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I have heard people suggesting to drink water when you are seated after a tiresome activity. They usually ask to avoid drinking water while standing upright.

Does that have an actual scientific reasoning, or is just baseless advice?

You could slam me for it being easy to google, and I have googled for it. But when we talk about trekking, climbing, swimming, cycling, etc... its a different situation. As a trekker or cyclist I'd be mad at me sitting periodically to get a sip of water.

Any thoughts?

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    Not to be picky, but: One vs other position would be better for what? For which exact physical/health outcome? I believe, this should be a part of your question if you expect a scientifically reasonable answer. There can be a difference in speed of gastric emptying, but this alone may not be so important.
    – Jan
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 11:05
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    You have heard people say this, I have never heard anyone say this. Curious. If I've finished a game of squash and am done for the day, I'd say I'd drink sitting down. If I'm backpacking and still have more trail to cover I'll either sit or stand - moving around without the pack feels good with muscles getting stiffer. But that isn't about the water, more about keeping loose.
    – Jon Custer
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 13:01
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    Duplicate of biology.stackexchange.com/questions/58177/… ?
    – Jon Custer
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 13:43
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    And most of the rest are '8 shocking reasons why...' type web pages which pegs my BS meter
    – Jon Custer
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 13:44
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    The question has been asked and at least partially answered here: skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/27338/… and here: biology.stackexchange.com/questions/58177/… .
    – Jan
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 14:15

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No scientific basis. For it to be so, drinking would have to process differently standing up than sitting down. But if you sit upright then the upper body (where the water is being processed) is no different than if you were standing. So any effect must be from the waist down. But that would be an issue of general circulation most probably, rather than anything to do with drinking water. Note however that I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice.

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