Put down that cup of Joe (gasp!) & pick up a cup of water tomorrow morning! Did you know that drinking water provides benefits that can help with mental clarity, digestion, & weight loss? When I drink water first thing in the morning, yes, before my coffee or tea, my workouts feel better & it allows me to ease into my day better. But what are the actual benefits?
Benefits of a Morning Glass of Water
Don’t believe everything you hear. There are some fallacies around drinking water in the morning, but there have also been some proven benefits.
Hydration
I’ll get into details on what being hydrates actually helps with, but long story short is, your body has gone about 8 hours without water. I know some avoid water a few hours before bed even.
While you sleep, you still lose water by breathing, sweating, & as your kidneys filter your blood. So it needs to be replenished!
Increase Focus
I have heard it before, but I was curious if anyone had actually looked into this. Of course, someone had! This little study showed that even mild dehydration (1.5-2% dehydration or sweating out about 1 liter of water) can alter your brain’s structure. This is just when your body will start to signal it’s thirsty too, so you may not even know you’re thirsty yet.
When you’re dehydrated you can be more irritable and experience brain fog. So drink up to help your mind perform better in the morning!
Supports a Healthy Weight
There is no miracle, one stop shop for weight loss. Drinking plenty of water & eating a diet rich in plants has proven time & time again to help you with that & preventing other illnesses. But when you’re thirsty, your body may confuse hunger & thirst. This causes you to eat when your body doesn’t actually need food.
Drinking water before eating may also is increase your metabolism. So drink up those 16oz (500mL) before starting your day!
Flushes Your Kidneys
Any pregnant woman can tell you that your kidneys are working while you sleep. Your kidneys filter your blood and pull out impurities at all hours of the day. By drinking water, you are helping your kidneys work more effectively and flush all of this out. Well hydrated kidneys also help to prevent urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
Food for Thought
When I was pregnant and trying to drink water in the morning, I couldn’t drink much without experiencing nausea. I would sip some then eat a banana and then finish up my water. Also, when I first started drinking water first thing in the morning, I couldn’t drink it too quickly without feeling queasy. I wanted to warn you in case it can help prevent you from feeling this way also.
Do you start your day with water? Does it help you feel better throughout the day? Let me know if you experience the benefits of drinking water in the morning!
Please note this isn’t intended as medical advice. This has been my personal experience and benefits I feel I have experienced. Always talk with your healthcare provider since every person is different and each situation is a case by case situation.
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