why does your stomach growl when you're hungry

Your stomach growls when you're hungry due to a natural process called borborygmi. This sound is primarily caused by the contractions of the muscles in your stomach and intestines, which work to move food, liquids, and gas through your digestive tract. When your stomach is empty, these muscle contractions push air and fluids around, creating the growling noise louder than usual because there's no food to muffle the sound. Additionally, hormones play a role in this process. When you are hungry, your body releases the hormone ghrelin, which not only signals hunger to your brain but also increases the motility of your digestive muscles, leading to more pronounced growling sounds. This is essentially your body's way of reminding you that it needs nourishment. The growling noise is a normal and involuntary physiological response that shows your digestive system is working and preparing for food intake.