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Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

nytimes.com

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Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#11

Post by jules »

jeromec wrote: post #2

I was having a debate with my brother about when salad should be eaten, before or after a meal. I said it would make a difference. He said it made no difference. (Americans seem to be in the minority for eating salad before meals) Some light research on the Internet was not completely conclusive, but it appeared there is not much difference. However, since salad digests slower it's generally considered better to eat…

> Americans seem to be in the minority for eating salad before meals

Nope, it's like that in most (all?) places in Europe I've visited too (certainly in restaurants).

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#12

Post by _b8r0 »

arjn wrote: post #7
sudont wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A salad before a meal, particularity 20-30 minutes beforehand, will start the enzyme processes that eventually render satiety. However, most American salads are loaded with decidedly non-healthy items, so a 200-300 drop in meal calories would be offset by the salad itself. Better just eat them to increase vegetables, then. (No iceberg!)

Oh Man! how I hate iceberg lettuce. Why does anyone like it at all ? Cucumber tastes way better.

If you're relying on iceberg lettuce in your salad you're really doing it wrong.

Have a look for some mediterranean salad recipes, try putting some cherry tomatoes in for sweetness, a light drizzle of olive oil and swap the lettuce out for rocket and see how it goes.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#13

Post by jeromec »

carbocation wrote: post #8
jeromec wrote: post #2

I was having a debate with my brother about when salad should be eaten, before or after a meal. I said it would make a difference. He said it made no difference. (Americans seem to be in the minority for eating salad before meals) Some light research on the Internet was not completely conclusive, but it appeared there is not much difference. However, since salad digests slower it's generally considered better to eat…

Water does not meaningfully Change the acidity of your gastric mucosal lining. Even antacids only do so temporarily.

Really? One of the things I read while checking into the salad timing was about Americans also drinking cool liquids before and during a meal, which was not really advisable for good digestion.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#14

Post by carbocation »

jeromec wrote: post #13
carbocation wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Water does not meaningfully Change the acidity of your gastric mucosal lining. Even antacids only do so temporarily.

Really? One of the things I read while checking into the salad timing was about Americans also drinking cool liquids before and during a meal, which was not really advisable for good digestion.

None of that stuff matters at all from a biological standpoint. From a psychological standpoint, it's helpful to get water in first (fills you up a bit, adds 0 calories). Same with a salad (fills you up a bit, adds few calories).

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#15

Post by jeromec »

xentronium wrote: post #10
jeromec wrote: post #2

I was having a debate with my brother about when salad should be eaten, before or after a meal. I said it would make a difference. He said it made no difference. (Americans seem to be in the minority for eating salad before meals) Some light research on the Internet was not completely conclusive, but it appeared there is not much difference. However, since salad digests slower it's generally considered better to eat…

> Americans seem to be in the minority for eating salad before meals I always believed that's the only way it's eaten by etiquette (after appetizer and before the main course).

Etiquette for whom though? The English? Apparently the French eat salad after meals. I found an interesting link concerning this about dinners at the White House. (http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/599224)

Looking at this photo of the menu from the White House National Governors Association dinner, it looks like the salad course follows the main course, as is common in Europe. At the risk of sounding like a hick, is this arrangement of courses standard for formal dinners in the U.S.? (looks yummy, btw).

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2b_SPCr78uQ/SaMrIOb1FzI/AAAAAAAAHu...

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#16

Post by jeromec »

carbocation wrote: post #14
jeromec wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? One of the things I read while checking into the salad timing was about Americans also drinking cool liquids before and during a meal, which was not really advisable for good digestion.

None of that stuff matters at all from a biological standpoint. From a psychological standpoint, it's helpful to get water in first (fills you up a bit, adds 0 calories). Same with a salad (fills you up a bit, adds few calories).

According to Google answers you're right:

Is it okay to drink water during meals? This is interesting as a lot of complementary practitioners recommend against drinking water with meals, believing it dilutes the stomach acid and, hence, interferes with proper digestion. Technically this is not true, Dr. B says, as the water probably doesn't significantly mix with digestive juices. So for the record it's only people who are having problems making enough stomach (hydrochloric) acid who need to worry about this.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#18

Post by topherjaynes »

Make sure you read the line in the article that says " drinking water 30 minutes before a meal reduced calorie intake and feelings of hunger in older adults, but had little effect on subjects under 35."

I imagine most of the people reading this article via HN are less than the age of 55--the original age group the study looked at.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#19

Post by hackermom »

Water prior to dining does not affect your metabolism in any way what so ever - dire tabloid-style allusion error here. The article points out the obvious: if you feel less hungry (read: a bit fuller) before eating, as you would by filling your stomach with water, you might eat less of the food. Duh.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#20

Post by qeorge »

hackermom wrote: post #19

Water prior to dining does not affect your metabolism in any way what so ever - dire tabloid-style allusion error here. The article points out the obvious: if you feel less hungry (read: a bit fuller) before eating, as you would by filling your stomach with water, you might eat less of the food. Duh.

There is no mention of metabolism anywhere in this article. Not sure where you got that.

3rd sentence:

"Dieters have been encouraged to employ this trick for ages, with the reasoning quite simple: the water fills the stomach, thus reducing hunger."

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