In part, we’re really just going back to our caveman roots.
Posted 12.31.2012 at 11:00 am
14 Comments
A hangover-friendly sandwich
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The desire to eat high-fat foods after drinking too much is rooted in human’s earliest, humblest beginnings, some scientists say.
“All mammals gravitate to eating the most energy-dense foods," David Levitsky, professor of human ecology and nutritional sciences at Cornell University, says. "Fat is the most energy-dense food available." It’s just that sober, you won’t usually give in to those cravings. But after a night of boozy indulgence, you lose such learned inhibitions as disciplined eating, Levitsky says.
Another explanation involves brain chemistry, specifically a brain chemical called galanin.
William Gruchow, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, has studied and written about galanin and its effects on various neurotransmitters. "Galanin increases appetite for fats, and consumption of fat causes more galanin to be produced," Gruchow said. "Alcohol intake also results in increased galanin production."
Gruchow says he thinks galanin might be stimulated by triglycerides, which are released by fat and alcohol.
Triglycerides, converted calories stored in fat cells, are typically released by the body when energy is needed between meals, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website.
By consuming large quantities of high-fat foods and alcohol, you increase your triglycerides possibly stimulating galanin production. That, in turn, makes you crave that calorific Denny's breakfast you'd never touch otherwise.
“The bottom line here is that alcohol intake increases one’s appetite for fat, and fat intake does the same. This is a double whammy for drinkers who eat fatty foods while drinking,” Gruchow says.
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It is an extreme reach to assume we were drinking in our caveman days. Let’s see, we were in all living in caves, when Neanderthal humans lived from 25,000 to 600,000 years ago. So these scientists above assume we were drinking alcohol and then craving fat after the festivities. This all seems like a reach for me and not so much science.
I mean really, how do they know? Yea sure these guys might be scientist and respected in their fields, but it just seems like a lot of guessing.
And does the eating habits compare from Neanderthal\cave man to modern man and our drinking too.
Robot, you should re-read the article. They do not say that cavemen were drinking alcohol.
Chrisbap,
ROFL,.... well sir I did read the article and for whatever odd reason, I read into the article caveman. How bizarre of me. I think I must have read too fast. Yes, sir I stand corrected. Perhaps I focus on the word crave and dropped the r... LOL...
Well for the New Year, I am going to have a diagnostic done on my positronic circuits!
LOL... snort.
Robot,
is your life goal to comment on every popsci article?
bobmalob,
I so much enjoy PoPSCi and yes commenting and reading others comments. Perhaps you should comment towards the article; I look forward to your thoughts! ;)
bobmalob,
From looking at your profile you created login a few minutes ago and your first post was dedicated to me, lol.
I'd wager that the desire for greasy food is not based on additional intake of calories (otherwise candy would be a good source) but that by consuming the grease, it ... um... lubricates, the insides and makes it easier for the body to get rid of all those toxins that are taking up residence in the colon.
Have you ever taken the "hangover poop" you (at least I) feel better after that. Greasy foods definitely help speed things along.
For the last day of 2012, I'm going to troll.
@ bobmalob,
U mad bro?
Cookie,
Well, I did start the article by sticking my robotic foot in my mouth, lol. I guess I was overzealous reading and posting, d’oh!
Might as well have a last post of 2012, too.
Alcohol makes you forget your non-grease diet? Not surprised. Alcohol makes people forget a lot of things, including their web reputations. Hopefully, I won't see any of that during the New Year's party.
Grease carbs and coffee a hangover remedy
Robot, I didn't see the cite, but it sounds like they are referring to Dr. Colin Shaw's paper on the caves of La Ferrassie in France and the nearly intact neandertal male that has been found there. The bones are remarkable, not only for the reconstructed males skulls resemblance to Gerard Depardeau, but also for the over-sized right arm. But the research into the middens outside the caves is even more fascinating.
The middens are full of the expected bones and waste but it was the pervasive presence of crushed Pabst Blue Ribbon cans that threw the researchers for months. Given the timeframe perhaps it is understandable that there were no pull-tabs for the beers and the male apparently spent a lifetime twisting the top off of the CANS! No word yet on why they weren't drinking gaulish beverages.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19960748
Ziv,
Lol, I like the way you write, ha ha.