Some claim that drinking beverages with meals is bad for your digestion. Others say it can cause toxins to accumulate, leading to a variety of health issues. Naturally, you may wonder if a simple glass of water with your meal could have negative effects — or if that’s just another myth. This article provides an evidence-based review of how liquids with meals affect your digestion and health. Share on Pinterest The basics of healthy digestion To understand why water is thought to disturb digestion, it’s useful to first understand the normal digestive process. Digestion starts in your mouth as soon as you start to chew your food. Chewing signals your salivary glands to start producing saliva, which contains enzymes that help you break down food. Once in your stomach, food gets mixed with acidic gastric juice, which further breaks it down and produces a thick liquid known as chyme. In your small intestine, chyme gets mixed with digestive enzymes from y...