Is it okay to drink water during meals?

Is it okay to drink water during meals?

The habit of drinking water during meals is a topic with many differing opinions.

Some say it impairs digestive ability,

while others claim it actually aids digestion.

So today, let's explore the health effects of drinking water during meals.

< A burden for those with weak digestive function >

If you have weak digestive function, you need to be careful about drinking water during meals.

Drinking water increases the volume of food,

which means there's more to digest.

In fact, for patients with reduced digestive function due to gastric resection surgery or similar procedures,

eating rice and drinking water separately is known to be suitable.

< Water helps if digestive function is normal >

On the other hand, if your digestive function is normal, there's no problem drinking water during meals.

If the food is salty or spicy, you naturally crave water,

and in such cases, it's better to drink water rather than forcibly suppress your thirst.

Water can dilute the salt or spicy components in food, reducing irritation to the stomach.

However, when drinking water, it's best to sip it slowly, one or two mouthfuls at a time,

because drinking a large amount of water all at once can negatively affect digestive function and cause an upset stomach!

Therefore, drinking slowly allows for better absorption into the body and can actually facilitate digestion.

And another important point!

Drinking plain water is also crucial.

Many people replace water with carbonated drinks or juice during meals.

When you're thirsty, plain water is more helpful than beverages containing sugar or liquid fructose,

and if you dislike the taste of plain water, you can add lemon, mint, lavender, or other herbs to it.

Source: Kormedi.com