There are many myths about whether or not it is advisable to drink water during and after meals, the truth is that water is essential for the human body and its functions.
Staying hydrated is important to ensure a good diet, hence the recommendation to drink enough water during the day. However, doubts are raised about how beneficial or harmful it can be to drink water during a meal.
According to one Mayo Clinic research Drinking water does not affect the digestive process, nor does it interfere with eating, contrary to what many people think.
Drinking water helps digestion
Believing that water dilutes or affects the effectiveness of digestive juices or interferes with digestion is not true. On the contrary, drinking water during or after a meal improves the digestive process, as it helps to break down and process food.
He gastroenterologist Michael F. Piccoexplains that “drinking water during or after a meal helps digestion (…) Water and other liquids help break food into small pieces so that the body can properly absorb nutrients and also prevent constipation.”
Both water and other beverages we ingest are vital for health, due to their effects on breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.
Drinking water guarantees the functioning of our body, which is made up of approximately 60% of water. Drinking water helps soften the stool, and prevents constipation.
Importance of water in the body
The water we drink is used by our for different functions such as respiration, perspiration, urine and bowel movements.
That is why it is necessary to drink enough water to ensure the proper functioning of the body, as well as drinks and foods rich in water.
The recommendation of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine The US fluid intake for adults is 15.5 cups or 3.7 liters of fluid per day for men, while 11.5 cups or about 2.7 is recommended for women. liters of fluids per day.
In this amount of liquid are included in addition to water, other drinks and food. According to the academy, 20% of the liquid we consume daily comes from food and the rest from drinks.
Recommendations when drinking water
Specialists affirm that water consumption is related to the type of activities you do, for example, if you practice any sport, you will have a higher requirement than a sedentary person.
Our body gives signals that tell us that we are drinking enough water. For example, we are rarely thirsty or the urine is colorless or light yellow.
To know exactly how much water and fluids you should drink, you can still go to a nutritionist to draw up an eating plan and make the necessary recommendations for your case.
Keep reading:
. How much water does our body need and what happens if we don’t drink it?
. Dangers of dehydration in older adults: how it occurs and what to do
. Can drinking water on an empty stomach improve my health?
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