Drinking while eating

[Ruffius]

Hello!

I was wondering what do you AM fellas think about drinking while eating?

Some nutrition specialists say that eating and drinking don't mix (Google: "Eating and Drinking Don't Mix") and others are convinced that drinking is actually good for digesting.
It seems that many nutrition specialists are on the opposite sides on this.

Another question for you is that are there any specific drinks and meals that definitely mix, or vice-versa don't mix?


I've done some small research on the web on this, but haven't found anything conclusive yet.

 

[Tone]

I learned at a wellness seminar that you shouldn't drink while you eat. You are supposed to drink first and then not drink at all until 20 min after you have finished your meal due to a malfunction in digestion.

Thats what I learned but I don't follow it, I need to have something to drink while I eat.

 

[manny1010]

hmmmm I have never heard of this before. Seems interesting.......eager to hear what others have to say.

 

[babywifey]

I don't understand why drinking would inhibit digestion. If anything it seems to me that having more water in your stomach with food would help with digestion. :/

 

[spres444]

my dad doesnt drink until after hes done eating, and ive always called him a wierdo for it.

but he just does that because back in his day you hada like finish your meal or something wierd like that before you drank, wierdos

 

[wbted23]

I am pretty much always drinking water and staying hydrated, so I could never eat without drinking. As long as you arnt guzzling water between bites I doubt it will matter much...I would think a few sips during your meal could only help lubricate things a bit, and make digestion easier. Granted, thats just an assumption, but I dont see why it wouldnt...

 

[tim1985]

Water dilutes stomach acids

 

[Ruffius]

Yes, they say that drinking dilutes the stomach acids and digestive enzymes. Others say that it doesn't.. well, it's quite confusing. I guess it's also relevant, WHAT you drink. Some advise to take a small shot of apple cider vinegar or other aperetive prior to eating to encourage acidity in the gut and to create more appetite.

But it definitely makes sense - at least to me - that drinking reduces the saliva content in the mouth. Saliva also has some important digestive functions.

The digestive functions of saliva include moistening food, and helping to create a food bolus, so it can be swallowed easily. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase that breaks some starches down into maltose and dextrin. Thus, digestion of food begins in the mouth. Salivary glands also secrete enzymes (salivary lipase) to start fat digestion.

And something more on this (sry I can't post urls just yet):

If you feel your mouth is just so darn dry while eating, that is likely due to being:

* Stressed while you eat.
* Eating in a rush.
* Not being aware that you are eating.
* Secretory glands not functioning well due to drinking during meals [conditioned not to secrete].

If any of those explain you while eating, try to adjust. Your secretory glands will regain proper function once you train yourself not to drink during meals.

 

[Tone]

* Stressed while you eat.
* Eating in a rush.
* Not being aware that you are eating.
* Secretory glands not functioning well due to drinking during meals [conditioned not to secrete].

If any of those explain you while eating, try to adjust. Your secretory glands will regain proper function once you train yourself not to drink during meals.[/I]

This would explain why I have to have something to drink during meals I guess I have just always done it. I seem to have poor digestion as well. I will have to try this out and see how it works for me.

Good information!!

 

[jimmbow]

I saw in a movie if you eat bread then water it will expand and kill you.

Other than that I never heard of this, in fact it seems like some weird thing you do when you eat with the Queen or something.

 

[japiranio]

ha i was to lazy as a kid to get up and make myself a beverage. iv gone my whole life with not a drink till after i finish my food. Iv never had problems

 

[drivehard]

when I was a kid, I would drink and drink and not eat anything, so my parents ended up not letting me have anything to drink until I finished eating. To this day, I don't drink a drop when I eat...and finish a glass of water a little time afterwards..

 

[Steveoph]

I try and avoid drinking 15mins prior and 30mins after eating. I feel my food digests better this way; adding in liquids will dilute your digestive enzymes making it harder to break down the foods IMO. That's just what I do, doesn't make it right or wrong though

 

[buuzer0]

I have no rules. If I'm thirsty while eating, I drink a beverage. It's never given me any problems.

