Drinking water while eating dilutes stomach acid and weakens digestion. Your stomach needs that acidity to kill pathogens and break down food. Carbonated water is even worse because the bubbles further interfere with the process.
Drink water when you're eating or no? And why?
The stomach is meant to be a very, very harsh acidic environment. You guys know that because if you vomit, it's horrible. It's very acidic, right? It like burns. But that's what we want because that stomach acid is what should, A, kill off any pathogens we're potentially exposed to, dead on contact. The second thing is that really helps break down our food. People that get acid reflux, they eat and they're immediately bloated and they feel like stuff is just stuck in their stomach. Usually it's the opposite of what people think. They think they need to take antacids. Usually those people actually need more acidity. You're putting 10 ounces of water into your stomach. What is that going to do to the acid concentration? It's going to make it less acidic.
At a time when you need it to be high acidic because you're— Right.
And most other cultures, they also think it's crazy that we drink water with meals. They don't do that. And one of the worst things you can do from digestion, sparkling water with a meal. Why?
Is it sparkling water specifically?
The carbonation.
Oh.
