SOME refrain themselves from any form of drinks during their meals as they believe it could affect their digestion. It is said that water can weaken the digestive juices or stomach acid.
Does drinking water while eating reduce the acidity of stomach acid or hinder the digestive system?
Verdict:
FALSE
No, it certainly does not! Medical practitioners debunked this myth, drinking water before - during or even after a meal won’t affect the stomach’s "performance".
Many physiological processes that happen in the body require an aqueous environment, meaning drinking water is actually essential in aiding digestion.
The pH value of our stomach acid is below 1 (<1), which shows that it’s 100,000 times more acidic than water (pH 7).
Therefore, it’s impossible to dilute stomach acid by drinking water.
According to several studies, drinking water has digestive benefits - food can be broken down and travel more easily through the system, which in turn eases constipation. Nutrients and water will be absorbed into the bloodstream as well as used to form stool.
References:
2. https://www.allrecipes.com/article/drinking-water-while-eating/
