In a message dated 4/15/01 1:06:43 PM, Bronwen writes:

<< Q: What is your opinion of drinking water with meals? >>

This is a bad idea. A few sips are ok to quench thirst, but large amounts of
water during a meal will dilute the HCL our stomachs produce to aid
digestion. A squirt of lemon juice in a small amount of water is also
helpful, and helps to replenish some of the HCL that people tend to lose with
age. A poster from another list tells of his development of early onset male
osteoporosis after many years of drinking several gallons of water a day. (I
don't know why he drank so much water.) But in any case, I wonder if years of
diluting his stomach acids and digestive enzymes led to his body's lack of
absorption of calcium and other essential bone building nutrients.

Just my 2 cents.

Maddy Mason
Hudson Valley, NY