Munich / Mainz (dpa / tmn) – Having a drink at the dinner table – yes or no? This is a question that particularly concerns parents of young children. Because they have often learned from their own parents: they only drink after eating.
The fear behind it: the liquid dilutes stomach acid, digestion doesn’t work as well anymore. Is that correct?
“There is a grain of truth there,” says Prof. Johannes Georg Wechsler, an internist in Munich. However, he does not consider it advisable to completely abstain from drinking during a meal.
Stomach acid is diluted.
But first things first: the human body produces up to four liters of gastric juice a day. This hydrochloric acid breaks down food into its components, which are then used by the body.
We also ingest germs with our food. Some of them are killed by saliva. For germs that still make it to the stomach, this is usually the end of the line: they don’t survive contact with stomach acid.
Avoid drinking altogether, but it doesn’t have to be that way. So says Rita Rausch, from the Rhineland-Palatinate consumer center: “A glass of water while eating doesn’t hurt, on the contrary.” According to the nutritionist, the chyme that has been mixed with the saliva in the mouth slides better in the mouth. direction of the stomach and intestines.
With children at the table, a compromise helps
However, Rita Rausch can understand why in some families there is a rule that drinks are only drunk after meals. “This is usually popular when children do not like to eat so much,” says the nutritionist.
Parents are probably concerned that the drink will distract their child from the food, with the result that the child eats little and therefore does not receive enough nutrients.
“For such cases, there is a compromise,” says Rausch. So drinking while eating is allowed for the little ones. But: Only one glass, the content of which the child eats well distributed over the meal.
Drinks can drown out the flavor
The question arises: if one drink is allowed at the table, which one is the best? “Water”, says Johannes Georg Wechsler, “to really savor the food.” It doesn’t matter if it’s still or sparkling water or tap water. Many adults also drink wine or beer while eating, “but it ultimately spoils the taste of the food.” And on top of that, alcohol is a calorie bomb.
This also applies to lemonades, colas or fruit juices, according to nutritionist Rita Rausch. If you don’t like a glass of water while you eat, unsweetened fruit tea can be an alternative.
An espresso after the feast
By the way, if you wish, you can also pay attention to the temperature of the drink. “It’s best when the water is warm,” says Wechsler. Because warm water with a temperature of around 36 degrees stimulates the metabolism and therefore digestion. That’s good after a party.
Which, by the way, also aids digestion, at least for adults: “Drink an espresso after eating,” says Wechsler. The bitter substances contained in espresso also help digestion work. Apart from the fact that such a strong coffee after a meal is a pleasure for many.
Recommended amounts of drink for children according to the DGE
