‘Stay hydrated’ are the two words you constantly keep hearing during summers. Drinking water is essential for your good health as it helps in digestion, nutrient absorption and keeps you cool inside out. It is advisable to drink at least 2-3 litres of water every day. However, chugging an entire glass of water right after your meals does not count. It is usually not considered good for health.
To verify whether drinking water after meals is okay or not, OnlyMyHealth team spoke with Dr Swati Darade, BAMS DYA, Ayush Dispensary, Satara, Maharashtra.
Explaining why one should avoid drinking water after meals, Dr Darade said, “The habit of drinking water immediately after meals can cause bad metabolism, poor digestion and inadequate absorption of nutrients.”
Digestive Issues
Your stomach works like a well-oiled machine, producing digestive juices that break down the food you eat. Dr Darade said, “Drinking water immediately after meals can dilute the gastric juices and digestive enzymes making it difficult to digest food effectively.”
She suggested that people who have weak digestion, digestive disorders, anaemia, liver and kidney problems should avoid drinking excessive amounts of water after meals. “Moreover, the side effect of consuming water immediately after eating is that by diluted gastric juices & enzymes (digestive) the undigested food enters the large intestines faster than it should. This in turn may affect the natural absorption of nutrients as well as altering the natural time of digestion By consuming water we get more hunger pangs, leading to overeating & bloating issues.”
Causes Obesity
As mentioned above, water consumption after meals can cause difficulty in digestion if consumed right after meals. Now this undigested food, as per Dr Darade, contains lots of glucose which gets converted into fat and gets stored in the body leading to obesity.
Also read: The Right Time To Drink Water During Meals For Weight Loss
Hamper Blood Sugar Levels
If you are someone who is mindful of blood sugar levels, this is crucial information. The food which is not digested properly due to water intake after meals, can convert into fat as it contains lots of glucose. “This fat is stored in the body leading to a spike in insulin which imbalances the blood sugar levels in the body and can cause diabetes.”
Inadequate Nutrient Absorption
You eat food to nourish your body, right? However, when you drink water right after having meals, the dilution of stomach acids and digestive enzymes can interfere with the absorption of vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, according to Dr Darade. Thus, even if you are eating a well balanced diet, your body might not get the benefits of it if you chug a glass of water after eating.
Also read: 8 Reasons Why You Should Just Not Be Drinking Ice Cold Water in Summer
Referring to Charaka Samhita, Dr Darade said “People suffering from hiccups, dyspnea, or coughing, or the people who are engage in singing, lecturing, or studying should drink water after eating as it takes away unctuous quality of the meal eaten from the throat and chest and leads to vitiation of doshas.”
Conclusion
While staying hydrated is crucial for good health, the timing of your water intake can make a big difference in your digestive efficiency and overall comfort. Ideally, aim to hydrate about 30 minutes before a meal to help prepare your digestive system. After eating, wait at least 30 minutes before reaching for that glass of water.