Drinking while Eating

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but I have a quick question. Is it bad to drink while you eat? In my younger years I was told that it was not good to drink water with my meal, but to wait until I was done because I'd be able to digest my meal better and not gain weight. Is this true? Does any body know what its based on?

Weight change is dictated by energy balance. Given equal energy balance in both situations (drinking during meals vs drinking before or after) there will be no difference.

I remember being told repeatedly during college that if you drank alcohol while eating everything you eat turns straight into belly fat & cellulite since you only burn the alcohol.

True story. :drinker:

I've always drank water/juice throughout meals, always. More so when I was younger and I was really skinny as a kid!

I pretty much always drink beer while eating meals.

Actually, I've always heard that you should always drink water with your meals because it helps to break down the food faster. Plus, it takes up space in your stomach so you eat less. I don't know how much science is behind it, but I don't think I could get through a meal without something to wash it down.

What about foods high in water content? Should we dehydrate cucumber before eating?

That is amazing given the fact that you have lost many pounds. What type of beer do you drink? I usually drink and then get the muchies and screw it all up.

I had Lapband surgery and have been told NOT to drink with my meals. It is because if you drink liquids with your meal - it helps flush the food thru your system - therefore you do not feel full as long as if you didn't drink.

I always heard if u drink a glass of water before each meal u wont eat as much... but im not much of a water drinker

I tend to drink before and after my meal vs with it. I think it's all just personal preference.

I had Lapband surgery and have been told NOT to drink with my meals. It is because if you drink liquids with your meal - it helps flush the food thru your system - therefore you do not feel full as long as if you didn't drink.

I've been told not to drink water while eating, but I have GERD and had my gall bladder removed. The water breaks down the acid in my stomach, making it harder to digest food. Or something like that.

Both are excellent reasons, if advised by a physician.

But it's the stuff that these myths are made of - advice given to an individuals, or group of individuals, that have special needs, but is then assumed to be the right thing for everyone.

Personally, I'll continue chugging a big ol' glass of water with every meal.

i know so many people that can eat a meal with no drink, i think it is so so weird!

bump

I drink a lot of water (or whatever my choice of beverage) at meals, sometimes to the point when I go out to eat I annoy the waitress/waiter because I need so many refills. I often just ask for a pitcher to be left at my table because I will drink 6-8 glasses of water during a meal. I can't eat without drinking. I have only noticed good things with increased water consumption. This just from a real life practical application of my normal habits.

From a health/medical standpoint (take this as you will, I'm not a doctor, just a lowly paramedic) water is like oxygen and blood, if you don't have enough you cease to function. Our bodies are composed of >60% water. When people become dehydrated (signs include thirst, decreased urination, lack of skin recoil (pinch the skin on your hand if it doesn't immediately return to normal, or is slow to return, this isknown as tenting), headache, nausea, vomiting) they're metabolic functions become strained. Severe deydration can cause fainting (among other things) and shut down the kidneys. Notice if you haven't peed in the last four to six hours, you are dehydrated and need WATER!

Moral of my rant is water is good and it helps digestion but if you feel better, function better, without drinking anything then do what works. I prefer to drink a lot of water, I feel like it helps my loss and keeps the headaches at bay.


"Air goes in and out, blood goes round and round, any variation to this is bad... and requires immediate intervention."

The primary benefit for most people with normal digestive systems is that by not "washing down" meals with liquid, you tend to more fully chew your food. I had never thought about this until told by a friend who does this. And I definitely tended to wolf stuff down, especially when hungry. So while I still drink liquids while eating, I make a conscious effort to slow down and really chew, and it has helped my digestion.