New Cornell University research suggests drinking more water during a meal may be associated with eating more, while adding heat to a snack may slow eating and reduce consumption. Researchers cautioned that the findings came from controlled laboratory settings and should not be assumed to apply to all foods or everyday meals.
A study published in July in the journal Appetite pooled data from two earlier experiments involving 86 adults. For each additional 100 grams of water participants drank, they consumed about 39 more grams of food, or roughly 49 more calories.
Paige Cunningham, an assistant professor in Cornell's Division of Nutritional Sciences, said alternating bites and sips may delay the natural decline in a food's appeal during a meal. The analysis found an association, not proof that water caused participants to eat more.
In a separate experiment involving 49 adults, participants ate tortilla chips with mild or spicy salsa once a week for two weeks. The spicier salsa was associated with 28% less total snack intake and eating that was about 30% slower.
Researchers said only the salsa's cayenne content changed and water intake did not differ by spice level. They plan additional work to test how food properties and mealtime behavior may influence consumption.
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