Is it true that you should not drink water while standing?
Over the past few days, a series of messages have been spreading rapidly, causing a stir online about issues related to... water and how to drink water.
Drinking water while standing is not harmful to the body - Photo: DUYEN PHAN
For example: when we stand, we should not drink water because the water will "slip" down to the lower part of the body, accumulate there and not be brought to other organs. Then: drinking water while standing, the water will make it difficult to eliminate toxins, or cause leg swelling for stroke patients...
There is information that a pharmacist in China talked about the "fashionable" way of drinking water to prevent and cure many diseases. Below each share is the sentence: "If each person who reads this information shares it with 10 other people, we will save at least 1 person. I have done my duty, now it's your turn." What is the truth of this?
Don't believe the information spread
Up to now, the article about drinking water has attracted a large online community, with hundreds of thousands of shares and comments. Some opinions agree, but many others say that this way of drinking water sounds reasonable but is unscientific and impractical because food and drink entering the mouth must pass through the stomach.
Many doctors say there is no document or research that says that drinking water while standing will cause the water to "slip down" to the lower part of the body and be quickly eliminated, similar to water flowing through a straight pipe.
Doctor Vo Phuoc Khuong (Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital) emphasized: "This article may be an emotional inference of a person who is not an expert on the process of drinking water into the body. When drinking water, it does not matter whether we drink standing or sitting, as long as we take in the amount of water according to the body's needs."
"Journey" of water into the body
A general internist said that the "journey" of water and fluids into the body is quite complicated, not simple and goes through the first step as shared above.
Dr. Vo Phuoc Khuong said that water absorption and excretion is a process, not only through urine but also through sweat... When drinking water, water will go from the mouth through the esophagus. Next, water will be absorbed directly through the epithelial cells covering the human intestine. The small intestine will be responsible for absorbing most of the water supplied to the body.
When water reaches the small intestine, 90% will be absorbed and the remaining 10% will be transferred to the large intestine. This amount of water will be absorbed by the large intestine as much as possible, the remaining amount will be processed by the excretory organs and excreted from the body through urination and defecation.
Drink water properly according to your body's needs
Medical experts say that drinking water properly means understanding the body's daily water needs. Normally, our body needs to be provided with 1.5 - 2 liters of drinking water every day to ensure enough water for cells and organs to always function effectively.
On the contrary, if you drink too much water every day, the organs that absorb water will have to work very hard, putting pressure on the kidneys. If you drink too little water, the body will be dehydrated, causing fatigue, headaches, and even death when the body loses up to 20% of water.
Therefore, drinking enough water according to the body's needs is the first condition to help the body stay healthy.