Why Do We Eat so Much after a Night Out
Hunger and Hangovers
We’re all guilty of the giant GrubHub order after a late night out. While that greasy burger may sound like a good idea, stuffing your face can potentially make your hangover worse. Eating is, of course, a necessity, but when you’re hungover you may end up overeating.
If you’re trying to combat binge eating when you’re hungover, you’re not alone. In fact, there’s science behind why we want to eat everything in sight after a wild night.
Let’s look at what alcohol does to the body that makes us overeat, and how we can overcome that with hangover pills and other remedies.
Why Does Alcohol Make You Hungry?
To start, there are several reasons why alcohol can make you insatiable the next morning.
Your Blood Sugar is Low
Everyone is different, so the number of drinks that are considered binging can vary. The CDC, however, defines it as more than 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men.
When you go overboard with drinks, your body isn’t releasing the right amount of insulin. So, when we binge drink our blood sugar levels drop. This is going to make you extremely hungry.
Alcohol Increases Your Appetite
There is plenty of research to back up the claim that alcohol can make you more hungry. Even a small amount of alcohol can increase your appetite.
This may not be relevant when you’re hungover, because the research is based on alcohol stimulating your appetite while you’re still drunk. But it could still play a role.
You Haven’t Eaten in a While
One of the main culprits of being hungry is simply that you haven’t eaten in a while. It’s common to forget about food when you’re out for the night.
If you go to bed without eating, by the time you wake up it’s no surprise that you’re starving!
Overeating and Hangovers
If you’ve ever been hungover, you know how awful it feels. Eating something delicious can give you a boost of endorphins to make you feel good.
Overeating when you’re hungover is very common and can happen because of general hunger, low blood sugar levels, and hormonal imbalances.
How to Stop Stuffing Your Face When Hungover
Now that we know why we want to eat everything in sight when we’re hungover, let’s talk about how to stop doing it.
Self-control is typically the first line of defense, but that can be difficult when your body is screaming at you to eat a dozen bagels. Here are some tips to curb the binging when you’re hungover.
Stick to Eating Simple Carbs
Hangovers make us want to eat the greasiest thing possible. That cheeseburger, however, can make your hangover much worse. Research suggests that simple carbohydrates will be just as filling and better for you. Your body breaks down carbs easily so you’ll be able to replenish your glucose. Fatty foods take longer to digest. So instead of the burger, grab a plate of pasta or rice.
Stay Hydrated
Whether you’re overeating or not, you should always be hydrating before and during a hangover. Try to drink a glass of water with every drink, and when you wake up have water as soon as possible.
Hangover Recovery Supplements
Another option is to grab anti-hangover supplements. Hangover pills with ginseng, prickly pear, or Vitamins can help you kick that hangover to the curb. Easing your hangover symptoms could help you stop overeating, too. In fact, research shows that ginseng can curb your appetite.
So you could try hangover pills and supplements that contain ginseng if you’re struggling with overeating. As always, drink responsibly and have fun!