Stop Drinking Water With Meals--Seriously

10/04/2011

Optimal health = drinking tons of water especially considering that 60 percent of the body is water, 70 percent of the brain is water, and the lungs are 90 percent water. A well hydrated body works better and looks better. But while staying hydrated is important to your health, drinking water during meals actually slows our digestion. It’s even worse if the water is cold.

The ancient science of Ayurveda says that drinking water during meals, specifically cold water, puts out our digestive fire so that our bodies don’t properly digest the foods we eat. As a result, it’s recommended that you avoid drinking water at least 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after your meal. If you must have a drink, sip on a room temperature beverage. 

Modern science puts it a different way, but the message is still the same. Drinking too much water during meals can interfere with the natural levels of bile and acid in the stomach, slowing digestion. Reducing the ability of the digestive enzymes to properly digest foods could cause a build up of toxic waste in the body. After all, it doesn’t matter what you eat, if the body can't properly digest it. 

Hydration Considerations

According to the science of Ayurveda, the digestive fire is already weaker in the winter, so it's especially important to keep water at room temperature. Avoid drinks that slow digestion like alcohol, soft drinks, and sugary juices. Stick with room temperature water and caffeine-free teas. Beyond drinking water, make sure that you eat foods that are naturally hydrating like fruits and vegetables, and avoid foods that deplete the body of water like coffee and alcohol. 

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Comments

[TF]

I can't not have a drink when I eat because I have esophageal damage and I cannot swallow certain things without water. Meanwhile, the damage is due to reflux for which I take a pill to prevent gastric juices from forming in the first place.The reflux seems to be hereditary because it happens no matter what I eat or drink, though certainly is worse if I have any trigger foods like tomatoes or chocolate or wine. Sounds like I am in a vicious cycle!

[TF]

I can't not have a drink when I eat because I have esophageal damage and I cannot swallow certain things without water. Meanwhile, the damage is due to reflux for which I take a pill to prevent gastric juices from forming in the first place.The reflux seems to be hereditary because it happens no matter what I eat or drink, though certainly is worse if I have any trigger foods like tomatoes or chocolate or wine. Sounds like I am in a vicious cycle!

[Dave]

This is dumb. Fact.

[Kel]

Huh..I'd like to see some proof please? This sounds like a load of hearsay and "the ancient science of..", nothing really substantiated by a credible study or citation of one.

[worlebird]

The "ancient science of Ayurveda"? Either you don't know what Ayurveda is, or you don't know what science is. I guessing the latter. A systematic collection of beliefs and ideas is not science. Science is a process - a process that was definitely NOT used when ancient Hindus were coming up with Ayurveda. Please don't try to pass off tradition and superstition as science.

[worlebird]

The "ancient science of Ayurveda"? Either you don't know what Ayurveda is, or you don't know what science is. I guessing the latter. A systematic collection of beliefs and ideas is not science. Science is a process - a process that was definitely NOT used when ancient Hindus were coming up with Ayurveda. Please don't try to pass off tradition and superstition as science.

[GG]

Steven Novella has refuted this claim here: http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/do-cold-drinks-alter-digestion/

[Hyperlalia]

"Modern science puts it a different way, but the message is still the same. Drinking too much water during meals can interfere with the natural levels of bile and acid in the stomach,"

One "Modern science" related citation or reference to support that statement please. I doubt the author actually did any research into the subject on digestive physiology because if she did she would know that bile acids should not normally be inside the stomach in any significant amount and that their presence there can cause significant irritation to the mucosa and over time cause a chemical gastropathy.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC499914/?tool=pubmed

I recommend Dr. Steven Novella's critique and discussion of this spurious claim. It is linked to above but I will link to it again myself for further emphasis.

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/do-cold-drinks-alter-digestion/

[Kawarthajon]

Nonsense article. Call this journalism?

[Daniel Murphy]

Ridiculous articles like this one put out my "reading fire."

