1. Do not drink water while eating

Many people have the habit of drinking water while eating to help food go down easier. But this is a mistake. When people drink water during meals:

- Water will dilute saliva, reducing the ability to secrete digestive enzymes.

- Gastric juice is diluted, affecting the ability to absorb nutrients.

- Undigested food can accumulate into fat, easily causing weight gain.

If you feel dry mouth, you can drink a small sip of water before eating, or drink water about 30 minutes before to support better digestion.

2. Drink small sips, do not gulp

Many people only drink water when they feel thirsty and tend to drink very quickly to save time. But drinking water too quickly can do more harm than good. Because when drinking water too quickly:

- Easily causes bloating, flatulence.

- Dilutes digestive juices, making the stomach work less effectively.

- Swallowing a lot of air into the stomach can cause hiccups.
Everyone should drink water slowly, in small sips and hold it in the mouth for a while before swallowing. This way makes it easier for the body to absorb water.

3. Drink water before brushing your teeth in the morning

- Drinking water right after waking up is beneficial because it helps rehydrate, stimulate digestion and clean the stomach.

- Neutralizing some acid in the stomach can happen, but it is not the main effect of water but mainly due to dilution of gastric juice.

- Probiotics in saliva help protect the intestines → This is reasonable, because saliva contains enzymes and some beneficial bacteria that support digestion. However, swallowing saliva with probiotics does not have as strong an effect as probiotics or foods rich in prebiotics.

Important note:

- Morning saliva contains both beneficial and harmful bacteria. If you do not clean your teeth properly the night before, drinking water right after waking up can introduce harmful bacteria into your digestive system, causing harm instead of benefit.
- If you want to drink water right after waking up, rinse your mouth with clean water first to remove harmful bacteria, then drink water.