Do You Need a Drink or Are You Just Hungry? (Alcohol & Ghrelin) (E192)
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Cravings make it difficult to stay sober. You may not be craving alcohol because you need it though, you may be craving alcohol because you’re not taking good care of yourself. When we’re drinking we live on autopilot mode and we move through life like a ghost always stuck in past shame and regret or fantasizing about being able to moderate in the future. When you get sober, you have to become aware of yourself. In this episode, I’m explaining the role that being hungry has in cravings for alcohol. You’ll learn why you crave alcohol when you’re hungry and 2 very simple strategies to cope with alcohol cravings so you stay sober.
What to listen to next:
E41: why you crave sugar
E96: do sugar cravings increase the risk of relapse?
E165: my 30 day no sugar challenge
E62: dopamine deep dive
E188: wellness over weight loss
Episode 192 takeaways:
Cravings for alcohol can be influenced by hunger and the lack of self-care.
The hormone ghrelin plays a role in cravings and appetite regulation.
Hunger can increase cravings and stress levels in early sobriety.
Obsession and cravings are closely linked, and dopamine can motivate seeking alcohol.
Being aware of emotions and practicing self-regulation can help manage cravings.
Simple strategies like snacking and drinking water can help cope with cravings.
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Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.
Listen to the full episode in your podcasting app: Apple Spotify other apps
Cite this episode:
Gillian Tietz. Michael Painter. Do You Need a Drink or Are You Just Hungry (E192). Sober Powered. 2024
Please respect my intellectual property and properly credit me if you share my work.
Sources:
Jennifer K. MacCormack, Kristen A. Lindquist. Feeling hangry? When hunger is conceptualized as emotion.. Emotion, 2018
Leggio et al., 2011. Ghrelin system in alcohol-dependent subjects: role of plasma ghrelin levels in alcohol drinking and craving. Addiction Biology.
Koopmann et al., 2017. Drinking water to reduce alcohol craving? A randomized controlled study on the impact of ghrelin in mediating the effects of forced water intake in alcohol addiction. Psychoneuroendocrinology.
