Drinking liquids with meals: Good or bad?

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Some people believe that drinking water with rice is bad for the digestive system or that the habit of eating and drinking at the same time can cause toxins to accumulate, leading to a variety of health problems. To answer this question, the article provides an evidence-based review of how drinking water with rice affects your digestion and health?

1. What is a healthy digestive system?

To understand why drinking water with rice is thought to cause digestive upset, you should first understand how normal digestion works.
Digestion occurs first in the mouth as soon as food begins to be chewed. Chewing stimulates the salivary glands in the oral cavity to start producing saliva, which contains enzymes that help break down food. Once in the stomach, food will be mixed with acidic gastric juices, continue to be digested and broken down into pieces to create a thick liquid called chyme.
Down to the small intestine, chyme is mixed with digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile acids from the liver. These substances further break down the chyme, preparing each nutrient to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Most nutrients are absorbed as the chyme moves through the small intestine. Only a small portion is left to be absorbed when it reaches the large intestine. Once in the bloodstream, nutrients move to different areas of the body. The digestive process ends when the remaining substances are eliminated in the stool. Depending on the type of food you eat, this entire digestion process can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours.
In a nutshell, during digestion, food is broken down throughout the organs so that its nutrients can be absorbed into your bloodstream.

2. Does drinking water with rice cause digestive problems?

As many people know, drinking enough water daily brings many benefits. However, some people believe that eating and drinking at the same time is not a good idea. Here are the three most common arguments used to claim that drinking water with rice is bad for your digestion.

2.1 Alcohol and acidic drinks negatively affect the salivary glands

Some people think that drinking alcoholic or acidic beverages with meals dries up saliva, making it harder for the body to digest food. Alcohol reduces salivary flow by 10-15% per unit of alcohol. However, this mainly refers to spirits, not the low alcohol content found in regular beers and liquors. On the other hand, acidic drinks seem to increase salivation. Finally, there is no scientific evidence that alcohol or acidic beverages, when consumed in moderation, will negatively affect the digestion or absorption of nutrients.

2.2 Water, stomach acid and digestive enzymes

Many people believe that drinking water with meals will dilute the acid in the stomach and digestive enzymes, making it more difficult for the body to digest food. However, this statement implies that your digestive system cannot regulate its secretions with meals, which is false.

2.3 Fluids and Digestion Rate

A third popular argument against drinking water with rice says that liquids accelerate gastric emptying, especially solid foods. This is thought to decrease the meal's exposure time to stomach acids and digestive enzymes, resulting in poorer digestion. However, there are no scientific studies to support this claim. One study that analyzed the emptying of the stomach observed that, although liquids pass through your digestive system faster than solids, they do not affect how quickly solid foods are digested.
In short, drinking liquids such as water, alcohol or acidic beverages with meals is unlikely to harm the digestive system.

3. Liquids Can Improve Digestion

Fluids help break down large chunks of food, making it easier for them to slide down the esophagus and into the stomach. They also help move food smoothly, preventing bloating and constipation.
Furthermore, your stomach also secretes water, along with gastric acid and digestive enzymes, during digestion. In fact, this water is needed to promote the functional activity of these enzymes. In summary, whether consumed during or before a meal, fluids play several important roles in the digestive process.

4. Water can reduce appetite and calorie intake

Drinking water with meals can also give you a temporary break during a meal, giving you time to check your hunger and satiety signals. This can prevent overeating and even help you lose weight. In addition, a 12-week study found that participants who drank 500ml of water before each meal lost 4.4 pounds (2kg) more than those who did not. Research also shows that drinking water can speed up the body's metabolism, by about 24 calories for every 500ml of water you consume.
Interestingly, the number of calories burned decreases when the water has been warmed to body temperature. This may be because your body uses more energy to heat cold water up to body temperature. However, the effect of water on metabolism is very small and does not apply to everyone.
Remember that this mainly applies to water, not calorie drinks. In one review, total calorie intake was 8–15% higher when people drank sugary drinks, milk, or juices with meals
In summary, drinking water with rice can help reverse feelings of appetite, prevent overeating and promote weight loss. This does not apply to calorie drinks.

5. Target groups at risk

For most people, drinking water with rice is unlikely to negatively affect digestion.
However, if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eating and drinking at the same time can affect you negatively. That's because liquids add volume to your stomach and increase stomach pressure in the same way as when eating a large meal. This can lead to acid reflux for people with GERD.
In short, if you have GERD, limiting fluid intake with meals can reduce your reflux symptoms.
When it comes to drinking water with rice, base your judgment on what feels best. If eating and drinking at the same time causes pain, feels bloated, or worsens acid reflux, drink liquids before or between meals. In healthy populations, there is no evidence that you should avoid alcohol with meals. Conversely, beverages consumed just before or during a meal can promote smooth digestion, leading to optimal hydration and leaving you feeling full. Of all the liquids, just remember that water is the healthiest choice.
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Reference source: healthline.com