Post History

Source: https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/13363
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/13363
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

<p>I've had a pretty interesting discussion beneath <a href="https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/13356/is-it-a-good-idea-to-drink-blood-to-avoid-dehydration">this survival question</a>. A <a href="http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/survivalist/survival-skills-5-myths-dehydration" rel="noreferrer">source given in the answer</a> to this question states that you shouldn't eat when dehydration can become or is a problem:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>(...) (A) simple rule(:) If you have nothing to drink, then do not eat.
  Eating anything, even watery foods, takes water from your system to
  create the slurry that will be able to move through your GI tract.
  Eating without drinking can lead to constipation, or worse, an
  intestinal blockage. If you are suffering from dehydration, and have
  watery foods available try squeezing out the liquid through a cloth.
  I’ll often do this with summer berries to create a drink. Blueberries,
  raspberries, blackberries, and other watery wild edibles can be mashed
  and squeezed to make a juice that offers hydration and even a few
  calories and vitamins, without wasting the water it would take to pass
  all those skins and seeds.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, I'm a little bit skeptical if this rule of thumb really applies. Also my discussion partner disagreed with this statement. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I don't believe that's true. (...) So any water your body happens to
  add plus any water contained in the food will be reabsorbed in your
  large intestine, the net result being a water gain.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So, is it true to say: "If you have nothing to drink, then do not eat."?</p>