To understand this, we first need to understand how digestion works.
Digestion
Digestion starts as soon as you start chewing your food. Chewing your food thoroughly activates your salivary glands. Your salivation will create enough liquid to begin the proper digestive process.
Once food enters the stomach, it mixes with hydrochloric acid (stomach acids). The stomach also secretes digestive enzymes called pepsin (digests protein) and lipase (digests fat). When we consume extra liquids during this process it can dilute these valuable enzymes.
The stomach turns your food bolus into a liquid called chyme, which passes through the pyloric sphincter to the first part of the small intestine. The gallbladder then releases bile into the duodenum and the pancreas releases certain enzymes to help aid digestion. The small intestine joins with the large intestine which is where absorption takes place.
It is important to note that the small intestine contains finger-like projections on the inside called villi. These create more surface area to help absorb nutrients. Protein and carbohydrates are absorbed directly through the capillary network in our villi and transferred into our bloodstream. These nutrients are then used for growth, energy and building blocks of our body.
By adding liquid to the process above you are potentially diluting the system’s ability to absorb valuable nutrients.
Chewing Food
Properly chewing your food during meals is an important key to digesting food. When we take time to slowly chew your food it allows our body to process the fact that you are eating.
Swallowing well chewed food reduces stress on the esophagus and allows the stomach to digest smaller particles.
Having smaller particles can also protect from digestive issues such as indigestion, bloating, gas, and constipation.
Changing habit
If you are used to drinking during your meals slowly start decreasing the amount you drink with your meals. I recommend drinking ½ hour prior and ½ to 1 hour after consuming your meals.
As we age it is important to support our digestive system because our pancreas will produce fewer digestive enzymes. You will actually find it is harder to digest dinner over meals earlier in the day as the pancreas produces less enzymes later in the day.
Drinking Liquids
Drinking liquids is an important part of a daily habit. You should focus on drinking water throughout your day.
Try drinking 2 – 8-ounce glasses of water before you plan to have a meal. People that have created this habit tend to lose weight because the water allows them to feel fuller before sitting down to a meal and they eat less calories.
Take some time to experiment with how consuming liquids with your meal makes you feel. No matter what water is your healthiest choice. Each step you take to care for your body will allow you to achieve your ideal weight.
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