Whether we can drink water after food or not is a matter of debate that gives room for mixed responses. However, it is worth noting some arguments in favour of it and also against it so that we are able to take the right stand in our daily practice.
Reasons that do not favour drinking water after food
Digestion is at its best only when we allow the digestive juices in the stomach to act on the food that we consume. When we drink more water after food, it dilutes the digestive juices and impacts and slows down digestion. Therefore, the assimilation of food happens rather partially not giving the fullest benefits of eating.
Certain foods might release gases while added with more water in the stomach. This can leave the stomach with a feeling of flatulence and fullness for a long time after eating.
It is also discovered that the consumption of water immediately after food can pave way to excess of mucous secretions. This condition can lead to associated illnesses like common colds and also loss of immune power.
Drinking water after food is found to fluctuate the insulin levels in the body thereby making the sugar levels rise. This can prove harmful especially to those who are diabetic.
Reasons that favour drinking water after food
Some researchers say that it is in fact good to drink water after food since it can leave the food diluted making it easy to digest and absorb. Often certain types of foods make it hard for the digestive juices to act on them. Therefore, diluting it can give more fluidity for the digestive juices acting upon the food consumed.
Reconciling with the contradictory views
while there are arguments both for and against drinking water after food, we need to now take the right stand that is best for us.
A dictum in Sanskrit often quoted in the Ayurveda says, “Bhojanena Amrutam Vari, Bhojanante Vishapradam” meaning, drinking water in sips along with food is like nectar (Amrut) and drinking water after food is like poisoning. In this dictum, we have a ready reckoner to reconcile with two contradictory views. We may therefore drink some water along with the food and avoid drinking immediately after the food.
A good example
Let us think of the process of making paranthas. We place the flour and add water gradually little by little during the progressive stages of mixing. Therefore we are able to prepare the dough easily. If we pour the water all of a sudden in the beginning, it is rather very difficult to mix it for the dough. In the same manner, sipping water during the course of eating shall prove beneficial to digest at the same time not diluting the digestive juices.
Useful Tips
Drink water an hour before food and an hour after food. This is considered a good practice since it helps maintain the fluid levels of the body.
If you are looking forward to lose weight, you might take a glass of water half an hour before meals so that you feel full and tend to eat less.
