KnowHow Team explains: Drinking makes us hungry because the alcohol in the bloodstream causes the production of the hormone, insulin. In general, insulin released in the bloodstream causes hypoglycaemia — a condition where the blood sugar level is reduced significantly. This reduction in the sugar level triggers the sensation of hunger.

That apart, drinking also disturbs the chemical balance of the body, which has to be restored. Our body fluids are made up of about 50 per cent water with about 0.9 per cent of mineral salts dissolved in it. Ideally, this level must be kept constant to keep all our body functions running smoothly.

If we have more than one pint of beer (or more than two pegs of spirits), we add a large amount of water but no trace of salt.

What our body needs is an extra dash of salt and that is why we crave for peanuts, chips, kebabs or fried fish.

Alcohol is a great disinhibitor and one of its effects is to disinhibit the conscious restraint that holds us back from overeating. The presence of food in the stomach also retards the absorption of alcohol, especially if the food is greasy.

Thus eating more may be a subconscious effort of the body to prevent intoxication. This explains the craving for rich and oily food which are generally considered unhealthy in the sober state.

The question was sent by

Jan Mahanta via email