Should you drink when you eat? Staying properly hydrated is vital to your health, but for some, there are question marks over whether drinking during meals is good or bad for our bodies. Knowing the pros and cons of drinking water while eating can help us with better digestive health. So, we’ll look into the benefits of drinking during meals and the potential downsides of what happens if we don’t.

Should you drink when you eat? YES!

Drinking water is one of the healthiest things you can do. It keeps your body lubricated, hydrated, and maintained, and keeps us functioning properly day and night. So, surely it’s OK to drink when you eat? Let’s look at a few of the benefits.

Better digestion

Drinking water at meal times helps break down food, making it easier for your stomach to process and absorb nutrients. This is perfect for a healthy digestive system. It also helps form chyme – a mix of partially digested food, fluids, stomach acids, and enzymes – which is essential for good digestion.

Stops overeating

Water can make you feel full, so you actually eat less at mealtimes. Drinking a glass of water before or during your meal can help you stop overeating, which is great if you’re watching your weight and getting healthy.

Improved nutrient absorption

Certain nutrients dissolve in water, making it much easier to absorb them into your bloodstream. Drinking water during meals allows vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins, to be delivered to the right place and used effectively by your body.

What happens if you don't drink during meals?

With several benefits, it’s usually a good idea to make drinking water a habit when you eat. However, while not potentially life-threatening, eating your meal without water can cause discomfort and be bad for your health. Here are a few disadvantages to not drinking enough. 

Dehydration risk

Skipping water during meals could dehydrate you, especially if you don’t drink enough fluids at other times of the day. Being dehydrated could cause health issues, including headaches, tiredness, and lack of concentration.

Difficulty swallowing and digesting

Swallowing food can be easier with water, especially if the meal is dry or salty. Without water, swallowing may be difficult or uncomfortable and also slow down the digestive process. Water is a great lubricant, helping food travel smoothly from your mouth to your stomach.

Potential constipation

Without drinking enough water during meals, it can be hard for your digestive system to process food efficiently, leading to harder stools and potential constipation. Water helps to soften the stool and give you a smooth exit.

Drink Thirsty Work water when you eat

So, while it’s not essential to drink when you eat, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. Drinking water is always beneficial to your health and having a glass of cool or ambient water when you eat certainly does you no harm at all. 

But if the taste of your mains tap water puts you off, why not use a mains-fed water cooler for the sweet taste of fully filtered water straight from your tap? With advanced filtration, this cooler eliminates all bad odours, funny tastes, and contaminants that standard tap water could miss – even microplastics.

To find out more about our range of mains-fed or bottled water coolers, call us and speak to our customer service team and get your free quote or start your no-obligation, 10-day free trial. Call today on 01392 877 172 or email hello@thirstywork.com and start adding water to your meals.