X-Ray Image adapted from Royal Photographic Society
\nImagine not drinking any fluids for the next 8 hours. It would be pretty impossible, right? Well, this is exactly what your body does while it\u2019s asleep. So in the morning, it\u2019s pretty important that we focus on one thing only \u2013 drinking a glass of water (16 ounces to be exact!).<\/p>\n
While you sleep, your body becomes dehydrated, because it needs fluids to operate. While you sleep, this is also a time when your body is detoxing and filtering out waste products you accumulated during the day.<\/p>\n
In Japan, drinking water immediately upon waking up is a popular ritual. They believe that it can help heal and manage epilepsy, bronchitis, asthma, diarrhea, vomiting, urine & kidney diseases, menstrual disorders, diabetes, meningitis, arthritis, headache, eye diseases, and can even help you manage a healthy weight.<\/p>\n
Although drinking water in the morning isn\u2019t the most enjoyable thing to do (most people prefer tea or coffee), it can benefit the body in more ways than one.<\/p>\n
Drinking Water on An Empty Stomach in The Morning
\nAs I mentioned above, the body filters toxins you\u2019ve accumulated throughout the day while you\u2019re asleep. Not much water is left in the body to clear away all this waste by the time you wake up, so replenishing the body with fluids (water being the best) as soon as you wake up, will give your kidneys the fluid they need to eliminate toxins that are clogging up your system (1).<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll also be revving your metabolism by drinking water first thing in the morning. Drinking a large, cool glass of water (if you want specifics \u2013 500mL) after you wake up has actually been shown to fire up the metabolism by 30% for an hour (2)!<\/p>\n
Not to mention, your brain is 75% water. When you\u2019re not properly hydrated, your brain operates on less fuel, and you can feel incredibly drained, or experience fatigue or mood fluctuations (3). Drinking water will also help you eat less, and improve digestion (especially if drank 20 minutes before a meal). It can prevent unnecessary snacking, and will allow you to feel fuller longer.<\/p>\n
Drinking water in the morning will also replenish the fact that you are likely dehydrated, even though you might not feel it right away. When we\u2019re dehydrated, we don\u2019t think as clearly, and our mental clarity and alertness significantly declines.<\/p>\n
\u201cDehydration kills by bringing blood pressure down to fatal levels. The more energy you expend, the more likely you are to lose water,\u201d says Randall Packer, an expert from George Washington University. \u201cYou lose a little bit of water every time you exhale. You lose water when you sweat. You do make a little water when you metabolize food\u2026but the balance is such that you always need some sort of water intake (4).\u201d<\/p>\n
Morning Dehydration
\nMorning dehydration is just like any other form of dehydration. It occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn\u2019t have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don\u2019t replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated.<\/p>\n
Symptoms of dehydration include (4):
\n\u2022 Increased thirst
\n\u2022 Dry mouth and swollen tongue
\n\u2022 Weakness
\n\u2022 Dizziness
\n\u2022 Palpitations (feeling that the heart is jumping or pounding)
\n\u2022 Confusion
\n\u2022 Sluggishness
\n\u2022 Fainting
\n\u2022 Inability to sweat
\n\u2022 Decreased urine output<\/p>\n
If you wake up in the morning and experience any of the above, it\u2019s a sign that your body needs more water. Also, take notice of the colour of your urine when you first get up to go to the bathroom. If it is bright yellow, then your body desperately needs more water. In fact, looking at the colour of your pee throughout the day is a great way to gauge if you\u2019re getting enough water \u2013 you can read more about that here.<\/p>\n
How Much Water In The Morning?
\nThe best way I\u2019ve found to drink my 1 litre of water in the morning is by leaving a glass next to my bed so that I can drink it as soon as I get up. It\u2019s an easy reminder to drink water, especially when you might be feeling a little sluggish and still bouncing between dream world and reality.<\/p>\n
Aiming to drink 1 litre of water, at least 45 minutes before your first meal is what\u2019s recommended. Aim for the same amount before each meal (for me, I drink 1 litre before breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then later in the night I drink half a litre to a litre or so \u2013 for a total of 3.5-4 litres a day).<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re having trouble drinking this much water first thing in the morning, start with one glass and slowly increase the amount of water you drink every day. So if you drank 1 cup the first morning, drink 2 cups the next, and so forth until you hit 4 cups.<\/p>\n
Be sure to listen to your body too. It is often the case that we forget to drink water, and instead just eat food \u2013 more often than not, we are more thirsty than hungry, so make sure you drink some water before you have your next meal!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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