Science Finally Explains the Post-Beer Pizza Order

Hungry Hungry Hiccups: Why does a night of drinking so often end with you ripping open a bag of chips or ordering late-night pizza? You’d think filling up on calories from beer would make you less hungry, not more. But while those post-drink cravings may feel like a willpower problem, a new study from Australia suggests there’s actually a hormonal explanation for why alcohol makes salty foods so irresistible.

The Study: Researchers at the University of Sydney analyzed dietary data from a large Australian national nutrition survey and focused on eating patterns after drinking. They found that people ate significantly more savory foods on days they drank than on days they didn’t. The cause, they suggest, is twofold. Drinking triggers a spike in a hormone called FGF21, which ramps up appetite for protein and umami-rich foods, and causes us to reach for the closest savory option. But because our food environment is riddled with what they call “protein decoys” (ultra-processed foods that taste savory but offer little nutritional value), we end up eating mostly junk.

The Takeaway: Having protein-rich snacks like hard-boiled eggs or smoked salmon on hand when you’re drinking can help redirect these hormonal cravings toward more satiating whole foods. 

Keep in Mind: Hormones are only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to why we eat what we eat. Social context plays a role too.