When you can drink: before, during or after a meal

Someone advised to drink water before meals to make it easier to digest food. Someone says, that it is dangerous, because water will dilute the gastric juice, and because of this will slow down the digestion. Where is the truth, Layfhaker asked the expert.

Anna Jurkiewicz

Gastroenterologist. Author blog about nutrition and health of the digestive system.

When it comes to water, it is important how and when to drink, and how much. Though there are many but. Let's investigate.

The guidelines on nutrition is usually featured the figure of 25-30 ml / kg - that is how much water is recommended to use a person. Of course, this figure is very conditional, because that's how many people should drink depends on many factors:

1. The humidity and air temperature.
2. From the human body temperature.
3. By weight.
4. By age and sex.
5. From physical activity.
6. Of diseases, especially of the urinary system.

Need to focus on the body's own signals, that is thirsty, learn how to recognize it at an early stage. To do this, always keep a cup or a bottle of water, and every 30-60 minutes takes a sip. Drink up as long as you want and is drunk with pleasure.

And now about the relationship of food and water.

The fact that the water dilutes the gastric juices and reduces acidity is definitely a myth.

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

You can drink both before and after, and during meal time. The question is, what is the purpose and the amount of fluid you drink. Water, drunk on an empty stomach, quickly out of it goeth: 300 ml care for 5-15 minutes. Of course, it is not necessary to drink before eating a quart of water, and more, as long as the liquid will leave the stomach and eaten together with food can stretch his wall and lead to unpleasant sensations.

During the meal is permissible to consume the liquid, especially if we are dealing with so-called suhomyatku. The water in this case will improve cross-bolus, soften and fractured the food.

If the food you want to make a few sips of water, that's fine. The main criterion - it is your desire that is thirsty, and your feelings.

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