The presence of a healthy appetite is a sign of good health. Poor appetite usually has numerous causes and origins. Even the slightest physical or emotional problems can affect a person's appetite. Loss of appetite can also result because of the use of certain types of medications. Appetite loss may also be due to insufficient nutrients being consumed in the diet, or because of problems such as the consumption of alcohol. Poor appetite can generally result because of the existence of almost any stomach or intestinal problem. Loss of appetite is also accelerated by bad or improper eating habits, such as ingesting junk food and soft drinks between meals, or the consumption of large and heavy meals which are rich in hard to digest saturated fats.

Some vitamins and herbs are considered useful in stimulating the appetite. Herbs and other foods, considered helpful, include: alfalfa, allspice, angelica, anise, artichoke, black pepper, blessed thistle, caraway, catnip, cayenne, celery seed, chamomile, chicory, chives, coriander, dandelion, dill, fennel seed, fenugreek, feverfew, garlic, ginger, ginseng, goldenseal, hops, horseradish, juniper, lavender, marjoram, milk thistle, mint, mugwort, papaya, parsley, peppermint, plum, rhubarb, rosemary, saffron, savory, saw palmetto, tarragon, turnip, walnut, watercress, and wormwood. Vitamins, or foods rich in these vitamins, thought to be helpful include: B1, B Complex, beta-carotene, C, E, and zinc.

If you are underweight due to your lack of appetite, you may feel that exercise is the one thing you don't need. Moderate exercise, however, may actually increase your hunger. Stay away from the main appetite busters: unhealthy fats, junk foods, soda, stress, and tobacco.

Lack of appetite, accompanied by weight loss, could be a signal for the presence of some other serious disorder. Therefore, loss of appetite may be reason to consult a doctor.

Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.