What the texts say
Sushruta draws the same pattern as Vagbhata for anupana, the drink taken with a meal, of which water is one. Taken first it thins the body, in the middle it maintains it, and afterwards it nourishes it. Food eaten with no drink, he says, stays firm and unmoistened and causes discomfort. On water itself, he says to drink it with judgement while eating and after the meal. That line sits in a passage about enjoying food, which also advises rinsing the mouth between dishes so each one tastes fresh.[2][1][3]
The modern view
We have not found a study that tests when to drink water in a meal against body weight or build. The rule rests on the classical texts alone.
From the classical texts
Questions people ask
Related
Cold water after meals (khane ke baad thanda pani)
The Ashtanga Hridaya recommends cold water after some foods, such as barley, wheat, curd and honey, and lukewarm water after foods made of flour.
FoodFruit after meals
Sushruta puts fruit such as pomegranate at the start of a meal, and praises amla at the start, middle or end.
FoodEating without hunger (bina bhookh khana)
Charaka counts eating when you are not hungry as a wrong order of eating, and in the same line warns against letting hunger grow extreme.
Sources
- Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutra Sthana 5.15, GRETIL e-text.
- Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana 46.438-440 (Annapanavidhi Adhyaya), NIIMH e-Sushruta edition.
- Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana 46.479-482 (Annapanavidhi Adhyaya), NIIMH e-Sushruta edition.
Updated 4 November 2026