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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

#31

Post by xtho »

loewenskind wrote: post #30
jules wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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).

I think this actually depends on the situation. If you eat in a restaurant you'll probably get salad first because there is no cooking time involved. If you eat at a Europeans house you'll probably eat the main course first because you all eat together and you don't want the hot stuff to get cold. I think how it's done has to do with practicality, not any insight on good eating practice.

> eat at a Europeans house

I like the notion but do you actually think that it makes no difference whether you are in Italy, France, Germany, Finland, Poland, or the UK?

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#32

Post by hackermom »

qeorge wrote: post #20
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."

Exactly - that was the grave allusion error thrown about in the article. I'm sure you're familiar with the term. And as pointed out, it is just a trick; not a sure-shot.

Something interesting to reflect on: Why is this topic always such an incredibly sensitive sore spot to HN commons, taking on the form of stigma everytime it's brought up? It's like commenting on it instantly means stepping on a nerve - or possibly the protruding underbelly of someone lacking self-esteem.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#33

Post by loewenskind »

xtho wrote: post #31
loewenskind wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this actually depends on the situation. If you eat in a restaurant you'll probably get salad first because there is no cooking time involved. If you eat at a Europeans house you'll probably eat the main course first because you all eat together and you don't want the hot stuff to get cold. I think how it's done has to do with practicality, not any insight on good eating practice.

> eat at a Europeans house I like the notion but do you actually think that it makes no difference whether you are in Italy, France, Germany, Finland, Poland, or the UK?

I haven't eating at someone's home from each of these places, but honestly yes. I really think it's a logistics question. If you eat at someone's house the choices are:

* All eat Salad together and then guests wait while the person doing the cooking prepares the main course

* Guests eat Salad while the cook prepares the main course (and misses the Salad)

* Everything is put on the table at once and everyone eats together. Salad will be eaten last because it wont get any colder just sitting there.

For me the last option is the only practical one and I can't imagine any tradition being strong enough to make people willing to endure cold steak, schnitzel or whatever.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#34

Post by jules »

loewenskind wrote: post #33
xtho wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> eat at a Europeans house I like the notion but do you actually think that it makes no difference whether you are in Italy, France, Germany, Finland, Poland, or the UK?

I haven't eating at someone's home from each of these places, but honestly yes. I really think it's a logistics question. If you eat at someone's house the choices are: * All eat Salad together and then guests wait while the person doing the cooking prepares the main course * Guests eat Salad while the cook prepares the main course (and misses the Salad) * Everything is put on the table at once and everyone eats toge…

Or how I do it:

* Salad first and the cook plans the main course such that it's finished when people are done eating the salad.

The cook may have to leave the table to check the stove during the salad instead of during the drinks, but that's not such a big deal.

How do you cook several hot courses with your method?

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#35

Post by loewenskind »

jules wrote: post #34
loewenskind wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't eating at someone's home from each of these places, but honestly yes. I really think it's a logistics question. If you eat at someone's house the choices are: * All eat Salad together and then guests wait while the person doing the cooking prepares the main course * Guests eat Salad while the cook prepares the main course (and misses the Salad) * Everything is put on the table at once and everyone eats toge…

Or how I do it: * Salad first and the cook plans the main course such that it's finished when people are done eating the salad. The cook may have to leave the table to check the stove during the salad instead of during the drinks, but that's not such a big deal. How do you cook several hot courses with your method?

I've never eaten a 5/7 course meal outside of a restaurant. I would think that required a dedicated server, which is normally not what I'm looking for if I go to someone's house.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#38

Post by dalore »

konad wrote: post #36

Seth Roberts reported on this a long time ago, though he added a bit of fructose to his water http://www.sethroberts.net/about/whatmakesfoodfattening.pdf A farmers know, taking water with your meals increases calorie uptake too.

Why would taking water with your meals increase calorie uptake?

I would think it would reduce it, since it takes up space in the stomach. Also the effect it has on quenching your thirst so you don't reach for a soda instead.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#39

Post by konad »

dalore wrote: post #38
konad wrote: post #36

Seth Roberts reported on this a long time ago, though he added a bit of fructose to his water http://www.sethroberts.net/about/whatmakesfoodfattening.pdf A farmers know, taking water with your meals increases calorie uptake too.

Why would taking water with your meals increase calorie uptake? I would think it would reduce it, since it takes up space in the stomach. Also the effect it has on quenching your thirst so you don't reach for a soda instead.

The theory is that liquidising your food means more chemical reaction can take place.

I don't have soda in reach. One 330ml can of soda a day is 5kg of weight gain per year to work off.

Re: Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

#40

Post by carbocation »

smtf wrote: post #23
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.

I've been told that the 'cool' part is significant. In so far as temperature of your stomach is a factor for good digestion. I'm not sure to what degree that is true but gulping down an icy beverage can't help.

The cool part is not significant, as thermodynamics will ensure prompt temperature equilibration. Relative to an ice-cold jug of water, your body is a nearly infinite heat source.
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