Should You Drink Water During Meals? A Nutritionist Explains

Many of us have heard the advice to avoid drinking water during meals, often told to wait until after finishing eating. But is this really necessary? Nutrition expert Dr. Maya Rosman explains when drinking water is fine and when it might cause digestive issues.

According to Dr. Rosman, healthy individuals do not need to worry about drinking water while eating. The digestive system produces sufficient acids and enzymes to break down food efficiently, even when liquids are consumed alongside a meal. Your body can easily adjust to the slight dilution caused by drinking, ensuring proper digestion.

However, for those with digestive sensitivities such as reflux, heartburn, diarrhea, or intestinal inflammation, Dr. Rosman advises limiting liquids during meals. Drinking while eating may cause food to move backward in the digestive tract, increasing discomfort or aggravating conditions like diarrhea.

Dr. Rosman also notes that certain foods such as soup contain significant amounts of liquid. From a digestive perspective, consuming a liquid-rich dish like soup is similar to drinking water during a meal, as the body processes it alongside nutrients without issue.

In summary, for most healthy people, drinking water during meals is safe and does not interfere with digestion. Those with specific digestive concerns, however, may benefit from separating their fluid intake from eating to reduce discomfort.