Let's toast!

I like drinking very much.  I like different kind of drinks, and I like to drink after a meal.  Somebody told me it is no good to drink too much after a meal, as it may dilute gastric juice and as a result, it will affect efficient digestion.  Is it true? 

Different nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine.  What stomach does is to reduce the size of food bolus, making it easier for the nutrients to be absorbed later in intestine.  As a matter of fact, nutrients are absorbed in liquid form, or to be more precise, vitamins, minerals, sugars, amino acids and fatty acids are absorbed in aqueous form or in suspension of oil droplets.  All the absorption processes happen in small intestine.  It is therefore not surprising that drinking does not reduce the efficiency of nutrient absorption.  If you don’t drink enough, dry bolus of food such as bread or rice, would not only be difficult to ingest, but also not easy to digest, not to mention absorption of nutrients. 

It is an oriental wisdom that we have soup before a meal.  Why soup before a meal?  It is because soup provides us with small amount of nutrients, allows us good appetite before main courses or main dishes, and it induces the secretion of digestive enzymes, which is good for better nutrient absorption.  Therefore, it is not a problem to drink before a meal.  The same logic applies to drinking after a meal.  So, don’t forget to have enough water or liquid when having meals.  Bon appétit!