Tuesday's Change Week 24 - Stop drinking with your meals!

This might seem like a strange one but it's something I've found works really well for me. I don't just mean don't drink alcohol, I mean don't drink anything at all! No water, milk, tea, fizzy drink. Nothing. Nada, Niente!

Do not drink anything 30 minutes either side of eating.

Why would you do such a thing? Let me explain:

Drinking liquids during your meal dilutes your naturally occurring digestive enzymes and stomach acids which makes it harder to breakdown food. This can lead to 

- Bloating

- Weight gain

- Digestive diseases such as IBS, Constipation, Acid reflux, Allergies etc

- Discomfort and feeling sluggish

You shouldn't need to drink with meals if you 

- Chew your food adequately - producing enough saliva to stimulate digestion

- Eat slowly and mindfully

- Are already properly hydrated

Focus on hydrating yourself between meals vs. during meals. You’ll still be adequately hydrated throughout the day with this method and allow your food to be digested without complicating matters for your stomach and intestines. Check out my posts here and here to learn more about staying hydrated.

If you absolutely have to drink something with your meal then drink warm water and drink it sparingly. Lots of little sips. Cold water slows down the power of the digestive enzymes and thus retards the digestive system. Body temperature water is ideal as the body doesn't have to work to equilibrate the temperature and can focus on breaking down your food. 

A small glass will likely not interfere with digestion and by adding some lemon or ginger you can aid in the digestive process further. Ginger tea is common on most Asian menus and is often drunk with meals. Ginger helps to aid digestion and relieve any discomfort you might feel in the digestive tract. 

This might seem bizare at first and you might keep reaching for the glass in between mouthfuls. but give it a go for at least the 7 days. Try and wait at least 30 minutes after eating before you reach for that cup of tea! The longer the better!

Any questions just let me know.