When I first saw this thread I thought it was talking about drinking alcoholic beverages while eating. I like beer as much as the next man, but I honestly don't find that it makes my meal any better... I'm much happier with a water, sweet tea, or dr. pepper!

 

[Cinn]

Yes, they say that drinking dilutes the stomach acids and digestive enzymes.

Who is "they?" They are wrong.

 

[Ruffius]

Who is "they?" They are wrong.

Can you back it up with adequate research review?

To answer your question (Who is "they?"):

1. Benjamin Lynch, has a BS degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington. Currently, he is obtaining his doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University (2005).

2. Dr Ben Kim (Quote: "I studied at the University of Toronto before going on to earn my Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1997 at the National University of Health Sciences in Illinois. I graduated summa cum laude and class salutatorian, and more importantly, I walked away from my years of formal education with an excellent foundation in basic and clinical sciences").

3. Many users in various fitness and bb forums.

 

[fieldt76]

I think this thread is a little nit picky... It seems natural to drink while eating

 

[Chub]

i just love a pint of milk along with my spaghetti bolognese

 

[Cinn]

Can you back it up with adequate research review?

To answer your question (Who is "they?"):

1. Benjamin Lynch, has a BS degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington. Currently, he is obtaining his doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University (2005).

2. Dr Ben Kim (Quote: "I studied at the University of Toronto before going on to earn my Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1997 at the National University of Health Sciences in Illinois. I graduated summa cum laude and class salutatorian, and more importantly, I walked away from my years of formal education with an excellent foundation in basic and clinical sciences").

3. Many users in various fitness and bb forums.

I'll be happy to offer up research but the burden of proof is not on me at this point as I did not make the original claim. Do you have some peer-reviewed sources? There is plenty on this subject.


I will say a couple things, though. So far the two arguments seen in this thread have been:

1. Drinking liquids dilutes stomach acid.

This idea is flawed because the pH of gastric juices is maintained well just like everything else in the body. As the H+ concentration drops because of added liquids, proton pumps will compensate.

2. Drinking liquids dilutes digestive enzymes.

This idea is flawed for a couple of reasons. The first is that water is rapidly absorbed in matters of seconds to minutes(largely dependent on how hydrated one is) so the idea that whatever you drink stays with the food all the way through the digestive system is incorrect. The second is that liquids are required for digestion. If you don't drink while eating, more will be released to compensate.


Hope that helps.

 

[Ruffius]

I'll be happy to offer up research but the burden of proof is not on me at this point as I did not make the original claim. Do you have some peer-reviewed sources? There is plenty on this subject.


I will say a couple things, though.
....

Thanks for the answer! Well if you read my posts, I haven't claimed a thing I referred to the statements that different sides have been making and asked for opinions.

It makes me wonder though, why do so many universities teach the future doctors that drinking is not good during eating if there was no scientific basis.

Yes I have already read the theories that you posted, but to me these are just theories and the "don't drink while you eat" camp theories sound equally convincing - they also have used this theory successfully in their practice with clients, at least they say they have.

My personal experience is that when I drink cold water during a meal that has relatively high fat content (baked eggs and bacon) I start feeling some pain in the stomach. But to make it clear - I don't want to absolutise my experience on the subject in general.

I guess this is another subject that doesn't have a simple conclusive answer.

 

[majinbijiita]

ha i was to lazy as a kid to get up and make myself a beverage. iv gone my whole life with not a drink till after i finish my food. Iv never had problems

Same thing here. It probably had to do with being poor, so when there was food - I ate it. I can always drink water later.

The only thing I can say that is kinda on topic is that drinking a large, cold glass of water before a meal was shown to increase metabolism 33%. I read this when I was trying to be manorexic.

 

[Cinn]

Same thing here. It probably had to do with being poor, so when there was food - I ate it. I can always drink water later.

The only thing I can say that is kinda on topic is that drinking a large, cold glass of water before a meal was shown to increase metabolism 33%. I read this when I was trying to be manorexic.

That is incorrect. However, living outside in Antarctica is great for burning fat.