In the old days, the trick to obtaining a full stomach quickly was to drink a sip of water before and after each bite of food. It was a tedious method that I found to be difficult to practice. I may have tried it once or twice during a meal, but I knew it would not be something that my psyche or body could tolerate on a regular basis.
About a year ago, I read that you should not drink water while eating. In fact, according to The Times of India, drinking water while eating may severely hamper the stomach’s digestive powers and cause insulin levels to spike or fluctuate significantly. Macrobiotic counselor, Shonali Sabherwal, warns against drinking water with a meal because it may dilute the digestive juices that the stomach releases in anticipation of the meal that is about to be consumed. The article states that drinking a sip or two of water while eating should not cause an issue, but drinking a glass or two may cause digestive issues.
It would appear that the best course of action is to make sure that you are hungry and not thirsty before you even begin eating a meal. Search this website for the post called “Feelings: Separating Thirst from Hunger” for more information. As noted above, a few sips during the meal is fine, but you should not drink a full glass or two of water until approximately two hours after your meal.
The reason you may feel the need to drink so much water during the meal may be because the meal is salty or you are inhaling your food. Both of these issues can trigger the thirst reflex. Avoid salty foods and chew your food slowly so that it is properly moistened before it is swallowed.
