Some days you find yourself reaching for water more often than usual, or you notice that you get more thirsty than even after taking your regular portion of water, making you wonder how fast the digestion of water is in the body.
Water digestion can be as fast as five minutes and slow as more than ten hours, depending on different factors.
Rate and Process of Water Digestion
Water digestion can take five minutes when you drink water on an empty stomach. And if you are full, it might take a couple of hours before the water gets absorbed into the body.
When your stomach is complete, it must process the substances in it before it can notice the presence of water.
After it processes the substances, the water can go through the stomach to the small intestines, which will then absorb water into the bloodstream and cell membranes.
Then the water hydrates the body cells, and the ones not absorbed in the small intestine go into the large intestine.
Then the water that the large intestine does not reabsorb will mix with nutrients, forming stool. This is why it is easier to pass stool when you take enough water.
However, this applies only to plain water you get from your water filter taps or dispenser. If it is water obtained through other means, it might take longer.
When plain water takes about ten minutes, simple liquids (gotten from soda, tea, and juice) will take about twenty minutes, and complex fluids (obtained from broths, shakes, and smoothies) will take 40 minutes.
How to Increase Your Water Digestion Rate
The average adult should take between 2 and 2.5 liters of water daily, but you might find it hard to do this if your body does not absorb as much water quickly. So here are some tips to help your body absorb water quickly.
Pay Attention to Your Salt Intake
If you engage in lots of activities, your body will lose a lot of water with salt in the form of sweat. So, take note of your salt intake so that you only sweat and lose water moderately.
But salt also helps you retain water in your body, and low salt intake can lead to dehydration. So, regulate your salt intake.
Eat Food Rich in Fiber
Meals rich in fiber stay longer in the intestine, helping the intestines retain water. So, the body can maximize the water before it finally passes through the body.
Take Smaller Portions of water
Just because you were instructed to take 2.5 liters of water daily does not mean you should take it at once. Spread it across different times of the day so the body can slowly absorb and adequately hydrate the cells.
Take it at the Right Time
Taking water when you are filled will delay absorption, making it easier to lose most of the water. So, it is best to take water before meals, when you wake up, when you are on the move, and when your stomach is empty.
Conclusion
The rate of water absorption by your body is more important than the amount of water you take.
So, consider ways to increase your body’s water absorption for proper body functioning.