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Daily Edition • Thursday, June 18

Science Finally Explains the Post-Beer Pizza Order

A wooden table with fried chicken, fries, popcorn, drinks, and dipping sauces, accompanied by napkins and a lemon wedge.

David Diniz/Unsplash

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.

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The Collagen Question Worth Asking

A hand is pouring white powder from a spoon into a glass of water, creating bubbles as it mixes.

Courtesy: Organixx

Collagen powders are everywhere right now, but not all of them are built the same. Many formulas focus on just one or two types of collagen, even though different collagen types play different roles in supporting skin, hair, nails, joints, and overall structure.

That’s the idea behind this “super collagen” formula: It includes all five major types of collagen, plus vitamin C to help support your body’s natural collagen production.

So if you’ve been thinking about adding collagen to your routine, this may be a better place to start than grabbing the first tub on the shelf.

Learn More

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Mindfulness

The Controversial Science of Repressed Memories

A man walks along a path surrounded by vibrant trees and flowers, with a large silhouette of a head filled with foliage in the background.

Midjourney

You Should Know: The idea of “repressed memories” is back in the spotlight after author Amy Griffin’s memoir was challenged by a lawsuit alleging that a traumatic event she described as a recovered memory actually happened to someone else. The controversy has revived a decades-old question: Can the brain truly bury traumatic memories outside conscious awareness?

Going Deeper: Most psychologists agree that trauma can affect memory, but not necessarily in the way popular culture suggests. According to the American Psychological Association, survivors may avoid thinking about traumatic events, struggle to discuss them, or have fragmented memories. That’s different from the Freudian concept of repression, which proposes that the mind unconsciously seals away traumatic memories that can later be “recovered.” Research has found that suggestive therapeutic techniques can sometimes create false memories, leading many experts to caution against treatments that claim to uncover hidden trauma.

Takeaway: Trauma is real, and so are its effects on memory. But evidence for deeply buried memories that are later accurately recovered remains controversial.

Bottom Line: Forgetting, avoiding, and suppressing traumatic experiences are well documented. The idea that trauma is secretly stored away and later unlocked, however, remains one of psychology’s most debated — and disputed — claims.

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Sleep & Recovery

How To Manage Jet Lag

Two individuals resting on red waiting room chairs in an airport lounge, one with their head down on a bag.

Joyce Romero/Unsplash

On The Road Again: The FIFA World Cup has teams and fans traveling thousands of miles to and around the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Something fans and players alike are at risk for: jet lag and travel fatigue. While there isn’t a hack that can sidestep the downsides of traveling across timezones, there are a few simple tweaks ahead of travel that will help you seamlessly sync with your destination’s clock. World Cup teams traveling across as many as four time zones during the tournament: take notice.

How to Do it: Slowly adjust your sleep-wake schedule in 30-minute increments over four or five days. And, go outside without sunglasses: research shows bright light exposure can help shift your body’s circadian rhythm. Apps designed to help you beat jet lag (we like Timeshifter) can create routines personalized to your trip.

The Benefits: While jet lag has no quick fix, research shows switching up your sleep schedule and the timing of light exposure before travel will help minimize fatigue. These small changes will help your body to adapt more easily when you land, ready for vacation.

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Quick Picks

Mind-Bending — Here’s how psychedelic experiences are set to change.

The 28-Day Reset — People are saying this simple habit helped them drop weight.*

Let Loose – Can sticking out your tongue help reduce stress?

Snack Rethink — How UPFs are made matters more than you’d think.

Sleep Sound — This type of noise might reduce REM sleep.

^*Indicates a brand partnership

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What We're Cooking

Mango Lemonade

Bright yellow drinks with ice cubes on a marble surface, accompanied by a glass pitcher and a small flower arrangement.

Courtesy: Food52

Serves: 4 | Cook Time: 30 minutes

We’re drinking a lot of lemonade these days, but this recipe offers a flavorful twist on the classic summer drink. Boil mangos until they’re soft and slightly sour, then blend the pulp with simple lemonade staples — lemon juice, water, and sugar. A crumble of added saffron adds an unexpected floral note, making this a complex and refreshing addition to your summer mocktail rotation.

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This, Not That

More Intentional Evenings

A bowl of popcorn sits on a couch as a woman in a blue shirt reaches for it, while a man holds a remote.

THIS

A hand holds a remote control, pointing at a TV screen displaying various streaming content thumbnails.

NOT THAT

Phillip Goldsberry/Unsplash, Getty/Unsplash

This: One Planned Show or Movie
Not That: Endless “What Should We Watch?” Browsing

Streaming platforms are engineered to keep you searching forever. Picking what you’re going to watch beforehand keeps entertainment relaxing instead of turning it into another decision spiral.

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HEALTHY HABIT

Eat One Meal Without a Screen

Choose one meal today and keep it screen-free. You don’t need candles and soft jazz. Just give your brain a chance to notice the food, the pace, and when you’re full.

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Final Thought

A tall mountain rises above a forest, reflected in a calm lake at sunrise.

Growth is a spiral process, doubling back on itself, reassessing and regrouping.”

– Julia Margaret Cameron, The Artist's Way

Davey Gravy/Unsplash