What foods can be consumed with alcohol, so as not to get fat

People who consume more protein foods with alcohol are less prone to obesity, Australian scientists have found. The work of researchers from the University of Sydney was presented at the International Congress on Obesity in Melbourne.

The study analyzed data on 9,341 adults who took part in a 24-hour analysis of their meals. During the experiment, scientists tracked their eating habits.

Of all participants, 40 percent reported consuming alcohol that day. As it turned out, they had a greater preference for higher-fat, protein foods (e.g., nuts, chips, kebabs, etc.) than those who didn't drink. They also consumed far more calories than the second group.

Two-thirds of the drinkers chose foods high in protein but low in carbs and fat, such as lean meat, poultry, seafood, nuts and legumes. They consumed an average of 1,749 calories, about 577 calories less than the amount an adult needs to maintain their weight.

One-third of drinkers favored more unhealthy snacks, such as chips. They consumed an average of 3,051 calories, 813 more than their daily human requirement.

"Alcohol is known to increase appetite, especially for unsweetened foods. Studies have shown that levels of FGF-21, a hormone that stimulates appetite for proteins and suppresses appetite for sweets, are elevated after drinking alcohol," the scientists said.

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