The recent study published in Appetite challenges the belief that drinking water makes us feel fuller and helps curb appetite. Researchers at Cornell University conducted an experiment with 49 healthy adults, feeding them dishes like chicken tikka masala or beef chili alongside water. They discovered that for every 100 grams of water consumed, individuals ate an additional 39 grams of food, equating to around 49 extra calories.
Notably, alternating between sips of water and bites of food further increased intake, potentially due to the palate-cleansing effect of water that makes subsequent bites feel fresher. Instead of helping to reduce food consumption, water might actually enhance the eating experience by lubricating the mouth and encouraging faster consumption.
Interestingly, fast drinkers actually consumed less overall, suggesting slower sipping may heighten the appeal of food through increased contrast with water.
The authors plan to further investigate these findings to better understand the underlying causes of these behaviors.
