Felt Those Hunger Pangs Right after Booze? Know the Reason behind It

The reaction to alcohol in the human body has various side effects. Experts say that not all bodies react in the same way. But in a study, it has been found out that most of the people who have drunk alcohol have been through those extreme hunger pangs right in the morning. Some feel this right after they have finished drinking. At this time, when alcohol triggers the hunger, there is a tendency among the people to eat more than the usual. What are the biological reasons behind this? Let’s find out what the researchers are saying about this hunger.

Many people claim that this is due to the lack of control which is very common when someone is under the influence of alcohol. As the people are unable to control their behavioral actions, it results in overeating.

The neurological link is also discovered by researches that say over-consumption of alcohol often leads to overeating. The hypothalamic neurons get triggered by alcohol and that becomes the reason for excess hunger. The study was performed by experimentation in the lab for a span of 3 days. It was named as “alcoholic weekend”.

The experiment was done over lab mice who were given alcohol which was similar to 18 drinks and then consecutively given food. The same process was performed without alcohol. In the lab report, it was found that the days the mice consumed the alcohol, induced more hunger and they ate more than the days they were not fed with alcohol.

The Francis Crick Institute in London has discovered the scientific link. They have proved in their study that specific neurons are stimulated when a person is under the influence of alcohol which is the main reason for the increase in hunger. The same is supported by the School of Medicine at Adelaide University. The head of the department says, “The alcohol is active in the brain on a group of nerve cells in the area of the brain that regulates food intake, and these nerve cells make a protein called agouti-related proteins — so they are AgRP neurons." He also said as these proteins are made by the neurons the food intake is modulated.

Professor Wittert says that the research results are surprising. The calories in alcohol are dense and if that is to be believed, it should suppress the regular hunger. Some people who take alcohol said that they feel full and are unable to have any heavy meal after they have drunk alcohol. Some experts give the reason that any form of liquid makes your stomach feel full only until the liquid is not flushed out through the excretory system. The kidney functioning influences this and that might be the reason for feeling full. Experts also say that one gram of alcohol usually has 7 kilocalories. So, anybody who is feeling full stomach after they have taken a few drinks. Experts also say that the food that you eat just after having alcohol tends to get stored in the body. So, it is very important to pick the right kind of foods after having alcohol.

Why people choose fried food

Is it just the excess drunk feeling that makes you take the wrong choices of food? Professor Wittert claimed that there might be a possibility to choose oil-based food due to the activated neurons. He also said, "There are lots of pathways involved in regulating particular food choices and I think that it's quite feasible and believable and probable that there are pathways that also involve selections of particular kinds of foods, whether they're more salty foods or whether they're more sugary foods or whether they're more fatty foods, which I think is particularly the case here."

Tips that might help you

Experts say that getting control over food choices might not be possible when you are intoxicated. Here are some tips shared that might help you avoid those junkies with alcohol.

•    Arrange for a balanced meal: Expert says that alcohol is not a healthy addiction in any case, but the least you can do is to choose the right nutrients. Healthy fats, carbs and whole grains and the right proteins are a good munchy choice with alcohol. When the body is nourished, the alcohol will have a lesser impact on the body. Experts say that the desire to munch along with alcohol is not a real hunger and so there is no need for a full meal.

•    Do not start drinking in an empty stomach: Experts say that neither it is advisable to have a full stomach or an empty stomach before you drink. An empty stomach might lead to a feeling of puke.

•    Have lots of water: Have enough water as alcohol dehydrates your body. The feel of hunger is somewhat due to this dehydrating effect of alcohol.