WHEN are you supposed to drink your water?

run_way

This has been a point of confusion for me. I have heard that you are not supposed to drink your water too close to your meals - like not for a half before or until an hour after you've eaten.

I eat every 2-4 hours and I'm a slow eater, so that would leave me a very narrow window to get all of my water in.

I usually just drink it whenever I want, but I was wondering has anyone else come across this? Is this just total B.S.?

:drinker:

amyann2

I've never heard of it before. Doesn't make sense to me.

Considering that some people think you should eat 5-6 smaller meals per day, that REALLY wouldn't leave time to drink water!

I would just drink it when you want to, or drink it constantly throughout the day. I always have water at hand.

melsinct

I have heard that you are not supposed to drink your water too close to your meals - like not for a half before or until an hour after you've eaten.

That is ridiculous and utter BS. Drink when you are thirsty. There is no magic amount to drink, just stay hydrated (you can tell via your pee color):
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/857659-the-definitive-how-much-water-do-i-really-need-thread

Heaven71

:drinker: Whenever you are not drinking alcohol...

I am in a mood today! :bigsmile:

ZyheeMoongazer

Drink when thirsty, stop when not. Simple as that.

melaniecheeks

I just keep a bottle of water by me at all times - in my desk, in the car, in my handbag - and swig from it every 10-15 minutes. I don't worry about how close to mealtimes that is. I drink water with my meals too.

mariposa224

I have never heard that, ever in my life... I drink a ton of water. Partly because I know it's good for me to stay hydrated, partly because I tend to be over on sodium pretty much daily & drinking a lot of water helps counteract the water retention that the sodium overload causes... And partly because it helps me feel full. As far as "when" to drink it? I start first thing in the morning & stop by 8PM most of the time. Reason for that being: if I stop by 8PM, I usually won't have to get up to pee in the middle of the night, even if I've had 18 8 oz servings in a day.

RunWinterGarden

I drink it all day long every day. I've never heard about times when you aren't supposed to drink.

CottonCandyKisses

Silliest thing I've heard all day. Drink whenever. I drink water all day along, and lots of it. Even with my meals and while I'm cooking them and before bed.

YoshiZelda

I drink it with every meal and all day honestly. Never heard that before and wouldn't follow that.

His_Buttercup2015

I've heard a lot about drinking water lately. Drink a glass before you eat so you eat less (for those dieting), if you're thirsty you're already dehydrated, on and on. I really don't think there's a good or bad time to drink water. I just keep it handy to remind myself to drink more of it.

tonytoo

I drink 1.5 litres through the day at work and then another 1/2 litre during the evening.

I drink when I'm thirsty, no timings at all...

meredith1123

:drinker: Whenever you are not drinking alcohol...

I am in a mood today! :bigsmile:

you beat me to it! Drink water when you arent drinking alcohol! actually drink water in between your alcohol drinks too. helps with the hangover and deydration the following day!

KenosFeoh

I take swallows of water off and on all day long, including with meals.

Hellbent_Heidi

I've never heard of anything like that...I drink water all day long. I often drink a big glass of water before meals because it helps me feel full sooner, (thus eliminating the likelihood of overeating when I've actually had enough food)

Out of curiosity, what was the reasoning you heard behind this silly theory?

seths_wife

Drink whenever you need a drink. Works for me.

Nickstery

I drink 3 20oz bottles of water each day.

I drink them as I want them and have no problem hitting this while eating food or not.

Especially during the work week I will fill up my first one around 0830 and have it done before 1000 for a second one and have that done by lunch time and then able to drink a third one throughout the day. If I want more I will drink more.

dellis83

This has been a point of confusion for me. I have heard that you are not supposed to drink your water too close to your meals - like not for a half before or until an hour after you've eaten.

I eat every 2-4 hours and I'm a slow eater, so that would leave me a very narrow window to get all of my water in.

I usually just drink it whenever I want, but I was wondering has anyone else come across this? Is this just total B.S.?

:drinker:

Actually the opposite, it is good to drink water right before you eat.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/198720.php

Camille0502

There are certain types of dogs (barrel chested) that are not supposed to drink water after they eat. It is believed that this can bring on a condition called "bloat" that is very deadly. (The dog in "Marley and Me" died from this). Beside that, I've never heard of humans needing to limit when they drink water.

earvizu92

24/7.........:drinker:

run_way

Haha thanks everyone, that's what I assumed but I just heard it randomly (can't even recall where, now that I think of it) and wondered if there was any merit to it at all.

ZeonDax

It's hard enough for me to drink 8-8oz glasses. It would be harder for me if they were scheduled! So I fill 4-16oz bottles with lemon flavored Stevia drops to help me with my daily intake....I did notice that since I'm prone to Migraines, If I don't drink all 4 I end up with a headache the next morning....Let's me know that I dehydrate very easily!

run_way

I've never heard of anything like that...I drink water all day long. I often drink a big glass of water before meals because it helps me feel full sooner, (thus eliminating the likelihood of overeating when I've actually had enough food)

Out of curiosity, what was the reasoning you heard behind this silly theory?

I think the reasoning was that it makes you process your food faster/makes you hungry again/process your food so that you absorb less nutrients (?) I have no idea really, It's just one of those strange "facts" that the internets told me and stuck in my memory for some reason :embarassed:

etoiles_argentees

I don't know... I just drink when I'm thirsty. I have seen a lot of this, but I've never really looked in to it.

It has less to do with the passage of food being broken down and more to do with absorption. Food will interfer with maximal absorption of the product. Small intestine is for nutrient absorption and the large intestine is water absorption and waste removal. It goes Stomach-> small intestine->Large Intestine->Rectum. The stomach does most of the breaking down but doesn't really perform much if any absorption. So, ideally, you wouldn't want to have anything in your stomach that delays gastric emptying. As well, you wouldn't want a large meal or be in times of stress becuase those will factor into delaying gastric emptying as well. Otherwise you take the product and it will get held up in food when it comes time for absorption, and possibly pass right through.

Hellbent_Heidi

Haha thanks everyone, that's what I assumed but I just heard it randomly (can't even recall where, now that I think of it) and wondered if there was any merit to it at all.

Doesn't surprise me. Once you start telling people you're eating better, working out, losing weight or whatever.....they come out with ALL kinds of crackpot theories and advice! :ohwell:

ctpeace

I have actually heard this, but from a latina grandma who didn't want me to "spoil my apetite". If you're here, you likely wouldn't mind that particular effect! Drink up!

EEfromJersey

I always drink my water when my body screams for it and a doggie like thirst comes over me always have to be careful that water isn't that ranger blue color in it and then i'll drink like a lobster would....ahhhhh

RllyGudTweetr

Try not to drink while sleeping. Otherwise, it's pretty much when you're thirsty. Water, tea, coffee, whatever.

starracer23

Drink yo water all day, every day. Just know that you will pee more and that includes having to wake up and go.

crimsoncat

At least in our animal nutrition class we learned that water is THE most important nutrient because without it you'll die rather quickly. Everything else takes a week or more to cause a problem. Therefore, I would conclude that you should just drink it and not worry so much. If you're thirsty, DRINK.

Only thing I would add to that is don't drink a ton of water before a really hard workout as some people (me) puke on a full stomach. Try to drink it slowly during the workout to avoid that.

Capt_Apollo

this isn't rocket surgery. just drink water whenever you want.