Drinking While Eating: Yes or No?

whatsallthisthen

So I've seen two opposing thought on consuming liquid(water, for instance) during meals and wondered about your experience and where you guys weigh in on the matter. I've seen these two comments time and again:

1) Sip on water constantly while eating. This will help you fill up during the meal.

2) Don't drink while eating (and 30 mins after, some say). This helps you stay fuller longer.


I'm curious as to what you guys think about this. Personally, I tend to agree with #2 partially because it seems water would help food move through your system quicker, and I've seen bariatric surgery patients 'defy their surgery' by drinking while eating which allows them to eat more(on a documentary).

In exchange for your time, a kitten:

JoeCampbell85

As far as filling up, I hear that drinking before you eat is better but, really, I don't think it matters that much. I drink whenever I'm thirsty while I eat. Dieting is already a pain to have to start nitpicking on when I can quench my thirst. I think both probably have minimal effects. Wanna feel full longer? Drink your water and eat a lot of fiber and protein.

Branstin

I fall into the first category because I drink water before I eat which helps me feel fuller and not overeat. I agree that it shouldn't be a complicated issue because the important point here is to keep your body hydrated for optimal health. The manner in which a person does it is their choice.

whatsallthisthen

Yes, I agree we shouldn't 'nitpick' and 'complicate things' but these two opposing comments are commonly given out as part of overall advice for helping to deal with hunger and meals.

So, I think it's worth a think. I've thought about it enough to ask. Perhaps I should try it out personally, eating identical things at identical activity levels but only changing timing of water intake.

Robotponysaurus

Drinking directly after eating does cause food to pass through your system faster. If, say, there was a funnel filled with apple sauce, the drip would be very slow. If you poured water on top of that applesauce, the drip would be much faster.

I would drink before your meals if you're concerned about it and give a short grace period after if you're concerned about it, but it really isn't a big deal. It's mostly a problem with people who have had bariatric surgery.

lalawaterlala

I've heard that drinking water while eating makes digestion slow down because of the acid being diluted in your stomach. My nutrition professor always said to drink water 30 mins before and 30 mins after eating. I've been trying to drink less fluids during meals but I'm not noticing much of a difference with bloating or with weightloss.

whatsallthisthen

I've heard that drinking water while eating makes digestion slow down because of the acid being diluted in your stomach. My nutrition professor always said to drink water 30 mins before and 30 mins after eating. I've been trying to drink less fluids during meals but I'm not noticing much of a difference with bloating or with weightloss.

vs.

Drinking directly after eating does cause food to pass through your system faster. If, say, there was a funnel filled with apple sauce, the drip would be very slow. If you poured water on top of that applesauce, the drip would be much faster.

Both of these sound really reasonable but again conflict with each other. Sure, the applesauce would flow faster- but could diluting the stomach acid keep food in the tummy longer? Interesting.

And yes, don't worry guys, I'm not too hung up on it- I know in the grand scheme of things it makes little difference. But again, my curious mind wants to get a definite answer to this!

Robotponysaurus

I've heard that drinking water while eating makes digestion slow down because of the acid being diluted in your stomach. My nutrition professor always said to drink water 30 mins before and 30 mins after eating. I've been trying to drink less fluids during meals but I'm not noticing much of a difference with bloating or with weightloss.

vs.

Drinking directly after eating does cause food to pass through your system faster. If, say, there was a funnel filled with apple sauce, the drip would be very slow. If you poured water on top of that applesauce, the drip would be much faster.

Both of these sound really reasonable but again conflict with each other. Sure, the applesauce would flow faster- but could diluting the stomach acid keep food in the tummy longer? Interesting.

And yes, don't worry guys, I'm not too hung up on it- I know in the grand scheme of things it makes little difference. But again, my curious mind wants to get a definite answer to this!

I don't know much about the stomach acid idea, I just know (as someone who had the sleeve as a teenager) that the applesauce situation is spot on D; It could, though, be irrelevant in a normal sized stomach.

WalkingAlong

There are studies that show eating water-rich foods like soup and fruit do cause more fullness than their dried counterparts, but that drinking the same amount of water while eating the dry foods does not do the same thing.

So you can't 'fool' your stomach into thinking water is food. I never could. People say they drink water to fend off hunger. Never worked for me. I guess if your hunger is actually thirst or 'bored mouth' it could help, though.

I don't think the gravity effect of pouring water on applesauce in a funnel really applies to a digestive system. If it did, maybe jumping and down after meals would help speed digestion, too. Plus a lot of the calorie absorption takes place in our miles of intestines so how fast food exits the stomach probably doesn't mean much, except we might get hungrier sooner?

IHateThinkingOfAUsername

I drink most of my drinks either during or immediately after eating. (Like I have a pint with breakfast, dinner and tea.) no idea if it affects my weight loss as it's something I've always done. I guess as kids we were always running around so it was easier to make sure we drank at meal times. It feels odd now if I do eat something substantial and don't have a drink to "wash it down with".

