Does drinking water after meals cause digestive disorders?

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Drinking enough water is always recommended to help the body metabolism better. However, there is some opinion that drinking water after eating causes digestive system problems. So, is it good to drink water after eating? How long should we drink water after eating?

1. What are the benefits of drinking water with meals?

The ancients often thought that if you eat and drink at the same time, it will dilute the gastric juice or cause digestive problems. But if we have that habit, how long should we drink water after eating to ensure safety? Most advice says that drinking water at least 30 minutes after eating is suitable for the movement of organs in the body.
Despite this, scientific studies still do not prove any cause for digestive disorders when using water during and immediately after meals. Here is a finding of the effect when you use water with meals:
Changes in the level of stomach acid According to many folk beliefs and experiences, water used with meals will dilute the acid in the stomach . However, from the point of view of science and clinical analytical evidence, water has almost no effect on the concentration of acid in the stomach.
Impact on the digestive system but to different extent for each person Drinking water before, during or after eating is a habit that is not common in everyone. However, young children tend to prefer drinking water while eating, while adults choose before or after a meal. The effects of drinking water on the digestive system are also not so obvious. Sometimes that happens depends on the body of each person.
Some people report feeling bloated and gassy when drinking water with each meal. However, this has not been proven true or has any convincing evidence. Experts say that this expression may appear due to the psychological effect of drinking water causing digestive disorders.
Create a feeling of fullness to help you lose weight thanks to the method of limiting calorie intake. Many subjects when implementing a weight loss diet have maintained the habit of drinking water before meals. This is a way to fill the empty space in your stomach to help you feel full and not want to overeat during the main meal. This way you will limit the amount of calories you eat from food and lose weight without harming your health.

2. How does drinking water after a meal affect the digestive system?

Drinking enough water is an action to ensure the health of each of us. But the question of whether drinking water after eating is good has made many people hesitate. You can drink water at any time without worrying that this will affect the digestive system. In fact, drinking water has the effect of increasing the ability to digest food in the intestine.
Water is a liquid that helps soften food particles or break down their large structure to make it easier for the body to absorb nutrients. At the same time, this is also considered as a transporter to help food quickly go to the intestines for digestion. Thanks to that, there are many opinions that drinking enough water will help you prevent the risk of constipation and indigestion.
Water has an effect on appetite or the ability to absorb calories no longer individual subjects. Water has been studied as having no calories but creating a feeling of fullness when you drink it 1 glass before a meal. Therefore, maintaining the habit of drinking water before eating will make you full and eat less.

3. Benefits of drinking water after eating

You can drink water while eating no matter how much. Sometimes the food we use or the dish like soup, soup is a different state of water. Therefore, the act of drinking water before, during or after a meal is healthy and not harmful to health.
You can completely drink water after eating as long as the body feels comfortable. At the same time, if you maintain this habit, you will receive the following benefits:
Water helps to liquefy and soften food in the stomach Water increases the ability to absorb nutrients needed by the body Thanks to its softening effect food, drink enough water every day will reduce the risk of constipation Drinking water creates a feeling of fullness to help you reduce calorie intake Water acts as a derivative to help food move through the digestive system more easily Optimizing hydration helps the body to increase metabolism So it is impossible to conclude whether drinking water after eating is good because it depends on each person's body. However, drinking water does not cause digestive disorders but also supports better digestion and body purification.

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References: mayoclinic.org, lybrate.com