WHEN are you supposed to drink your water?

run_way
run_way Posts: 220
in Food and Nutrition
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:
«13

Replies

  • amyann2
    amyann2 Posts: 69 Member
    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
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    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
    Heaven71 Posts: 706 Member
    :drinker: Whenever you are not drinking alcohol...

    I am in a mood today! :bigsmile:
  • ZyheeMoongazer
    ZyheeMoongazer Posts: 343 Member
    Drink when thirsty, stop when not. Simple as that.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    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
    mariposa224 Posts: 1,241 Member
    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
    RunWinterGarden Posts: 428 Member
    I drink it all day long every day. I've never heard about times when you aren't supposed to drink.
  • CottonCandyKisses
    CottonCandyKisses Posts: 246 Member
    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
    YoshiZelda Posts: 340 Member
    I drink it with every meal and all day honestly. Never heard that before and wouldn't follow that.
  • His_Buttercup2015
    His_Buttercup2015 Posts: 114 Member
    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
    tonytoo Posts: 307
    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
    meredith1123 Posts: 843 Member
    :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
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    I take swallows of water off and on all day long, including with meals.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    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
    seths_wife Posts: 76 Member
    Drink whenever you need a drink. Works for me. :smile:
  • Nickstery
    Nickstery Posts: 324 Member
    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
    dellis83 Posts: 20 Member
    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
    Camille0502 Posts: 311 Member
    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
    earvizu92 Posts: 320 Member
    24/7.........:drinker:
  • run_way
    run_way Posts: 220
    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
    ZeonDax Posts: 10 Member
    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
    run_way Posts: 220
    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
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    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
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    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
    ctpeace Posts: 327 Member
    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
    EEfromJersey Posts: 219 Member
    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
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    Try not to drink while sleeping. Otherwise, it's pretty much when you're thirsty. Water, tea, coffee, whatever.
  • starracer23
    starracer23 Posts: 1,011 Member
    Drink yo water all day, every day. Just know that you will pee more and that includes having to wake up and go. :D
  • crimsoncat
    crimsoncat Posts: 457 Member
    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
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    this isn't rocket surgery. just drink water whenever you want.

Categories