That Thing Your Grandma Said About Drinking Water and Your Knees? It’s a Myth:

According to medical experts and scientific research, there is no direct link between your posture while drinking water and the health of your joints.The main causes of joint damage and conditions like arthritis are well-understood and include factors like age, genetics, injuries, and carrying excess body weight.There's no evidence to add "drinking while standing" to that list.

In fact, staying properly hydrated is crucial for good joint health. Water is a key component of the synovial fluid that lubricates your joints, so drinking enough of it actually helps them function smoothly.

So, where does this belief come from? It's primarily rooted in traditional practices, especially Ayurveda. According to Ayurvedic principles, drinking water while standing causes it to flow through the body too quickly, disrupting the balance of fluids. This traditional school of thought suggests this rapid flow can lead to the accumulation of fluids in the joints, which is believed to trigger arthritis and pain over time.

Are There Any Other Reasons to Sit and Drink?

While the main claim about knee damage doesn't hold up to scientific scrutiny, Ayurveda and some wellness experts point to other potential downsides of drinking while standing. These are more related to digestion and mindfulness rather than your bones.

It might affect digestion: When you stand and gulp down water, it travels down the food canal with greater force and speed, splashing directly into your lower stomach Some believe this can disrupt the digestive process, lead to indigestion, and create a feeling of discomfort.
It could strain your kidneys: There's a belief that the kidneys are better able to filter fluids when you are sitting down The theory goes that drinking while standing causes water to pass through under high pressure without proper filtration, which may lead to impurities settling in the bladder and potentially harming kidney function
Mindful Hydration: Perhaps the most practical reason behind the advice is to encourage mindfulness. When you take the time to sit and drink, you're more likely to sip slowly. This gives your body more time to properly absorb the water and is a more relaxed practice overall.

The Bottom Line

You can put your worries to rest—taking a sip of water while standing is not going to ruin your knees. From a medical standpoint, there are absolutely no issues with drinking water while standing up or sitting down. The most important health goal is to ensure you stay adequately hydrated throughout the day.

However, if you find that drinking water quickly while standing leaves you feeling bloated or uncomfortable, it’s a good idea to take a moment, sit down, and sip it slowly. Ultimately, the advice to "sit and drink" is more about promoting better digestion and mindful habits than preventing joint damage.