Is drinking water with meals bad?

starryg16

My mom recently showed me an article that said that you should wait to drink water 30 minutes after you eat because it dilutes your stomach acids that are trying to break down the food you eat. Has anyone else heard this before? I'm not sure how much I trust the article... and I love drinking water with food. That's when I drink the most, actually! ... Anyone a nutritionist / know about this?

GorillaNJ

Wouldn't that help you feel more full longer?

Spitfirex007

Seems a little far fetched if your ask me. I always drink water! (About 15 cups a day) So I'd like to hear what others think.

Amajoy

I have read this too. Its not just water its anything... If you have digestion problems it is recommended that you limit whatever you are drinking while you eat. Also they suggest not drinking ice cold beverages while eating as it can slow the digestion process of food.

I drink constantly, and would probably drink while I slept if I could lol but since reading that I have been more cautious of how much water I drink while I am eating. So I take smaller sips when needed.

Just_Dot

I've never heard of that...where did the article come from? If it was a reputable source, I'd be more apt to believe it, but there's a ton of shady info out there on the internet, etc.

heathersmilez

No, there is no scientific evidence to support that. Water cannot dilute stomach acid significantly enough to have that effect.

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=549283

HawkeyeGuy

Ok, you need to push your mom down, because this is simply goofy. Seriously, we need to stop finding random ideas / articles and turning them into propaganda. My own mother believes she (and most anyone else that will listen) is gluten intolerant. I'm sorry, but the number of gluten intolerant folks is quite small, but with the marketing companies and manufacturers have created a new market category and are gettting buy-in from healthy people. Drink your water with your sandwich, then go work out.

jaybaileys

Im calling BS on this one too.

whittrusty

Sounds bogus to me. I say, drink up!

anovasjo

No, there is no scientific evidence to support that. Water cannot dilute stomach acid significantly enough to have that effect.

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=549283

Thanks for the article.

The "water dilutes stomach acid" myth originates from the trend of "food combining" which originated in 1911 (way before we understood a lot about ourselves and our bodies) and was based on the idea that your body needs to be catered to specially if you want to digest properly. For instance, you're not supposed to eat "high proteins" with "high acids" or else your body won't deal with it correctly because your stomach won't produce the correct enzymes to break down the food.

It's one of those ideas that sounds OK in theory but is actually a load of nonsense.

"The food-combining theory actually preaches the opposite of what research shows about digestion. Doctors can use fiberoptic gastroscopes to look into the body and observe digestive processes as they take place in the stomach and intestines. The “neutralized digestion” food combiners caution you about does not exist. Digestion occurs when we eat, period–not during some time sensitive day shift or when we combine foods in haphazard ways."
(here: http://healthinmotion.wordpress.com/2007/12/23/facts-and-fears-about-the-food-combining-myth/)


:drinker:

ammp

I was going to say, what happens when you eat soup? lol

starryg16

Ok, glad it's a myth!

Actually, I did a quick google search (which I probably should have done before posting... sorry!), and found this article on WebMD: Water May Be Secret Weapon in Weight Loss-Study Shows Drinking Water Helps People Lose Weight and Keep the Pounds Off(http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20100823/water-may-be-a-secret-weapon-in-weight-loss). I mean... it's all stuff that seems commonsense, but it's nice to see they show scientific studies to support it, even if they're just preliminary.

And yeah, seems like any notions of the dilution of acids are founded on theories from the early 1900s (thanks again, google books)... I'll be sure to tell my mom. Thanks for everyone's input on the subject!