diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_hunger/api.lua b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_hunger/api.lua
index 20937023a9..3c9cd97e94 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_hunger/api.lua
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_hunger/api.lua
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ if mcl_hunger.active then
 			local satuchanged = false
 			local s = mcl_hunger.get_saturation(player)
 			if s > 0 then
-				mcl_hunger.set_saturation(player, math.max(s - 1.0, 0))
+				mcl_hunger.set_saturation(player, math.max(s - 1.5, 0))
 				satuchanged = true
 			elseif s <= 0.0001 then
 				h = mcl_hunger.get_hunger(player)
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_hunger/init.lua b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_hunger/init.lua
index 21c1e08607..0cae89a7d9 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_hunger/init.lua
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_hunger/init.lua
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ mcl_hunger.EXHAUST_SWIM = 10 -- player movement in water
 mcl_hunger.EXHAUST_SPRINT = 100 -- sprint (per node)
 mcl_hunger.EXHAUST_DAMAGE = 100 -- taking damage (protected by armor)
 mcl_hunger.EXHAUST_REGEN = 6000 -- Regenerate 1 HP
+mcl_hunger.EXHAUST_HUNGER = 5 -- Hunger status effect at base level.
 mcl_hunger.EXHAUST_LVL = 4000 -- at what exhaustion player saturation gets lowered
 
 mcl_hunger.SATURATION_INIT = 5 -- Initial saturation for new/respawning players
@@ -147,7 +148,13 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 		if food_tick_timer > 4.0 then
 			food_tick_timer = 0
 
-			if food_level >= 18 then -- slow regenration
+			-- let hunger work always
+			if player_health > 0 and player_health <= 20 then
+				--mcl_hunger.exhaust(player_name, mcl_hunger.EXHAUST_HUNGER) -- later for hunger status effect
+				mcl_hunger.update_exhaustion_hud(player, mcl_hunger.get_exhaustion(player))
+			end
+
+			if food_level >= 18 then -- slow regeneration
 				if player_health > 0 and player_health < 20 then
 					player:set_hp(player_health+1)
 					mcl_hunger.exhaust(player_name, mcl_hunger.EXHAUST_REGEN)
@@ -164,7 +171,7 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 				end
 			end
 
-		elseif food_tick_timer > 0.5 and food_level == 20 and food_saturation_level >= 6 then -- fast regeneration
+		elseif food_tick_timer > 0.5 and food_level == 20 and food_saturation_level > 0 then -- fast regeneration
 			if player_health > 0 and player_health < 20 then
 				food_tick_timer = 0
 				player:set_hp(player_health+1)