Drinking Alcohol May Lead to Ultra-Processed Food Cravings. Here’s Why
Why this matters: health reporting relevant to everyday decisions and well-being.
New research found that more unhealthy, savory foods were consumed on drinking days versus non-drinking days. Jovana Milanko/Stocksy Drinking alcohol may lead to increased consumption of ultra-processed savory foods. Researchers found that alcohol can amplify the FGF21 hormone, which can cause cravings for protein and savory foods. Natural cravings for protein may be disrupted due to the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods that taste savory but lack protein. Drinking alcohol may cause people to over-consume savory ultra-processed foods. Researchers at the University of Sydney found that alcohol consumption may amplify a biological drive for salty, umami-flavored foods. The findings were recently published in Obesity Reviews. “Many people will recognise the experience of having a few drinks and suddenly craving something salty, like chips, French fries, pizza or other savoury foods. Now we have a better understanding of the hormonal dynamic at play, which may be driving overconsumption of ultra-processed foods,” Amanda Grech, lead study author and a researcher at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, said in a press statement. The research dovetails with mounting evidence showing that alcohol consumption in any amount is associated with negative health outcomes. If you choose to enjoy alcohol in moderation, here’s what you should know about pairing alcohol with your diet. More savory foods consumed on drinking days In conducting their study, the researchers examined data from the Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) to explore patterns of food intake associated with alcohol consumption. They found that more savory foods were consumed on drinking days than on non-drinking days. For every standard drink consumed, there was an increase in savory food intake as well as a reduction in sweet food intake. The researchers say that drinking alcohol triggers an increase in levels of a hormone known as FGF21. Th