Dismiss wacko water theory
DEAR DR. BLONZ >>
A natural health practitioner was a guest at a recent dinner engagement. She declined the water offered, saying that drinking water with or immediately after the meal dilutes the enzymes and gastric juices meant for digestion, causing digestive problems. This became a lively topic of discussion at the table. She also mentioned that those who drink water might face the consequence of abnormal weight gain because the undigested food can start to rot in the system, producing toxins and belly fat, resulting in obesity. That was shocking to hear, and most went silent. I wanted to check this out before I mention this to the host who held the dinner, as she is a client of the practitioner, who, she had told me, has a widespread practice.
DEAR S.F. >> Let's calm any notion that a glass of water with a meal is risky business. There is no evidence — it's nonsense! — that water will mess with digestion and create rot and toxins in the body.
Our secretions of digestive juices are based on the type of foods consumed; these get released at points of the digestive tract to perform specific actions on foods. Digestive enzymes break apart complex substances into smaller pieces on the way to being made available for absorption. Key here is the understanding that adding water does not change the amount of the substances in need of enzymatic breakdown — water does not “dilute” enzymatic action. Water can facilitate mixing and contact between an enzyme and its targets. Also important to consider is that water requires no digestion, being effectively absorbed in the stomach and at other points.
Our stomach does release acid to help denature proteins as a first step to breakdown; that acid also helps destroy pathogenic organisms. The release of acid is governed by the need to establish a pH correct for the type and amount of food needing that digestive action. Acid sufficient to have the needed effect will get released; that, along with water absorption, helps maintain the needed pH while food is being processed in the stomach.
The other rather silly assertion relates to indigestion. No question that indigestion can give rise to discomfort, as incompletely digested foods can end up in places where they are not welcome, causing bloating, cramping and other forms of distress. But this indicates the food and its calories have not been processed and absorbed.
It's hard to see the purported connection between obesity and increased belly fat with the inefficient digestion of food and absorption of its calories. The mention of the production of toxins and “rot in the system” stemming from that water is also a bit wacko. My compliments for your skepticism.