If your stomach has ever rumbled embarrassingly in a quiet room, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. That growling sound is completely natural, and, as Dr Narander Singla, Lead Consultant – Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, explains, it’s your body’s built-in reminder system that it’s time to refuel.
“That growling or rumbling noise is your digestive system’s way of telling you it’s empty,” says Dr Singla. “When there’s no food in the stomach, your muscles contract to sweep out leftover particles, gas, or air, and that movement creates the noise.”
So, what’s happening under the surface? The technical term for this process is peristalsis—a series of wave-like contractions of the smooth muscles. These contractions happen regularly, but they’re more noticeable when your stomach is empty, says Dr Singla, because they move air and digestive fluids instead of food, resulting in audible growls.
But it’s not just about physical contractions. Hormones play a part, too.
“The hunger hormone ghrelin increases before meals and triggers stronger contractions,” Dr Singla explains. “This intensifies the sounds your stomach makes, especially if it’s been several hours since your last meal.”
Interestingly, the solution is simple: eat. Once food enters your stomach, it not only muffles the sounds physically but also calms the muscle movements.
“The presence of food slows the contractions and reduces ghrelin levels, which in turn quiets the digestive system,” notes Dr. Singla. “That’s why eating typically puts an end to stomach growling.”
So the next time your tummy speaks up in a meeting or a movie, don’t be embarrassed—it’s just your body doing its job. And now, thanks to science, you know exactly why.
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