Why People Crave Specific Foods When They’re Drunk

A scientist has explained why people tend to crave fast food items such as those from McDonald’s after a night of drinking. She also provided better and healthier alternatives that can help cure hangovers.

Most people usually experience hangovers in the morning following a night of drinking alcohol. In most cases, they tend to eat carb-filled meals when they’re drunk or hungover.

According to Dr. Petra Simic, the clinical director of the Bupa Health Services in the U.K., craving unhealthy fast food items is the brain’s natural reaction after a person consumes alcohol. She noted that getting drunk can trick the brain into thinking that it needs more food.

“Drinking alcohol can cause dehydration which can make us feel fatigued with poor concentration and can even cause nausea and dizziness,” Simic told Mirror. “On top of this, a study has shown that even though alcohol tends to be calorie-heavy, it also causes a phenomenon that causes your brain to feel like it needs more food.”

As the brain goes through this process, a drunk or hungover person would begin to crave food items that are salty and high in carbohydrates in order to feel full. Since most fast food branches offer these kinds of meals, they often become the go-to source to satisfy cravings.

“For the alcohol-influenced mind, junk food provides the perfect solution: salty, stodgy food to make us feel full,” Simic explained.

Of course, binging out on these kinds of food items is not good for the body. It also doesn’t help cure hangovers, according to Simic. Instead, the scientist noted that people should consume snacks that can nourish the body after a night of drinking.

“Ideally, you should have a nourishing breakfast that helps to replenish the minerals you’ve lost through drinking,” Simic said. “Fruits like bananas and kiwis are full of potassium and natural sugars that can help to get you back on track.”

In addition to eating healthy snacks, Simic also stressed the importance of drinking lots of water and fruit juices in order to hydrate the body and stave off the feeling of being hungover.