Like Drinking Water While Eating? Here's the Impact on Digestion

Photo: Pexels/Engin Akyurt

JAKARTA - Drinking water in between meals is a habit that many people do. However, there are many myths that are spread related to this, such as it can make the stomach feel full faster to be feared to damage the smoothness of the digestive system.

Quoted from Real Simple, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Dr. Arshpreet Saraan, MD, said that drinking water while eating actually does not have a significant effect on digestion.

"If you only sip water while eating, there will be no definite increase or decrease in digestion," said dr. Saraan.

When food is swallowed, the body will process it. Food will go down the esophagus and end up in the stomach, which has digestive enzymes, which help process food in the body and all these processes can be helped by water.

Choosing not to drink while eating will not harm the body. However, providing a glass of water within reach while eating is much more recommended to maintain the smoothness of the system in the stomach.

"I've always liked to think of the digestive tract as a river, and if there's not enough food and there's not enough water, then nothing really moves," says nutritionist Mackenzie Blair, RD, CIEC.

However, there are certain conditions that require a person to avoid drinking while eating. For individuals suffering from gastrointestinal disorders or digestive problems such as GERD, this habit is not recommended.

"You're just increasing the pressure inside the stomach, so your reflux symptoms can get worse," says Dr. Saraan.

Therefore, drinking water while eating should be avoided by people with GERD. For those who do not have certain conditions, drinking water while eating is not a problem, as long as the water drunk while eating is not excessive, it can have a positive impact.

The fluid that enters will support the smooth process of lubricating food in the body. In addition, drinking water while eating can also prevent overeating.

"This can affect the signals of satiety and help you realize satiety at a reasonable level," concluded Blair.