How much water can I drink at meal times?

"I drink a lot of water during my meal times and wondered if all that fluid would affect the digestive enzyme from working?  I know it sounds silly but is there a rule or anything saying how much you should drink or not drink when eating."

No, not at all.  Digestive enzymes are still secreted and will still digest proteins in the stomach.  Carbohydrates are already partially digested in the mouth and will continue to be digested in the small intestine.  Fats will not be solidified by cold water.  The water your drink goes straight to the small intestine and is absorbed through the lining to produce, amongst other things ... digestive aids!!

The small intestine is largely alkaline and this is assisted by the body being adequately hydrated.

Let's put it another way - dishwashing liquid emulsifies fat on a frying pan....If you put that frying pan in water with dishwashing liquid, will the water neutralize the effects of the dishwashing liquid.  No, in fact, it enhances the washing process.  Don't underestimate how smart your body is.  Food contains water, so doesn't it seem silly that the body wouldn't be able to cope with this?

It seems fairly logical that adding alkaline water to acidic stomach would create a neutral environment, but it doesn't work this way, stomach acids don't sit in the gut waiting for food, they are excreted from the organs when there are carbs, proteins and fats to be digested. 

The general rule of thumb is to consume 2L of water daily (more if active) but some of this water comes from your food and metabolism so there is no need to drink huge amounts of water with a meal, a cup will suffice.

The idea that heaps of water fills us up and encourages us to eat less calories is not entirely true as water leaves the stomach fairly quickly - but if it helps you, then by all means keep doing it.  Gulping water can also lead to us gulping air into the stomach which can make it feel full and bloated for a while.

If you are having tummy problems, please try drinking less water to rule out air and bloating, and from there keep a food diary and work on eliminating some of the suspected trigger foods.  See a nutritionist or dietician if you need help with any digestive issue.

Stacey, July 10