Can I drink water immediately after eating?

Many people are used to eating with water. And it is customary to finish the meal with compote, tea or a cup of invigorating coffee. But doctors have a negative attitude to this habit. They are categorically against the use of any drinks, including plain water, after eating. This negative attitude to such a manner of eating is caused by many reasons. We will try to deal with each of them in order.

The benefits of water

Water is not in vain considered a source of life. After all, the human body consists of more than 70% of water. For this reason, all organs and systems need constant replenishment of this component, which is important for life. People who consume insufficient amounts of clean water are prone to various diseases and often complain of poor health.

Water is essential for the normal course of digestive processes: it speeds up metabolism, increases appetite, and normalizes acidity. We must not forget that the liquid provides the normal cleansing of the body from toxins. Of course, here we are talking about the amount of liquid that can be considered the norm. Each person has his own indicator, because it depends: on his weight, physical activity, individual characteristics and some other factors. On average, an adult should drink up to 3 liters of clean water per day. The volume of fluid that a particular person needs is easy to calculate by the formula: body weight (in kilograms) must be multiplied by 30 ml.

Cons of consuming water after eating

The negative side of the habit of drinking water immediately after eating is due to the fact that saliva is involved in the process of chewing food. It contains enzymes that break down food. Thanks to this processing, food is safely absorbed by the body. If you drink food with water, this important process is disrupted, and in the stomach there are no enzymes that are in saliva. Therefore, the habit of drinking food with water completely violates digestion, and the body as a result loses a lot of nutrients.

Another minus is that water dilutes the gastric juice, which affects the quality of food processing. But there are still other negative factors that should be recalled:

1. Cold water, like other drinks, shortens food processing times. This leads to the fact that a person consumes more calories due to the constant feeling of hunger.
2. Cold liquid immediately enters the pyloric part of the duodenum. Therefore, it is not absorbed at all.
3. Cold liquid significantly slows down the course of metabolic processes, and this, in turn, does not allow you to quickly remove toxins and toxins, which leads to decay processes in different parts of the digestive tract.
4. Since food is poorly absorbed, if a person drinks water during eating, this leads to weight gain.
5. And another negative feature - the intake of cold drinks in the food process contributes to the development of gastritis and dysbiosis.

Given all of these factors, nutritionists recommend drinking liquid after the body has completely coped with the digestion of food. This process usually takes 2 hours. At the same time, any cool drinks, even after the specified period, the body will perceive as the next meal.

What should be the temperature of drinks

Warm drinks contribute to normal digestion. Therefore, they can be drunk without fear immediately after eating.A sufficient volume of warm liquid quickly satisfies hunger, and this is a good quality for fighting excess weight. In addition, warm drinks will only contribute to regular bowel cleansing and prevent constipation.

Icy water, quenching thirst in hot weather, can cause significant damage to health. Therefore, such refreshments should not be carried away at all. Nutritionists recommend drinking at room temperature about half an hour before meals. And for people who cannot sit at the table without a glass of water, experts advise drinking warm liquid.

Convenient time for drinking fluid

Without water, man simply cannot exist. But in order for this source of vitality to really benefit, you need to know what time it is best to drink it. Here is what drinking regimen recommended by nutritionists:

1. In the morning on an empty stomach, you should drink up to 0.4 liters of fluid. This volume will help fill up the deficiency of fluid accumulated during the night's rest. In addition, the habit of drinking a glass of water in the morning will help “wake up” the stomach.
2. Before going to bed, it is better not to drink any drinks at all, because this can lead to swelling. Only with strong thirst is it possible to drink a small amount of warm water.
3. As for the ability to drink during a meal, it is better not to combine these two measures. To prepare the digestive tract for the upcoming work, it is enough to drink a full glass of water half an hour before the meal.
4. After eating, you can only drink any drinks after two hours.
5. If you are thirsty, then regardless of the time of eating, you can drink drinks that satisfy this unpleasant feeling.

Water is very necessary for our body. Without it, not a single system and organ can fully work. It is no coincidence that ancient legends tell about the healing power of living water, which is able to give energy, and literally put a hopelessly sick person on its feet. But in the traditions of the ancestors there is also a mention of the dead water. These analogies, as well as possible, are confirmed by the results of research by modern scientists. In many respects, what drink he drinks depends on the person himself. In order for water to bring only benefits, it is enough to follow the simple recommendations of the specialists who were listed here.

Video: is it possible to drink water, tea, coffee immediately after eating