These are the snacks that are actually making you hungrier

We've all got to the afternoon and felt the hunger set in- what do we do? Snack. But some snacks are actually making you hungrier than you started!

These types of snacks are the ones that could be the reason you're still hungry after a snack!

Salty Snacks

Unfortunately for Regina George, grabbing some fries to snack on won't actually fulfil your hunger because snacks preserved with sodium are generally highly refined, and non-filling.

Plus, salty cravings seem to influence how much people eat, too. One study showed that added salt makes people eat more food and calories! The sodium then leaves you thirsty, which we can often mistake for hunger.

Salads

Salads are the epitome of diet-friendly lunches — but if your salad is all kale, cucumber and spinach, odds are you're not getting enough sustenance to keep you going until dinner.

Adding toppings of protein like a boiled egg, chicken, salmon with slow-burning carbs like roasted sweet potato or brown rice and little fat like feta, nuts or avocado can help make your lunch last you till dinner time.

Rice Crackers

We've all been guilty of eating an entire packet of rice crackers as a snack, but they contain small traces of fibre which causes our blood sugar levels to crash and we're hungry all over again!

If you can't beat the crunch, you're better off choosing wholegrain varieties and topping them with avocado, nut butter or hummus for a more balanced, satiating snack.

Juices

Juice cleansing has become a popular way to lose the kilos fast, and while you will be sipping on a wonderful antioxidant-rich and hydrating elixir, the lack of fibre means your body absorbs the calories quicker.

So if you want to stay full, chew your calories instead so your brain receives the hunger combating cues that help you get from meal to meal.

Alcohol

Now, this isn't exactly our go-to snack, but it could make sense why we are always hungry at the end of a night out!

Research has shown that alcohol flicks the brain into starvation mode. This increases your appetite and explains why we reach for a greasy kebab after a night on the town.

This means that anything you're eating at the same time or shortly afterwards is going to be preferentially stored. So avoid binge drinking if you want to avoid binge eating!

The best way to kiss hunger goodbye?

Making sure you include a combo of fibre-rich carbs and protein in each meal, should help you from getting hungry throughout the day.

Protein helps you stay fuller for longer, and the fibre-rich carbs digest slowly so your blood sugar levels are kept steady.