Drinking water alongside meals could potentially lead to consuming more food rather than promoting fullness, according to a recent study published in the journal Appetite. Researchers from Cornell University and Penn State University investigated the impact of drinking habits during meals on overall food intake.
In experiments involving 86 adults, participants consumed beef chili or chicken tikka masala while their water intake and eating behaviors were monitored. The study recorded the number of sips taken, sip size, drinking speed, and the frequency of alternating between food and water. The findings indicated that individuals who drank more water during their meals also ate more food. For every additional 100 grams of water consumed, participants ate approximately 39 more grams of food, equating to about 49 extra calories.
Furthermore, the frequency of switching between bites of food and sips of water was linked to increased food consumption. Each additional switch was associated with consuming about 4.4 more grams of food. Researchers theorize that this alternating pattern may delay sensory-specific satiety, a phenomenon where the appeal of a particular food diminishes over prolonged consumption.
Dr. Paige Cunningham, assistant professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell University and lead author of the study, noted that the common advice about water increasing fullness may be inaccurate, as water is quickly emptied from the stomach. Instead, she suggested, water might facilitate eating by providing lubrication, potentially speeding up consumption and enhancing food enjoyment by preventing dry mouth.
The study authors cautioned that due to its relatively small scale, the findings may not be universally applicable to all meal types or eating scenarios.