[Daniel Murphy]

Ridiculous articles like this one put out my "reading fire."

[Bliss]

And last but not least, as you don't drink when you eat, you might as well quit any soup in any form. =))))))

[Melissa]

I really enjoyed what you have to say. I recently got home from India and learned a lot about Ayurveda medicine and traditions and this is one of the things I learned. I also learned a lot about raw food preperation and digestion because I helped my friend open a raw restaurant and cooking lab at a school in Bali where classes will be offered in these subjects. I have been reading a lot of books and watching documentaries on food and Digestion and not drinking water during our meal (also e room temperature beverage is the most beneficial) is the general consensus.

[Western Arrogance]

I'm willing to bet all the above negative comments come from Americans with beer guts hanging unattractively over their belts.

For all their claims Ayurveda is incorrect, it's funny they're here on this page following a search with Google keywords "cold water" "meals".

Something must have led them here. Looks like white wisdom left a few people empty-handed and they came for some brown truth. Yet their arrogance won't let them admit the Veda is right.

Fools. Stay fat.

[Normal Weight American]

Just wondering why you asssume everyone got here by searching "cold water + meals". I got here by foolishly clicking a link from another article. And I don't think it makes Americans or anyone else arrogant to expect "scientific" claims to be backed up by proof.

[Bob]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/digestion/AN01776

[Bob]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/digestion/AN01776
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The Mayo Clinic says that DRINKING WATER WITH MEALS IS BENEFICIAL :p
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P.S. Sorry for caps. I simply want this important source to be seen. :)

[Satya]

Well said. I have been doing this last 12 months and I see the result now. My HDL went high from 31 to 39 and my LDL also went low with this. The truth is I could not lift my HDL, once it went high 34 after this and that, but my LDL also went high, but this method helps me and also the underneath logic makes sense.

[dietician]

First of Bile is secreted into the small intestions when another enzyme, called secretin detects chyme(basically what the stomach send to the sm intestine) in the small intestion. Only proteins BEGIN metabolism in the stomach. Oh and proteins can not be digested without water!! The only thing drinking (hot, warm or cold) while eating will do is YES slow down digestion. But here's the thing!!! It's because you filled up on water!!!!! Zero-Calorie WATER!! I always try to drink lots of water just as I sit down to eat. It's the same concept as eating lettuce (which is mostly water!!) Fills you up with very little caloric intake.

[mon]

The truth is this, in America you look to blame outside factors for your health problems, genetics, illnesses etc. Go just ONE week without drinking anything 15 min before & half an hour after you meal ( and not with your meal)and see how you feel. Needless to say while you do this self test do keep yourself well hydrated with 2 or more glasses of water in between. Once you see the effects, you will be pleasantly surprised. Wishing you good health.

[Dan]

I'm an american. I've had problems with digestion and bowel issues since 2006. In 1009 I was so sick I couldnt' get out of bed, at least, not easily. I was sick all the time, flu like symptoms that never went away. Allergies that were just getting worse and worse as time passed. Doctors/specialists were just useless. In hindsight, I learned that our wonderful american doctors do one of three things - 1. medicate, 2. operate, or 3. pass you along to another specialist. Turns out the underlying issue I was experiencing was gluten intolerance. That issue morphed into a general food intolerance. Two things brought me back to excellent health - getting off of gluten and not drinking water around my eating. I diluted my stomach during food consumption and, as a result, my food was not getting digested. The chemicals that the body puts out to both digest food and then pass it along through to your big intestines can definitely be messed with by not keeping your eating and drinking separated. Once I did that simple step, my bowels started working again which allowed my body to detox which took away all of my food intolerances. Who knew? Well, nobody knew it turns out and our american doctors don't learn this kind of stuff in school. And since it doesnt generate revenues from drugs or an operation, turns out they really don't care. As one doctor put it to my face - "I don't practice eastern medicine"......LOL

[Davet]

Here is the real answer from a real source The Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/digestion/AN01776