Is it healthy to drink liquids before, during, and after meals?

 

We are all guilty of drinking water before and after meals. Is that habit, however, truly harmful to one's health? Let's have a look. For the longest time, we've been informed that drinking water before a meal is bad. Even immediately after a meal, drinking water is not regarded as a good habit, especially among our elderly. But have you ever tried to figure out why or what the truth is? If not, we're here to assist you.

Did you know that according to Ayurveda, we must drink water whenever we feel thirsty? Though mixing water and meals has long been a contentious topic, some people feel that drinking water before and during meals impacts the digestive system, while others disagree.
HealthShots decided to consult an expert to find out the answer. Dr. Vipul Rustgi, MBBS MD Medicine, Apollo Spectra, Delhi, describes the advantages and disadvantages of drinking water before, during, and after meals. Also, see our weight-loss advice.

Is it allowed to drink beverages or water before and during meals?

Some believe that drinking water before and during meals is unhealthy for you, arguing that it might cause digestive problems. However, according to Dr. Rustgi, "drinking water before eating can help with digestion."What about sipping your beverage while eating your meal? Water and other liquids aid in the breakdown of meals so that nutrients are properly absorbed by the body. Not only that, but water softens feces, which means you'll be able to avoid constipation. You'll be able to get rid of bloating as well. Additionally, this will aid in digestion.

Furthermore, drinking water with meals can assist you in pausing between bites, allowing you to assess your hunger and fullness signals. As a result, drinking water before and throughout meals can aid in weight loss. "Water makes you feel full, so you won't overeat and can maintain a healthy weight," Dr. Rustgi explains.

Is there any harm in drinking water before eating?

Yes, they do! Drinking water before a meal can help you feel full and lessen your appetite, which can help you lose weight. Are you aware, however, that this technique can cause a rise in insulin levels in the body?" Drinking water while eating can boost insulin levels, exactly like high-glycemic foods," adds Dr. Rustgi. When the body is unable to digest foods effectively, the glucose-rich portion of the food is converted to fat and stored." As a result of this process, the body's insulin levels rise, and blood sugar levels rise as well.

A person may develop acidity concerns as a result of this, or an existing chronic acidity problem may worsen. "If you have acidity on a frequent basis, it could be as a result of drinking water during meals." To digest the food, less gastric juice is released. "Then the undigested food leaks into the system, causing acidity and heartburn," Dr. Rustgi explains.

Also, see our weight-loss advice.

Weight loss Advice from People Who Have Actually Done It in a Healthy Way

 

Our mission is to offer weight-loss content that is based on honesty, research, and insight into what you can realistically achieve while trying to reduce weight in a healthy way. We believe it's critical for you to understand that the biological link between health and excess weight isn't clear—and that your BMI or weight on the scale isn't a reliable indicator of health. Learn more about the effects of diets and diet culture on physical and mental health.

Now is that wonderful time of year when we're set to be inundated with diet ads on Instagram, and it's up to you to sort through the clutter. Making the decision to reduce weight and modify one's lifestyle is a very personal one. Diet culture clichés, fatphobia, and the push to adhere to whatever body type is fashionable to make it a hard, difficult, and often perplexing endeavor. So, before you make any adjustments to your diet (as in what you eat, not an eating plan), or your life, you should understand the complexity of weight and weight reduction.

According to Kimmie Singh, RD, founder of Body Honor Nutrition, a Health at Every Size (more on that in a minute) private practice, the first step is to consider how your life might change if your weight changed. Rather than obsessing over the number on the scale or the way you look, write down what a healthy lifestyle means to you. Chronic disease management, maintaining a sense of personal hygiene, engaging in actions that promote mental and physical health, and cultivating healthy relationships are all examples of this, according to Singh.

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It's important to understand that losing weight or having a smaller body does not equate to being healthier. Linzy Ziegelbaum, R.D., founder of LNZ Nutrition, thinks that weight loss isn't necessarily necessary for good health. "Varied people have different 'healthy' weights, medical history, and medical demands," says the author. So, no, "weight loss" and "better health" don't go hand in hand.

That long-overdue understanding transformed many health professionals' perspectives on weight and health, spawning the Health at Every Size (HAES) movement, which advocates for size acceptance and promotes long-term lifestyle improvements such as balanced nutrition and physical activity wherever possible.

The realistic approach to accepting HAES begins with unlearning diet culture, which can be difficult AF because it is so deeply embedded in our everyday lives and has been for far too long (thanks, body-shaming tabloid covers, trend diets, and fatphobia). Recognize the influence of diet culture on your connection with food, health, and body. To help remove the lifetime of diet culture BS we've all been spoon-fed, Singh suggests looking for books, articles, or podcasts on themes like anti-dieting, HAES, body acceptance, and intuitive eating.

The truth is that criticizing someone (or even yourself) for their weight does not help them (or you) lose weight. Fatphobia and weight stigma inflict significant harm to all people. We will all be happier and healthier if healthcare professionals, dietitians, and society focus on preventative healthcare (such as frequent checks), behaviors, and physical and mental health (rather than body size).

Second, attempting to lose weight as quickly as possible almost never works out. "Many people who lose weight quickly do so in an unhealthy manner," Ziegelbaum explains. Cutting out entire food groups (such as refined carbs or dairy), severely limiting calories (1,200 calories per day is NOT enough), and overexercising have all been shown to have a negative impact on mental health and contribute to disordered eating behaviors, according to Ziegelbaum. "Having a healthy relationship with food requires experiencing pleasure and satisfaction," Singh explains. So, at the conclusion of a night out, don't be scared to eat your favorite Flaming Hot Cheetos (IYKYK) or a slice of greasy pizza.

Plus, if your primary goal is to lose weight quickly, you may feel like a failure if it doesn't happen as quickly as you had intended. Isn't it clear how this mindset undermines everything?

Finally, the healthiest method to reducing weight is to focus on building food and activity routines that are accessible and pleasurable to you. Maintaining a healthy weight involves eating nourishing foods that make you feel invigorated, taking some exercise every day, sleeping at least eight hours each night, and finding strategies to reduce stress. This method allows you to achieve your goal without feeling deprived or unhappy.

We asked women to submit their weight-loss methods, such as balanced eating and activity adjustments, that have helped them maintain their weight over time. It's perfectly fine if their advice doesn't work for you.

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