Doctors and specialists confirm that there is a middle way
Is drinking water while eating harmful? The question is still open
Drinking a lot of water during a meal causes stomach acid to be diluted.
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Is it possible to drink water while eating?
This question is asked especially by children, many of whom have learned from their parents that you should not drink water until they have finished a meal.
The reason behind this advice is that fluids ingested during eating dilute stomach acids, which hinders digestion.
Is this true?
"Indeed, there is some truth in that," said Jonas-Georg Fischler, head of the Federal Authority of German Dietitians. "If you drink a lot during a meal, it actually dilutes stomach acids."
In spite of this, it is not recommended not to drink at all while eating.
With regard to stomach acids: the body produces about four liters of them per day, as it breaks down food into individual compounds for further processing.
It also kills most germs that are digested with food, which saliva in the mouth has not killed.
For her part, Rita Rausch, a nutrition expert at the Consumer Advice Center in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, said that there is no harm in drinking water while eating.
She explained, "A glass of water during a meal does not harm, but on the contrary is beneficial," as it helps transport the food that has been chewed and mixed in the mouth with saliva to the stomach, and from there to the intestines.
But she expressed her understanding of the rule followed at mealtime in some families, which requires eating food first and then drinking water afterwards.
"It is often appropriate when children are not having much fun while eating," she said, noting that parents worry that drinking water will distract children from eating, causing the child not to eat a great deal of food and not get adequate nutrition. .
"There can be a middle ground in such cases and that is to allow the child to drink something while eating, but only one cup, divided over the course of the meal," Rausch added.
It is not harmful for children - according to Fischler - to drink during meals, but what is the best drink?
"It's water, so the kids can really taste the food," he answers, adding that "it doesn't matter whether it's tap water or bottled water, sparkling or non-sparkling."
He pointed out that drinking a glass of water before a meal can also be a good idea, especially for those who have to monitor their weight or are on a diet.
He explained that "water expands the stomach, creating a feeling of average fullness that limits appetite, and makes it more likely to eat less food...although there is no scientific evidence that drinking water reduces weight."
Whether drinking water before, during or after a meal, Fischler advises, "It's better to have lukewarm water." Water at a temperature of 36 degrees stimulates metabolism, and thus digestion, which is especially useful if you eat a large meal.
necessary compensation
Drinking fluids is essential, because the body loses about 2.5 liters of water per day, through sweat, for example, even without strenuous physical activity.
If this loss is not compensated for through drinking, the body will not be able to optimally supply itself with oxygen and nutrients.
This may manifest, for example, in the form of difficulty concentrating, headache and fatigue, warned the head of the Federal Authority of German Dietitians, Jonas Georg Fischler.
Rita Rauch:
"The child can be allowed to drink one cup during the meal, and divided over the course of the meal."
Many have learned that you should not drink water until you have finished eating. The reason behind the advice is that fluids taken during eating dilute stomach acids, which hinders digestion.
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