It has become a habit for most of us to drink with our daily meals. Do you know that drinking freely during meal times can be harmful? Not only does it encourage hasty eating, but dilutes the gastric juice, and thus lessens the activity. The food should be chewed until sufficiently moistened by saliva to allow it to be swallowed. When large quantities of fluid are taken into the stomach, digestion does not begin until a considerable portion of the fluid has been absorbed. If cold foods or drinks are taken with the meal, such as ice-cream, ice-water, iced milk or tea, the stomach is chilled, and a long delay in the digestive process is occasioned. So take it easy with your drinks during meal times to aid healthy digestion.