Alcohol Use Related to Poor Food Choices

Gorging on greasy bar snacks often accompanies a night of drinking, and a new federal study shows that the more people drink, the worse their food choices, UPI reported March 25.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) study found that as alcohol consumption rose, fruit consumption declined and caloric intake increased among men and women. Male drinkers also tended to eat fewer whole grains and drink less milk.

“This finding raises questions about whether the combination of alcohol misuse and poor diet might interact to further increase health risks,” said NIAAA acting director Kenneth R. Warren. Researchers could not say why the association existed, however.

The study appears in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.