Why not drink water while eating?

Our ruling: False. There is no research or evidence to support the claim that drinking water while eating a meal can interfere with digestion, cause bloating, lead to acid reflux or have other negative health effects. Many studies and experts say that drinking water while eating can actually aid the digestion process.

usatoday.com - Fact check: Drinking water while eating doesn't cause digestive issues

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The claim: Drinking water while eating can prevent your body from properly absorbing nutrients There are many well-known health benefits to drinking water such as aiding digestion and metabolism. But a recent Instagram meme urges users to refrain from drinking water while eating, claiming that it can lead to serious health issues. "DID YOU KNOW?" starts an Aug. 5 Instagram post, which has over 2,500 likes. The post goes on to claim that drinking water while eating prevents the body from absorbing nutrients properly, causes bloating and leaking of undigested food into your system. The text meme further claims it could cause acid reflux and heartburn, a surge in insulin levels, and increase the chances of storing fat in your body.

USA TODAY reached out to the user for comment.

Fact check: Fruit does not hydrate the body twice as much as a glass of water Studies, experts: No evidence of negative impact from drinking water with a meal According to studies and experts, there is no concern that drinking water while eating will disturb digestion and cause health problems. "Water is essential for good health," Picco, who is also a consultant in gastroenterology at Mayo Clinic in Florida, wrote. "Water and other liquids help break down food so that your body can absorb the nutrients. Water also softens stool, which helps prevent constipation." The study "Gastric emptying of a physiologic mixed solid-liquid meal," published in 1982 in Clinical Nuclear Medicine, found that ingesting liquids simultaneously did not affect the rate at which solids cleared from the stomach. Other experts have also emphasized there is no evidence that water consumption during a meal has negative impacts. Debbie Fetter, an assistant professor of teaching nutrition at the University of California, Davis, told USA TODAY that there is no research showing that drinking water while eating is harmful. She said it can actually prevent bloating and aid in digestion. "It helps slow the eating process and create a smoother digestion process," Fetter said. "Having sips of fluid while eating can also help people with overeating." Maria Moore, an Atlanta-based dietician, told Southern Living, "We're not aware of any findings that a reasonable amount of water would negatively impact digestion. The stomach maintains a very acidic environment and is quite adaptable. In healthy people, the stomach secretes enough fluid and acid to accommodate the meal and get the digestion process started." Tamara Duker Freuman, a registered dietitian and author of "The Bloated Belly Whisperer," told the Washington Post that the theory that you shouldn't drink water before or while eating is "totally false." Nestlé also took to its site to debunk the myth that drinking water with a meal can lead to bloating.

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"A glass of water, when sipped slowly during a meal can actually aid digestion rather than cause any bloating!" the company's site states in a "Myth Busters" section, adding that juices and carbonated beverages can delay the digestion process.

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Drinking water while eating can provide benefits

While the post claims that drinking water while eating increases the chances of storing fat in your body, research shows it can actually help with weight loss and provide other benefits, contrary to the viral claims. Ilana Muhlstein, a weight loss expert who is part of the executive leadership team for the American Heart Association, told The Thirty that drinking water satisfies hunger hormones and leads to a "sense of calmness and fullness."

Muhlstein also noted that all foods already contain water.

"If you're eating a big salad, you are literally chewing water," Mulhstein said, who also leads the Bruin Health Improvement Program at UCLA. "Why wouldn't you be able to have a sip of water with that?" Yashoda Hospitals, a chain of hospitals in Hyderabad, India, writes on its site, "Water is any day the healthiest choice and will not interrupt your digestion even if taken in large quantities. Even after one has had a heavy meal, a decent amount of water cannot do any harm." The site notes the many benefits of consuming water even after a meal include nutrient absorption, reducing calorie intake, preventing constipation, softening stool and preventing bloating.

Our ruling: False

There is no research or evidence to support the claim that drinking water while eating a meal can interfere with digestion, cause bloating, lead to acid reflux or have other negative health effects. Many studies and experts say that drinking water while eating can actually aid the digestion process. We rate this claim FALSE because it is not supported by our research.

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usatoday.com - Fact check: Drinking water while eating doesn't cause digestive issues

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