If you find yourself reaching for a bag of chips after a few drinks, hormones may be partly to blame.Researchers suggest they can influence food cravings and may contribute to significant overeating.Studies examining how alcohol affects people’s eating habits have produced inconsistent results, University of Sydney researchers reported in Obesity Reviews.Alcohol on its own always adds calories, but how much it contributes to people’s total caloric intake depends on their dietary habits, the scientists observed.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZPrevious research suggests alcohol consumption may increase levels of FGF21, "a hormone that increases savory (umami) preference and reduces sweet preference," the researchers wrote.
In "minimally processed food environments," people seek foods that are both satiating and high in protein, and they limit the number of calories they eat.On diets rich in ultra-processed savory foods and/or high-fat unprocessed meats, however, consumers eat foods that taste like the minimally processed foods, but that fail to deliver protein.The researchers refer to these foods as "protein decoys." People who indulge in ultra-processed foods tend to eat many more calories, because they’re not satisfied without protein.Researchers have observed that alcohol stimulates a hormone that causes people to crave savory foods and could lead them to overindulge in highly-processed foods.
(iStock)The researchers analyzed previous experimental work that involved interviews with more than 9,000 Australians.The survey found that people who reported drinking alcohol also reported eating a lot more savory foods and fewer sweet foods than the non-drinkers.
People’s savory food intake increased on days they reported drinking.People who reported drinking and consuming a savory diet with the low-protein, high-fat characteristics of an ultra-processed diet took in 40% more calories than the daily recommendation — before factoring in the alcohol....