Consumption of iced water after a meal: An act harmful to the body

In Benin, 15 people on 20 drink ice water during or immediately after meals. For some people, this is a sign of ease, for others, it gives them pleasure and satisfaction of well-being. Yet banal, the act would be harmful to the body.

 “Health is, of all the treasures, the most precious and the most poorly kept », said Joseph Sanial-Dubay. And we are right there. Indeed, the interest given to iced water during and after meals is notorious. Only, between having fun and slowly killing yourself, the human being pays the price of his ignorance or his unconsciousness. At the basis of Fiacre Alladaye's explanations, agro nutritionist, the human body resists after weeks without meals but succumbs three to five days when deprived of water. In addition to being the main constituent of the human body (60 at 70%), water plays many roles in the body. It hydrates the body, participates in the renewal of body fluids, involved in many chemical reactions, ensures the transit of several vital elements, regulates internal body temperature and eliminates toxins through breathing mechanisms, sweating and excretion. It should also be noted that drinking water improves digestion and avoids constipation..

“In addition to these benefits, regular consumption of water is also a technique used to avoid weight gain and obesity. Indeed, drinking water gives a feeling of satiety and leads to eating less and therefore storing less energy. The human body does not have any water reserve organs.. A minimum quantity of 1,5 litre (for the woman) at 2 litres (for man) per day, must be provided to the body which is not subjected to intense physical activity. Generally, one liter of water per day is allowed for a body mass of 25kg.

Drinking water should begin upon waking and continue throughout the day.. Consumed, hollow stomach, water is distributed perfectly throughout the body and optimizes its benefits. It should not be taken during a meal but at least thirty minutes before or after a meal.. It is not recommended to wait until you feel thirsty before drinking.. It is therefore important to integrate regular water intake into our habits”, he explains.

Several signs indicate that the body is lacking water and that it must be provided. We can cite : migraine, dry throat, the constipation, the continuous feeling of thirst, the feeling of fatigue, dry skin, eye color, the color of urine, decreased amount of urine, urinary pain, respiratory pain...

Excess in all things being harmful, Fiacre Alladaye alert, abuse of water consumption, leads to excessive sweating which we unfortunately tend to regulate by drinking more. This state of affairs disrupts the normal functioning of the body, acts on the kidneys, and the bladder without forgetting the pressure exerted on the skin during abnormal sweating. It also creates regular toilet attendance, which disrupts peace of mind during the day and causes poor sleep or even insomnia at night. Excessive water consumption can also lead to poisoning., to a “hydraulic coma” or even death. These harmful consequences are rare but can occur due to excessive accumulation of mineral salts., by a dilution of the blood or by a swelling of the cells, particularly those of the brain.

What about iced water, especially after a meal?

Approaching this angle, Fiacre Alladaye talks about a bad habit to banish. “It has no benefit for the body. Ice is made for the preservation of food products and for other uses but never for consumption. The consumption of iced water or any other iced drinks is responsible for numerous damages in the human body. Already, at the entrance to the mouth, icy water hurts your teeth. The human organism being operational at 37° Celsius, expenditure of additional energy to bring the ice water to less than 5° Celsius, at a temperature close to its own before being able to use it. Ice water, once in the body, causes the blood vessels to narrow, forcing the heart to beat faster to circulate the same amount of blood. All muscular activities slow down in the body. At the level of the stomach, ice water makes the digestion of food slow and incomplete by solidifying the fats contained in food. This is how food ends up in the intestine without being digested and sometimes becomes toxic.. And the ice water, and the iced drink are not to be consumed. Never ever. They are consumed at ordinary temperature or that of water.. They are kept refrigerated but should not be consumed refrigerated.. But you can take hot or lukewarm water after a meal. Already, at 50°C, the water is hot so the temperature difference is not enough. But I insist. Best, it is to take it lukewarm or in its ordinary state”, lets the nutritionist know.

The only thing to remember, according to his words, is that water should be consumed as it is. Consume iced water simply or after a meal, is a bad habit. “Some are aware. Others, the majority moreover, ignore it. Thanks to you, the information will be well relayed. Your newspaper therefore deserves a salvo. These are good and great revelations. We hope that they will lead to awareness and behavior change”, confides Fiacre Alladaye. Break a habit, does he apprehend, is not an easy thing. But it’s about our health, our well-being. And for that, no sacrifice should be too much.

Cyrience Fifonsi KOUGNANDE (Free Morning)