Is it good to drink water during meals? Bad? 3 myths and truths

First, can drinking water at meals dilute your digestive juices?

There is a myth that drinking water in the middle of a meal will dilute the digestive juices or gastric juices, which will interfere with digestion. In fact, a study conducted in a small group showed that drinking water during a meal did not dilute digestive juices or stomach acid as much. Even if it is diluted somewhat, most people conclude that it does not have a significant impact on digestive function because the digestive juices are secreted.

However, it is best not to pass food through water without chewing it thoroughly. It is often seen that elderly people with poor masticatory function roll rice in water and swallow it. If you don't chew your food enough, it will be difficult to absorb nutrients, and you may end up eating fewer side dishes with a variety of nutrients.

Second, can drinking water at meals lower salt levels?

n some cases, drinking water during meals is expected to have the effect of lowering salt intake. However, drinking a lot of water with salty foods is not enough to lower the salt level. It is more important to consume less salt itself.

Third, does drinking water before meals help with diet?

There are actually studies that show that drinking a lot of water before meals has a somewhat beneficial effect on weight loss by reducing the amount of food you eat. However, it is difficult to practice because it requires a fairly large amount of water, about 300~500cc, to reduce the amount of food you eat, and it is difficult to say that the weight loss effect is strong even if you drink that amount.