The Connection Between Drinking Alcohol and Eating Sweets

     I've discussed the relationship between alcohol and (female) body weight on this site before. Alcohol consumption doesn't necessarily mean a higher BMI, like one would imagine. In fact, moderate consumption is associated with a lower BMI (while binge drinking is associated with a higher weight).

     I've also discussed the role of blood sugar in our hunger levels, and how low blood sugar can slow our metabolism and make us ravenously hungry. This problem is common the day after drinking. 

     Well it turns out that even though alcohol can lower blood sugar, we crave it when our blood sugar is already low. 

     Some researchers speculate that sugar cravings might explain why women who drink in moderation don't gain weight, because the consumption of candy and sugar goes down when alcohol intake goes up. Think about it. A bowl of ice cream with a beer doesn't sound very appetizing to me.

     So, maybe some women are replacing a 4-500 calorie bowl of ice cream with one or two 100 calorie beers. 

     Not exactly diet advice there. Of course I would never condone drinking for weight loss. But my goal is to educate, and it is something to think about. Next time you're craving a beer, think about whether you could be craving sugar. Then maybe in the future, make small changes to your diet, in order to reduce your sugar intake. Many health professionals believe reducing sugar intake leads to less cravings.

     Just some food for thought...

Just because I've been talking about blood sugar a lot lately...

I thought you might want to know that cinnamon may help regulate it. Sprinkle a little in your oatmeal or coffee in the mornings. 

Should I Avoid High-Fructose Corn Syrup?

     Are you one of those people that avoids high-fructose corn syrup? I always have. HFCS is found in everything from obviously sweet, processed junk food like Twinkies and soda to even ketchup and bread. Horror stories abound, linking it to cancer and obesity. Supposedly, its rise in popularity correlated with America's rapid rise in obesity rates.

     But the latest research does not link it to weight gain any more than regular table sugar (sucrose). Although more research is needed, because "there is a new body of research that suggested HFCS might be linked with higher triglyceride levels and other health effects," says Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina.

     In the mean time, it's important to note that the study only found HFCS was not more likely to cause obesity than glucose.  This is worth noting because HFCS normally replaces sugars like glucose in foods. In other words, foods that we should be avoiding anyways. It's not that we should be specifically shunning HFCS. We should be shunning foods with refined sugars in general. 

     So, I've decided to treat high-fructose corn syrup like I treat refined sugar. I try to avoid it, but I'm not going to stress myself out. I try to choose complex carbohydrates, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains, which regulate blood sugar. If you choose to do the same, read food labels and remember the general rule that simple sugars end in "ose," (glucose, maltose...)

Hangovers and Hunger

     I'm always a little jealous of my friends who say they can't eat when they're hungover. One of the symptoms of a hangover is aversion to food, but I only have that particular symptom in the morning. I'm always ravenously hungry later in the day, no matter how many alcohol calories I consumed the night before.

     So it made me feel a little better when I found out I'm not alone. Apparently, one effect of alcohol consumption is low blood sugar, which explains why I crave refined carbohydrates the next day, like chips and bread.

      The problem is that eating these fast carbs skyrockets your blood sugar levels, only to be followed by an inevitable crash, and more food cravings. It's a vicious cycle.

      It's best to eat foods that are known for regulating your blood sugar. In fact, a whole-grain breakfast can help regulate your blood sugar for up to ten hours, according to this study. 

     While you might be craving bagels, doughnuts, or fries (high-glycemic index foods that spike your blood sugar), it is especially important to consume low-GI foods when suffering from a hangover.(Read about GI)

     Some examples include fruit such as pears, apples, and oranges, or oatmeal, peanuts, beans, peas, and granola.

     Drinking water and exercise also helps regulate your blood sugar.