Health

Should you drink while eating?

Drinking during a meal is said to be bad for your digestion. What is it about this rule that many know from their childhood?

Have a drink at the dinner table – yes or no? This is a question that concerns parents of small children in particular. Because they have often learned from their own parents: They only drink after eating.

The fear behind this: The liquid dilutes the stomach acid, digestion no longer works as well. Is that correct?

“There is a grain of truth there,” says Prof. Johannes Georg Wechsler, an internist in Munich. However, he does not consider it advisable to completely abstain from drinking during a meal.

The stomach acid is diluted

But first things first: The human organism produces up to four liters of gastric juice per day. This hydrochloric acid breaks down the food into its component parts, which the body then uses.

We also ingest germs with our food. Some of them are killed by the saliva. For the germs that still make it into the stomach, this is usually the end of the line: they do not survive contact with the stomach acid.

Avoid drinking altogether – but that doesn’t have to be the case. That’s what Rita Rausch from the Rhineland-Palatinate consumer advice center says: “A glass of water with a meal doesn’t hurt – on the contrary.” According to the nutritionist, the chyme that has been mixed with saliva in the mouth slides better in the direction of the stomach and intestines.

With children at the table, a compromise helps

However, Rita Rausch can understand why in some families there is a rule that drinks are only drunk after the meal. “This is often popular when children don’t have much fun eating,” says the nutritionist.

Parents are probably worried that the drink will distract their offspring from the food – with the result that the child eats little and is therefore not supplied with enough nutrients.

“There is a compromise for such cases,” says Rausch. Drinking while eating is then allowed for the little ones. But: Only one glass, the contents of which the child eats well distributed over the meal.

Drinks can drown out taste

The question arises: If a drink is allowed at the table – which one is best? “Water,” says Johannes Georg Wechsler, “to really taste the food.” It does not matter whether it is still or sparkling water or tap water. Many adults also drink wine or beer while eating – “but ultimately it spoils the taste of the food.” And on top of that, alcohol is a calorie bomb.

This also applies to lemonades, cola or fruit juices, according to nutritionist Rita Rausch. If you don’t like a glass of water while eating, unsweetened fruit tea might be an alternative.

An espresso after feasting

By the way, if you like, you can also pay attention to the temperature of the drink. “It’s best when the water is lukewarm,” says Wechsler. Because lukewarm water with a temperature of around 36 degrees stimulates the metabolism and thus digestion. That’s good after a feast.

Which, by the way, also helps digestion – at least for adults: “Drink an espresso after eating,” says Wechsler. The bitter substances contained in the espresso also help to get the digestion going. Quite apart from the fact that such a strong coffee shot after a meal is a pleasure for many.

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