It's generally recommended to wait 30 minutes to an hour after eating before drinking a significant amount of water, allowing your body to properly digest food without diluting stomach acids, though small sips are usually fine; however, some experts say water during meals is fine or even helpful, so listening to your body is key. Waiting helps your body focus on breaking down nutrients, but if you're thirsty, small amounts of warm water or sips are okay, with large volumes best spaced out.
Most advice suggests that drinking water at least 30 minutes after eating is suitable for the functioning of organs in the body. According to many folk beliefs and experiences, water used during meals will dilute acid in the stomach.
Drink one glass of water 30 minutes before a meal to help digestion. Remember not to drink too soon before or after a meal as the water will dilute the digestive juices. Drink water an hour after the meal to allow the body to absorb the nutrients.
Does drinking water during or after a meal help or harm digestion? Water doesn't cause problems with digestion or thin body fluids used in digestion.
The 20-minute rule for eating is a mindful eating strategy suggesting it takes your brain about 20 minutes to receive fullness signals from your stomach, so eating slowly, taking at least 20 minutes for a meal, and waiting 20 minutes before seconds helps prevent overeating by aligning consumption with satiety, reducing unnecessary calories, and improving digestion.
We grab a bottle of water and guzzle it down, often in one go, to satisfy that thirst. But that's not really the best way to hydrate, says Lindsay Baker, PhD, a senior principal scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. “In general, it's best to sip a little bit throughout the day,” Baker says.
Drink plenty of fluids to aid digestion
It's important to keep drinking, especially water. It encourages the passage of waste through your digestive system and helps soften poo. Fibre acts like a sponge, absorbing water. Without fluid, the fibre cannot do its job and you'll get constipation.
Liquids leave the stomach faster because there is less to break down: Plain water: 10 to 20 minutes. Simple liquids (clear juices, tea, sodas): 20 to 40 minutes. Complex liquids (smoothies, protein shakes, bone broths): 40 to 60 minutes.
The 40-Minute Average Journey to Your Bladder
It usually takes 40 minutes for water to get to our bladder. This time can vary. It depends on how hydrated we are, our health, and how well our kidneys work.
It's common to see undigested food in your poop, especially if you eat high-fiber foods. These foods are sometimes harder for your body to fully digest or break down. A digestive issue, such as food allergies or intolerances, can also cause undigested food in stool if high-fiber food is not the culprit.
Understanding foods that are digested quickly
Diet: Consume a whole-foods, plant-based (WFPB) diet that provides the fiber, all the essential nutrients, and antioxidants for a strong gut, a healthy immune system, and a healthy you. Avoid animal products and processed foods. Physical activity: Exercise regularly to boost good digestion and good bacteria in the gut.
Signs of bad gut health include digestive issues like bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn; skin problems such as acne or eczema; mood changes like anxiety or depression; fatigue; sugar cravings; and unintentional weight changes, all stemming from an imbalance in your gut microbiome (dysbiosis). These symptoms can signal that your gut isn't processing food and eliminating waste effectively, impacting overall well-being, notes Healthdirect and GoodRx.
Frequency (how often you poop)
Some people have bowel movements several times a day. Others only go once or twice a week. A general rule is that going longer than three days without pooping is too long. After three days, stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass.
You've probably heard the advice to drink eight glasses of water a day. That's easy to remember, and it's a reasonable goal. Most healthy people can stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever they feel thirsty. For some people, fewer than eight glasses a day might be enough.
The 7 common signs you're not drinking enough water include thirst and dry mouth, dark, infrequent urine, fatigue and headaches, dizziness, dry skin, constipation, and bad breath, all signaling your body needs fluids for functions like toxin flushing, nutrient transport, and maintaining energy, with urine color (pale yellow is ideal) being a great self-check.
25 water-rich foods to help you stay hydrated this summer
Symptoms that are common to both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis include:
The 7 Day Gut Reset is a clean-eating and lifestyle-based plan designed to: Eliminate common gut disruptors. Introduce healing, nourishing foods. Support your digestive system with hydration and rest. Improve the diversity of your gut bacteria.
Our gut microbiome is made up of good and bad bacteria. The aim is to feed and promote the growth of the beneficial bacteria. To do this, we can focus on the '3Fs' – FOOD, FITNESS and FASTING.
Bone Broth – rich in collagen, gelatin, and amino acids like glutamine, which help strengthen the gut lining, repair the digestive tract, and reduce inflammation. Ginger Tea – known for its soothing effects on the digestive system.
Spotlight the Super Six:
When it comes to the plants you eat, you want to eat from across the six different plant groups: vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes (beans and pulses), nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices.
To empty your bowels completely, use proper toilet posture (lean forward with knees higher than hips using a footstool, elbows on knees) and the "MOO" technique (brace waist, bulge abdomen forward) to facilitate natural evacuation, alongside a diet rich in water and fiber, and regular physical activity to promote healthy bowel movements. For immediate relief or persistent issues, natural remedies like lemon water or olive oil, and sometimes over-the-counter aids or enemas, can help, but consult a doctor for chronic problems.
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich (PB&J) adds about 33 minutes to your healthy lifespan per serving, according to a University of Michigan study that measured life expectancy impacts of over 5,850 foods using the Health Nutritional Index (HNI). This sandwich tops the list for adding time, with nuts and seeds also being highly beneficial (around 25 mins) and processed items like hot dogs subtracting time.
The hardest foods to digest are typically fried and fatty foods, processed foods, and items high in certain fibers or sugars, like cruciferous vegetables, legumes, onions, garlic, and dairy (for the lactose intolerant), as well as red meat, due to their fat content, complex fibers (like cellulose in corn), or FODMAPs, slowing stomach emptying and potentially causing gas, bloating, or cramps.