BEACH hunger is a real phenomenon and there are reasons why you always crave food by the sea, an expert says.
Emotional and biological factors blend to create a perfect storm for stomach rumbling, no matter how many snacks you’ve taken with you.
NY Nutrition Group dietitian and chief executive Lisa Moskovitz told the Washington Post there was logic behind beach cravings.
She said people often underestimate getting to the beach is usually hard work – leading to hunger once you reach it.
Lisa said: “I think we underestimate the laborious nature of going to the beach.
“Planning, lugging our chairs, walking on the sand … Sometimes you’re already like two hours into physical activity before you’re actually sitting down on a towel or chair and relaxing.”
Any beach activity – like swimming, volleyball or constructing sandcastles – is likely to ratchet up your appetite further, the expert says.
Getting dehydrated on the sand is also easy if the sun is beaming down, and Lisa says people can often mistake thirst cues for hunger.
Downing a few beach beers is also likely to lead to tummy rumbling, she adds.
Lisa said: “Alcohol is an appetite stimulant for many people.”
What you’ve taken in your snack bag can also have a huge impact.
Foods like crisps and ice cream can keep you feeling hungry, in contrast to healthy alternatives like carrots with hummus.
Lisa said: “It’s actually related to your body asking for more (nutritious food), or what you’re eating is causing a blood-sugar response.
“Especially refined carbohydrates (or) foods that are higher in added sugar are going to cause blood-sugar spikes, which inevitably result in blood-sugar crashes.”
Once your blood-sugar levels crash, she says, you’ll be hungry once more.
But science aside, there are emotional factors at play.
Lisa said the beach is often a happy, nostalgic place for people, which can lead to simply wanting to eat as part of the experience.
Lisa said: “We associate being at the beach with playing as kids and our moms having a lot of snacks.
“That alone can make us think about food and ignite that drive to eat something.
And the expert added: “It’s like: ‘Wow, I’m really relaxing and this is nice.
“But you know what would make this better? Food.”
