, which affects your body in several ways:

Increased Heart Rate: Your heart beats faster to pump blood and energy more efficiently.
Sweating and Clammy Skin: Adrenaline can cause sweating, which can in turn make your skin feel cold and clammy.
Shivering and Trembling: The involuntary muscle contractions of shivering are the body's attempt to generate heat. This is why you may feel shaky or have a slight tremor when your blood sugar is low.

This is a temporary survival mechanism. The chills are a side effect of the body's urgent attempt to mobilize stored glucose from the liver and get you to consume more fuel.

Energy Conservation and Heat Regulation

Beyond the acute hormonal response, feeling cold when hungry is also linked to your overall energy balance. Your body needs a certain number of calories to create heat and maintain a stable core body temperature. When you consistently undereat or skip meals, your body prioritizes where it allocates its limited energy. Non-essential functions, including maintaining a high body temperature, are put on the back burner. The result is a lower core body temperature, leading to a constant feeling of being cold. The more severe the calorie restriction, the more likely you are to experience this persistent chill.

Comparing Healthy Eating to Poor Habits

Understanding the impact of different dietary choices can help prevent hunger-induced chills. A diet that provides consistent energy throughout the day prevents the drastic blood sugar drops that trigger a stress response.


Feature	Balanced, Nutrient-Dense Meal	High-Sugar, Refined Snack
Energy Source	Complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats.	Simple sugars and processed carbs.
Blood Sugar Response	Gradual and sustained energy release, maintaining stable levels.	Rapid spike followed by a quick crash, leading to low blood sugar.
Satiety (Fullness)	Promotes long-term feelings of fullness and satisfaction.	Offers temporary satisfaction, often followed by more intense cravings.
Thermic Effect	Requires more energy to digest, generating more body heat.	Lower thermic effect, less efficient heat generation.
Hormonal Impact	Stabilizes appetite hormones like ghrelin and leptin.	Can cause hormonal swings that contribute to erratic hunger signals.

How to Manage and Prevent Hunger Chills

Managing hunger-related chills revolves around stabilizing your blood sugar and ensuring you're consuming enough nutrients to fuel your body effectively. Here are some actionable tips:

Eat Regular Meals and Snacks: Avoid skipping meals, as this is a primary cause of low blood sugar episodes. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help maintain stable glucose levels throughout the day.
Prioritize Protein and Fiber: A high-protein, high-fiber snack, like nuts or a piece of fruit with nut butter, can stabilize blood sugar more effectively than a sugary treat. These nutrients slow down digestion, providing a slower, more sustained release of energy.
Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can mimic or worsen the symptoms of low blood sugar, including feeling cold. Ensure you're drinking plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day.
Warm Foods and Drinks: Incorporating warm soups, broths, or hot tea can provide immediate relief and help raise your internal body temperature.
Strategic Snacking: Keep healthy, nutrient-dense snacks on hand for when hunger strikes unexpectedly. This prevents the severe blood sugar drops that can lead to chills.
Address Underlying Issues: If the problem persists despite dietary changes, it may be a sign of a deeper issue. Conditions like diabetes, Addison's disease, or hyperthyroidism can affect blood sugar regulation. Consulting a healthcare professional is wise to rule out any underlying medical causes.

Conclusion

Experiencing chills when hungry is a clear signal from your body that it needs sustenance. The primary mechanism is hypoglycemia, which triggers a hormonal release of adrenaline to raise blood glucose, resulting in symptoms like shivering and sweating. Inadequate calorie intake further reduces your body's ability to maintain its core temperature. By adopting a nutrition strategy focused on balanced, regular meals rich in protein and fiber, you can stabilize blood sugar levels, prevent these uncomfortable chills, and support your body's overall energy balance.

For more detailed information on hypoglycemia, consult reputable sources like the Cleveland Clinic's health library at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11647-hypoglycemia-low-blood-sugar.

Understanding Your Body's Fuel Needs

Your body is a complex machine, and the sensation of chills when hungry is a sophisticated reminder that its energy reserves are running low. Instead of viewing hunger as a mere inconvenience, recognize the chills as a valuable piece of feedback about your nutritional status. Responding to these cues with mindful, healthy eating is essential for maintaining both comfort and long-term well-being. Ignored, these signs can lead to a cycle of cravings and energy crashes. By making small but consistent changes to your eating patterns, you can effectively manage this symptom and better understand your body's unique energy demands.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you experience persistent or severe symptoms, it is important to consult a healthcare professional.

How Your Body Regulates Energy

When you consume food, particularly carbohydrates, your body breaks it down into glucose, which enters your bloodstream. The pancreas releases the hormone insulin to help cells absorb this glucose for energy. When you haven't eaten, or have gone too long between meals, this system is reversed. Glucose levels drop, prompting the pancreas to release glucagon and the adrenal glands to release epinephrine. These hormones signal the liver to release stored glucose (glycogen) to raise your blood sugar. The chills and shivering are a byproduct of this rapid hormonal response.

The Liver's Role: Your liver stores a backup supply of glucose in the form of glycogen. When blood sugar drops, the liver releases this glycogen to help stabilize levels.
The Sympathetic Nervous System: This system is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response. When activated by low blood sugar, it speeds up your heart rate, increases your breath rate, and diverts blood flow away from the skin, which can contribute to the cold sensation.
Metabolic Slowdown: If a lack of food becomes chronic, your body's basal metabolic rate can slow down as a survival mechanism. This conserves energy, but it also means less heat is generated, leading to a constant feeling of coldness.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary reason is low blood sugar, a condition known as hypoglycemia. When your glucose levels drop, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline, which triggers symptoms like shaking, sweating, and chills.

Yes, it is possible for people without diabetes to experience low blood sugar and associated symptoms like chills. This can occur from malnutrition, binge drinking, or reactive hypoglycemia, where the body produces too much insulin after a high-carbohydrate meal.

To prevent hunger-related chills, focus on stabilizing your blood sugar. This can be achieved by eating regular, balanced meals and snacks that include protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Avoid skipping meals and limit high-sugar, refined foods.

Yes, if you consistently consume too few calories, your body will prioritize vital functions and reduce its heat production to conserve energy, leading to a persistently lower core body temperature.

Opt for snacks that combine protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. Good examples include an apple with peanut butter, a handful of almonds, or Greek yogurt. These options provide a sustained release of energy and prevent sharp blood sugar drops.

While low blood sugar is a common cause, other conditions can also be a factor. These include thyroid disorders (like hyperthyroidism), autoimmune conditions, and severe illness. If symptoms persist, it's best to consult a doctor to rule out underlying medical issues.

Yes, proper hydration is crucial. Dehydration can exacerbate symptoms of low blood sugar and can make you feel colder, as it impairs your body's ability to regulate temperature effectively.