Debunking the myth that food should not be consumed with water, coffee, and tea

Claims that water, tea, or coffee should not be consumed during meals because they supposedly disrupt digestion and stretch the stomach do not correspond to reality.

As BAKU.WS reports, Oksana Mikhaleva, an endocrinologist, dietitian, and candidate of medical sciences, told Gazeta.Ru about this.

According to her, one common misconception is that food should not be washed down with any beverages, as this supposedly dilutes hydrochloric acid and worsens the digestion process.

"In reality, the stomach always produces exactly as much acid as is required to process specific food. This is facilitated by chemoreceptors that monitor acid concentration and regulate its production. If a person drinks while eating, the temporary decrease in gastric juice concentration is simply compensated by additional acid production, and digestion is not disrupted. On the contrary, more moistened food mixes better and is more accessible to gastric juice," the expert explained.

Mikhaleva also dispelled the myth that liquid during meals can stretch the stomach. According to her, this is impossible because water leaves the stomach very quickly and does not have time to affect its size.

"The stomach can only be stretched by regular and significant overeating. Liquid has nothing to do with this. Moreover, in some cases, doctors even recommend drinking with food - for example, for people with gastrointestinal diseases to facilitate digestion, or for overweight individuals: water soaks the fiber, increasing its volume several times, which accelerates the feeling of fullness," the doctor clarified.

Regarding tea and coffee, the specialist emphasized that their moderate consumption during meals is also safe. Sometimes one might hear the opinion that the tannins contained in these beverages interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals.

"This is incorrect. Tannins do not affect vitamin absorption at all. They may affect mineral absorption, but this mainly concerns mineral supplements. Minerals contained in food are bound to amino acids and other molecules, so a small amount of tannins from one or two cups of a beverage does not affect their absorption," Mikhaleva explained.

She added that when taking mineral supplements, additional precautions are needed. Tea and coffee can reduce the absorption of supplements with magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, and calcium, so it is recommended to take a break of two to four hours between beverages and taking them. This also applies to certain medications.