When to drink: before, during or after meals

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Lifehacker asked gastroenterologist Anna Yurkevich about the relationship between water and food.

Someone advises drinking water before meals to make it easier to digest food. Someone says that this is dangerous, because the water will dilute the gastric juice, and because of this, digestion will slow down. Where is the truth, Lifehacker asked a specialist.

When it comes to water, it is important not how and when to drink, but how much. Although there are many but. Let's figure it out.

In nutritional guidelines, the figure is usually 25-30 ml / kg - this is the amount of water recommended for a person. Of course, this figure is very conditional, because how much a person should drink depends on many factors:

From humidity and air temperature.
From the temperature of the human body.
From weight.
From age and gender.
From physical activity.
From diseases, primarily of the urinary system.

You need to focus on the signals of your own body, that is, on thirst, learn to recognize it at an early stage. To do this, always keep a cup or bottle of water close at hand and take a sip every 30-60 minutes. Drink as long as you want and drink with pleasure.

And now about the relationship between food and water.

It is certainly a myth that water dilutes gastric juices and reduces acidity.

Otherwise, there would be no need to prescribe drugs to reduce acidity, a cup of water would be enough.

You can drink before, after, and during meals. The question is, what is the purpose and volume of the liquid you drink. Water, drunk on an empty stomach, leaves it rather quickly: 300 ml go away in 5-15 minutes. Of course, you do not need to drink a liter of water or more before meals, since the liquid will leave the stomach longer, and together with the food eaten, it can stretch its walls and lead to unpleasant sensations.

During meals, it is permissible to consume liquid, especially if we are dealing with the so-called dry water. In this case, water will improve the permeability of the food lump, soften and crush the food.

If you feel like taking a few sips of water after a meal, that's okay. The main criterion is your desire, that is, thirst, and your feelings.