Why Drinking Makes Us Crave Fast Food

Why Drinking Makes Us Crave Fast Food
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How many times have you woken up with a hangover only to roll over and find you devoured an entire pizza the night before?

Turns out, it's not just down to the diminished willpower that inevitably comes with a third glass of wine.

Scientists at Northwestern University have conducted research which proves there are scientific reasons behind our fast food cravings after a night out.

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For one, despite the amount of sugar in your cocktail, alcohol reduces blood sugar levels. This means we want to consume foods that will bring it back up quickly (step forwards McDonalds).

And of course, though an apple might do this just as well as a greasy kebab, alcohol also lowers our inhibitions and we're therefore much more likely to reach for the 'naughty' food we don't' allow our sober selves to consume.

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Finally, it's a given that as you munch your way through your pizza, you debrief on the night before and whilst you do, you're reinforcing a pattern in your brain: fast food = fun.

If you had a great night after ordering Domino's, you're more likely to do it again. This will happen until you've done it so many times that your brain associates the two. In short? Being intoxicated creates a trigger for ordering pizza.

So really, the odds are stacked against you from the start. Next time you're out you may as well order that drunken treat with no qualms. If your guilt sneaks in the next morning, remind yourself you were stabilising your blood sugar levels: you can't argue with science.

In the mood for pizza now? Try curbing your cravings with these healthy alternatives: