We've all heard of the age-old advice, "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day" for good health. For reference that's just enough water to almost fill a standard 2-liter soda bottle, which is none too bad if this amount is spread throughout the entire day. But now, researchers offer even more incentive for people to drink water. As it turns out, there's now scientific evidence that supports drinking water can curb appetite, a key obstacle for people who wish to lose weight.
The study was conducted on participants who drank 1.6 ounces of water versus those who drank over seven times as much water (12 ounces). In looking at MRI of the participants' stomachs after the fluid was consumed, researchers saw that the organ was doubled in volume. This greatly explained the fullness sensation after drinking the liquid.
The researchers also examined the participants' brains using fMRI scans, which revealed that more blood was flowing to the brain's insula region. This part of the brain, deep in the cerebral cortex, is involved with regulating the body's homeostasis.
The team wrote in their paper that, "In conclusion, we've found that simply adding water increases stomach distension, curbs appetite in the short term and increases regional brain activity." Indeed, perhaps drinking more water is a hidden trick that can help people maintain healthy weights.