Don't drink water with your meals!

Many of us have heard that drinking at least eight glasses of water a day is required to stay healthy and hydrated.  While this is true, many individuals make the mistake of chugging large quantities of water with their meals.  Drinking lots of water (especially cold) while the body is working hard at processing a meal can actually dilute the levels of digestive acids, and bile.  In some cases, too much COLD water during a meal can impede digestion and actually cause cramping in more sensitive individuals.  

Knowing when to drink water can make a
significant difference in how you feel.

Tips:

1. Drink about 30 minutes before a meal and 60 minutes after a meal.  This appears to be the general rule but I personally feel good on 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after.  

2. Warm water appears to aid in digestion over cold/iced beverages.  Cold drinks are problematic to those that have digestive issues.  The theory is that the body is forced to use energy to heat the cold water thereby resulting in water loss.  Also, when cold water passes through the digestive tract, the temperature will solidify the fats from the foods just eaten causing bloating, cramping and gas.  Whether or not these are the exact mechanisms as to why cold water (especially during and after meals) is problematic, I have personally found that drinking warm/room temperature water to be much better on digestion.

3. Don't forget to drink water throughout the rest of the day! Aim for about a glass of water every hour to hour and a half. You may go the bathroom a lot at first, but your hydrated body will function a lot better!

4. For those that find it impossible to not drink during a meal,  try to sip on a little bit of water every five minutes.  This will keep your mouth from feeling dry.  You can also add a little a piece of lemon (Vitamin C) or apple cider vinegar (helps with digestion).


I will end things off on an interesting note that drinking a fair amount of water before a meal can actually result in weight loss.  According to Discovery News:

“The reason could be physical. According to some research, water consumption might spark the body to produce more heat, boosting metabolism and burning more calories. Or, drinking more water might simply make people less likely to drink a lot of high-calorie sugar-filled beverages.”

Whether or not the fat-loss is a result of a physiological reaction or a caloric deficit, this is one more reason
to drink your water before your meals!



Sources: 

Discovery News August 23, 2010
American Chemical Society National Meeting August 22-26, 2010, Boston MA

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