Veil5577

Thank you for the kitten! :flowerforyou:

I drink while I am eating and it's water. Helps fill me up so I won't binge eat and it's working a treat.

accelerashawn

First thought: People tend to mistake hunger for thirst
Second thought: Make sure your water intake is where it should be
Third thought: This is a very complicated question and whether you drink while you eat or before or after probably won't make a huge difference. I couldn't imagine a meal without a drink. Just do what makes you comfortable and focus on the calories.

jemhh

Third thought: This is a very complicated question and whether you drink while you eat or before or after probably won't make a huge difference. I couldn't imagine a meal without a drink. Just do what makes you comfortable and focus on the calories.

This. At the end of the day, I'm going to eat the same number of calories whether I drank water with them, before them, or after them. I feel like this is one of those things that could lead to analysis paralysis in people.

bcattoes

Wine and food were meant to be consumed together IMO.

cjames010

I drink water before mealtime to keep myself from snacking "samples" when I'm preparing a meal.
I drink water during mealtime to keep myself from scarfing everything down in two minutes.

I just have to add that kitten is ADORABLE. I just want to put her in my pocket and carry her around all day. Lol

sheedy17

I drink a liter of water before I eat, i stay fuller longer and I dont eat as much also

kaseyr1505

I drink with my meal, I think it helps me eat slower.

chivalryder

For me, it's neither:

I don't drink water 30 minutes before eating or 30 minutes after eating (or during) because drinking water will dilute the sulphuric acid in your stomach, which will reduce the efficiency of your digestion.

I've started doing it this way and it seems to help. YMMV.

dbmata

1) Sip on water constantly while eating. This will help you fill up during the meal.

2) Don't drink while eating (and 30 mins after, some say). This helps you stay fuller longer.


I'm curious as to what you guys think about this.

Both are dumb, and I feel sorry for people who believe they are magic bullets.

Bustergirl14

I don't have strong feelings about either option. But thanks for the kitten!

whatsallthisthen

1) Sip on water constantly while eating. This will help you fill up during the meal.

2) Don't drink while eating (and 30 mins after, some say). This helps you stay fuller longer.


I'm curious as to what you guys think about this.

Both are dumb, and I feel sorry for people who believe they are magic bullets.

Ah, what eloquent and valuable input. Bravo dude.

lemurcat12

I've never thought about it and never considered that it would have an effect either way, I just can't imagine eating without having something to sip on too. Anyway, I don't find that I get hungry especially quickly after a meal--I'm pretty much a 3 meals a day and no snacking person and haven't had an issue with that. What I eat makes a difference in how soon I get hungry, though.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I like to drink while eating. I don't really care if it makes a minimal difference on satiety either way.

LessHeavyVeggie

Personally I pretty much always drink water while eating, but I guess it's a personal preference.

Anyway, on to the most important point: hooray for kittens! Anyone who posts kittens in exchange for responses gets my vote.

dbmata

1) Sip on water constantly while eating. This will help you fill up during the meal.

2) Don't drink while eating (and 30 mins after, some say). This helps you stay fuller longer.


I'm curious as to what you guys think about this.

Both are dumb, and I feel sorry for people who believe they are magic bullets.

Ah, what eloquent and valuable input. Bravo dude.

You forgot the picture. I admit, I found it a challenge to respond to the OP with the level of intellectual rigor that matched their post, but I think I nailed it.

Tony_Von_Stryfe

I thought this post was going to be about liquor...

whatsallthisthen

I thought this post was going to be about liquor...

Hah! Yeah I could see that. I have read that ingestion of alcohol does indeed slow down digestion a bit though, if you're curious! ( http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6731)

whatsallthisthen

Looks like with more research, the answers converge toward 'very very minimally if at all."

As far as diluting acids, it appears that water itself is not a signalling factor for gastrin, which is the main chemical that induces the release of hydrochloric acid from the parietal cells of the stomach- and other studies show that water on an empty stomach does little to effect stomach PH.

So drink lots of water and you'll feel more full during a meal, right?

Well, kinda: in another study "results show that drinking two glasses of water affects subjective feelings of hunger and satiety during the meal, but this effect is not maintained after the meal".

So yeah, while I have heard multiple comments(again and again) to do one or the other, that while overall water intake is important of course, to maybe skip over these suggestions entirely.

Also,

So you can't 'fool' your stomach into thinking water is food. I never could. People say they drink water to fend off hunger. Never worked for me. I guess if your hunger is actually thirst or 'bored mouth' it could help, though.

I'm the same way. I wish simply drinking tons of water could just 'fill me up' like others mention it does, but unfortunately my stomach isn't falling for that one.

lsmsrbls

For me, it's neither:

I don't drink water 30 minutes before eating or 30 minutes after eating (or during) because drinking water will dilute the sulphuric acid in your stomach, which will reduce the efficiency of your digestion.

I've started doing it this way and it seems to help. YMMV.

If you have sulfuric acid in your stomach you should probably get to a hospital immediately.

janatarnhem

Dunno, sorry, but nice kitty!

JosieRawr

I thing it's just a matter of preference... I don't need a drink while eating... My partner and our daughter do... I do usually like to have a drink after I'm done eating though.

Possibly related to this claim is - thirst is often confused with hunger. If you are in fact thirsty and you eat a meal, you could still be hungry when you're done eating because you're still thirsty...