Oksana Mikhaleva, an endocrinologist and nutrition specialist, states that the belief that drinking water, tea, or coffee with meals impairs digestion or causes bloating is a widespread myth with no scientific basis.
اضافة اعلان
According to Dr. Mikhaleva, the first common myth is that no liquids—whether water, tea, coffee, or juice—should be consumed with food because they dilute stomach acid and hinder digestion.
She explains:
“The stomach always secretes the necessary amount of acid to digest any food. It has chemical receptors that measure acid concentration and regulate its production. While drinking liquids temporarily dilutes gastric juices, the stomach cells compensate by producing more acid, so digestion is not affected.”
She adds that moister food mixes better with gastric juices, which contributes to faster and more efficient digestion.
Mikhaleva also rejects the myth that drinking liquids during meals causes stomach bloating, confirming that liquids do not cause this at all.
She clarifies: “Water is absorbed quickly and leaves the stomach within minutes, so it doesn’t have time to expand it. Bloating occurs due to chronic overeating, not drinking liquids.”
The doctor notes that drinking liquids with meals can be beneficial in some cases, such as certain digestive disorders, because it helps make food more homogeneous and easier to digest. It may also aid people who are overweight, as liquids cause dietary fibers to swell in the stomach, increasing its volume 2–3 times and enhancing the feeling of fullness more quickly.
Drinking tea and coffee with meals in moderation is also harmless, contrary to popular belief. Some claim that tannins in these beverages inhibit vitamin and mineral absorption.
Mikhaleva explains:
“This is incorrect. Tannins do not affect vitamin absorption at all, and their effect on minerals is limited, mostly noticeable only with mineral supplements. Minerals naturally present in food are bound to other molecules, often amino acids, so their absorption is not affected by a cup or two of tea or coffee.”
She emphasizes caution when taking mineral supplements, as tea and coffee may interfere with the absorption of magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, and calcium. She recommends leaving a 2–4 hour gap between consuming these beverages and taking supplements. The same applies to certain medications.
— gazeta.ru
