What's the best thing to eat when drunk?

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Research by Britain’s University of Liverpool recently found that alcohol actually stimulates our appetite for salty, high-fat foods. Which is annoying when you think that salt can make the dehydrating effects of alcohol worse. Seriously body, work with us here…

But we have good news, too.

A study by the University of Indiana found that if you don’t eat, it takes alcohol 45% longer to leave your system – and that carbs, proteins and fats all do the trick. Researchers believe it’s because more blood flows to the liver after eating, helping its enzymes get that booze backlog out of there.

This is why bread is not the enemy

Fact is: if you’re going to order a Big Mac once in a while, you may as well enjoy it.

“We don’t always need to be perfect,” admits nutritionist Michele Chevalley Hedge, founder of Low Sugar Lifestyle (myfamilywellness.com.au).

“Big Mac and chips isn’t healthy, but nor is it realistic to say you’ll never, ever touch one again. I often tell my clients that it’s OK to have a poison.”

Here’s her three-second nutritional evaluation of your favourite drunk foods:

1. Pizza

“Has carbs, protein and fat, and as long as it isn’t loaded with greasy sausage – which is packed with preservatives – this isn’t too bad.”

Bonus points if you blot off excess oil and go heavy on the veggies.

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2. Kebabs

“Just like pizza, it depends where the ingredients are from and if they are full of trans-fats and preservatives (doner, we’re looking at you). But it’s a better option than anything sugary, which just gives you a super blood-sugar spike (disastrous for falling asleep afterwards).”

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3. Big Mac

“Full of processed ingredients – definitely a ‘drunk’ food – but my suggestion would always be to go for the food that has some protein and fat, and this does. Ditch the sugary soft drink.”

4. Chips

“The best variety is baked chips made with olive oil. But that’s unlikely at 3am, when all you’re likely to find is hot chips deep-fried in oil that’s been used 100 times.” Skip smothering them in mayo to reduce fat, and go easy on the salt.

And three better alternatives if you make it home without being sucked into Maccas:

- Whole wheat crackers or toast. Contain complex carbs that absorb alcohol and B vitamins. Add peanut butter (fatty-ish, but high in protein) or hummus.

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- Cereal with low-fat milk. Carb-rich, contains fluids, and mega-easy.

- Jacket potato. Cook it in the microwave, not the oven – this is not the time to be operating machinery!

And, remember, serve everything with an extremely large helping of… water.

Sorry, a little part of us had to be a killjoy.

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BreadKATIE THOMSITT, Dieticians Australia spokesperson says: "Lots of people shy away from bread to achieve weight loss. But bread is such an important source of fibre, and plays such a helpful role in weight loss and preventing bowel cancer. A couple of slices of a dark, seedy bread per day is absolutely fine."

CheeseKATIE SAYS: "Cheese is definitely a higher fat source of dairy, but still a good dairy fat. Choose low-fat options if you have it regularly, otherwise consume it in moderation. One serve of dairy is 30g, so a couple of slices is absolutely fine."

ChocolateKARA LANDAU, The Travelling Dietician says: "Studies have been able to show that dark chocolate can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce blood pressure in healthy individuals, protect against heart disease, and improve HDL good cholesterol (not a bad start for such a tasty food!). Dark chocolate also contains polyphenols, whilst white chocolate does not. These polyphenolic compounds are able to relax blood vessels allowing for better blood circulation, and thereby assisting with the maintenance of healthy blood pressure levels."

CoffeeKATIE SAYS: "Coffee is a really good snack, in particular if its milk-based to get the dairy in - for example, a skim latte. As long as its in moderation - daily guidelines say a maximum of three per day! And you want lots of water on top of that."

EggsKARA SAYS: "Yes, even the yolks are good for you! Healthy fat soluble vitamins, as well as half the protein found in an egg, are all found in the yolk!"

Avocado KATIE SAYS: "Avocado is a healthy fat. Lots of people think its high-fat and not good for you, but its rich in mono unsaturated fats, which give you protection against heart disease. It also helps with controlling lower cholesterol levels."

nutsKATIE SAYS: "Nuts fall into the same category as avocado - they have lots of healthy oils and fibre."

dairyKARA SAYS: "Often milk and yoghurts are fortified with Vitamin D (a fat soluble vitamin) which requires a small amount of fat to be present in order for the body to absorb it, therefore having the full fat variety can be of value to enhance the nutritional benefits from the products' consumption. The fat in the dairy also aids with satiety, which could prevent unhealthy snacking at a later point in the day."

PotatoKATIE SAYS: "Potato always gets a bad rap as a starchy vegetable, but it's an excellent source of fibre. Sweet potato in particular is great for weight management and sugar level control. Potatoes are also really rich in potassium."

Red meatKARA SAYS: People tend to restrict red meat unnecessarily, thinking that its high in saturated fat. "But lean red meat is high in protein, CLA (which has been found to be associated with lower body fat percentages), B12, iron and zinc. These are all nutrients we want to get into our body!"

What is your all-time favourite drunk food?

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How bad are your favourite drunk foods, really?

1. Pizza

2. Kebabs

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3. Big Mac

4. Chips

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