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Drinking water with meals could be one of the easiest ways to avoid obesity and its accompanying ills, according to new published research. T. Cornwell of University of Oregon and R. McAlister of Michigan State University detailed two studies in their paper. In one, researchers repeatedly watched 75 preschoolers as they were served drinks alongside raw vegetables. They found that the children, age 3 to 5, ate more vegetables when they were accompanied by water than when they were served with sweetened beverages. In the second study, researchers surveyed 60 US adults, age 19 to 23, about food-and-drink pairings and found they preferred the combination of soda with salty, calorie-dense food instead of soda and vegetables. "When we look cross-culturally we can see that food-and-drink combinations are developed preferences. If the drink on the table sets the odds against both adults and children eating their vegetables, then perhaps it is time to change that drink and replace it with water." Appetite May, 2012 |
