Today, someone told me I shouldnt drink anything with my meals. Has something to do with the way your body metabolizes the food. Has anybody heard of this. I sure would miss my Skim Milk at supper.

I always thought you were supposed to drink because it helps fill you up faster? I don't know what that one.

I found this article from Ben Lynch. I have no idea how accurate it is. But I do recall reading something very similar to this in an article a couple of weeks ago and I was surprised to see it at the time.

While eating your meal, for the most part, do not drink with it.

This dilutes the stomach acids and digestive enzymes. It is best to drink 20 minutes before your meal - this helps uptake of nutrients and move bowels.

If you feel your mouth is just so darn dry while eating, that is likely due to being:

* stressed while you eat,

* eating in a rush,

* not being aware that you are eating

* secretory glands not functioning well due to drinking during meals [conditioned not to secrete]

If any of those explain you while eating, try to adjust. Your secretory glands will regain proper function once you train yourself not to drink during meals.

If you absolutely cannot avoid drinking during meals then:

* avoid cold drinks

* drink warm to hot teas

* avoid milk during meals

Drinking cold mucousy milk during a meal is like spraying foam on a fire. It totally kills it. The Chinese call your digestive system the triple burner. It burns from below and that fire works its way up properly digesting your foods. Cold milk and beverages douse that fire.

I have actually heard of this from more than one source although i don't have any references. I aways drink while eating and I'm okay

See, when I say this stuff in mixed company, people look at me like I am NUTS! I agree with it all though.

Thanks everyone. I needed to hear it from a the pros.

A yoga teacher used to suggest not to drink for about one hour before and after meals, and of course during, to make your body work harder in digesting food. She also suggested that this would help our metabolism. I find it really hard to do though.

I personally do not buy into it, but I have one friend who grew up not being allowed to drink with meals (and she continued that way through adulthood). She, incidentally, had always struggled with her weight (I haven't seen her for years, so I don't know if she is still struggling). Another friend would not allow her children to drink their milk until after their meals only because the kids would drink all their milk and then say they were full. The milk was more of a reward for finishing the meal. Those kids are still bean poles and incidentally, they have a very large "repertoire" of food that they eat--they aren't picky at all like most kids. Then there is my SIL who would let her kids drink 2 or 3 glasses of milk with dinner and then announce they were full (mainly because they were very pick eaters and wouldn't touch the actual food). They are typical teenagers now--still a little picky in their eating habits, but they no longer drink their fill of milk to get out of eating.