Have you ever wondered why savoury foods like chips, nachos and salted nuts go so well with a beer or glass of wine? And why sometimes you feel an insatiable appetite for junk food while drinking?

Our new study examined the diets and alcohol intake of Australians to find out why.

Alcohol is packed with energy, but also stimulates appetite. We found alcohol may lead you to eat more unhealthy foods by amplifying a biological drive for protein.

Our previous work showed that humans and other animals have a dedicated appetite for protein. We specifically crave savoury, protein-rich foods and avoid sweet foods when our body needs protein.

Protein craving and sweet avoidance is signalled to the brain by a hormone called FGF21. The liver releases this when the body detects a shortage of protein.

Drinking alcohol causes the release of FGF21, stimulating a hunger for protein.

This explains why alcohol is paired with food across many cultures: a glass of bubbly before dinner, wine with the meal. Alcoholic drinks stimulate........

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