Water certainly is controversial especially when you live on this side of the globe. Here in Sikaman, one does not only have to deal with issues relating to drinking water such as the quantity that is adequate and what time is most appropriate to drink, we have the extra burden of ensuring that our water spares us diseases such as cholera and hepatitis A. To add to our woes, water once again resurfaces as rain and causes destruction of property. Who is to blame?
A favourite question at most health presentations is the place of water during meals. Many people have turned experts overnight when it comes to answering this question. People have argued that drinking water will dilute digestive enzymes, alter the acidity of the stomach and by extension our body will not get enough nutrients to absorb to keep healthy. This would have certainly created a cheap and convenient avenue for weight loss don’t you think so?
I am not an advocate of drinking a gallon of water at a go in the name of water therapy but I certainly believe in the benefits of good clean drinking water. There is no “one cap fits all” rule when it comes to drinking water while eating but the points below may help clear some of the controversy:
1. I doubt if anyone drinks about 2 litres of water while eating, if you do then your meal is probably interspersed with a good dose of alcohol and probably lasts several hours. Dilution of acid and enzymes is not a problem to worry about since we do not drink too much water at meals. Drinking water before a meal certainly takes up some space in your stomach which means you may end up eating less and hence you will have fewer calories to contend with.
2. Remember the water you drink will not just ‘sit’ in your stomach and wait for extra water, it will be absorbed and some will also pass along into the intestines.
3. The enzymes that promote digestion work best in a medium of water so drinking water before, during and after a meal will help to break down your food and enhance absorption.
4. Certainly you will need to control the water intake of a child while he/she eats because they may over indulge and eat too little. This will also apply to those who need extra nutrients for various reasons.
5. Digestion is a complex process; can you imagine starving yourself of water while you eat. The whole process is no longer pleasant and it makes eating difficult.
6. Some people claim you can’t drink water up to 2 hours after a meal. Why this punishment? Life as it is can be complex, give yourself a break and do things in moderation. Drink water before, during and after a meal. You only need to remember that this is no water therapy business so please drink in moderation.
7. Finally always remember that the benefits of water are numerous and include relieving or preventing constipation, clearing waste and making us healthy. Certainly all these must be important when it comes to eating, digestion and absorption.
So go ahead and gulp down a few glasses of clean refreshing water before, during and after a meal you will be better off than those who activate their thirst centres all in the name of enhancing digestion.
Source:
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Moms’ Health Club


*Dr Essel is a medical doctor and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy and fitness nutrition.
Thought for the week – “1billion people have hypertension in the world today; by 2025 this number will increase to 1.5billion. Our health facilities are already overburdened. Do not wait to become a statistic. Adopt a healthy life style today”

References:
1. Michael Picco, MD – Mayo Clinic
2. Moms’ Health Club Archives