Drinking Water In The Morning
Five Reasons Why It’s important
More often then not, most of us wake up in the morning with our bodies in a state of mild dehydration. We may also wake up unable to move as we crawl slowly to the bathroom. Regardless, it’s a good idea to start the day by hydrating your body especially since you are able to absorb water more effectively on an empty stomach.
How does water give your mind and body a boost in the morning?
Let me count the ways…
1) Improves Your Cognitive Performance
Your brain is mostly water — 75% by some estimates. And yes, I’m sure YOUR brain is more “Brain” than others, but just humor me.
➔ Hydrating adequately can definitely impact your ability to think clearly.
A 2019 study in Psychological Research found that drinking adequate amounts of water directly improved cognitive decision-making performance and judgement.
A study in Nutrition Reviews found even mild water loss of 1 to 2 percent body weight in adults could impair cognitive performance.
2) Supports Weight Loss
Drinking plenty of water helps you feel full. Women often mistake thirst for hunger, leading them to eat more food than needed. I happen to mistake thirst, boredom, stress, and breathing for hunger. So you can see the dilemma.
A study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that drinking water prior to having breakfast reduced caloric intake by 13% in the following meal. Drinking water 30 minutes before lunch resulted in reduced calorie intake by older adults.
Researchers postulate that if water was consumed before each of three meals a day, it could result in a reduction of 180 calories per day. This is NOT about drinking WHILE eating. That could impact digestion negatively by diluting your stomach acid. But hydrating 30 minutes before a meal could be the golden ticket.
3) It Lifts Your Mood
We might not think of water as being something that can affect our moods, but studies have indeed found this to be the case. A 2011 study in The Journal of Nutrition that looked at female subjects, found that mild dehydration led to “degraded mood, increased perception of task difficulty, lower concentration, and headache symptoms.”
Dehydration was even found to be related to feelings of fatigue, confusion and even anger. It may not be YOU, but your lack of water intake. I wouldn’t use this in a court of law but maybe next time you argue with your spouse. Who’s probably still the cause and not the water, but I digress.
4) It’s Good for Your Gut
Drinking water is a great way to flush out your bowels in the morning. Does anyone else find the word “bowels” kind of hilarious? No? Just me? Fine.
At any rate, hydrating helps prevent constipation and also helps your intestines break down foods, allowing for better absorption of nutrients.
Speaking of bowels, a study in The Journal of Nutrition in January showed that “drinking water may be an important factor in shaping the human gut microbiome.” This study concluded that water was a key contributing factor in the diversity of the gut’s microflora, which, in turn, affects everything from mood to immunity, and more.
5) It Helps Ward Off Disease
Water helps flush toxins out of your body. This includes pathogens, thus improving your immune system. Staying hydrated also helps keep your kidneys function properly, reducing your risk of urinary tract infections, and headaches.
As an aside, I’m a fan of adding electrolytes to water to reduce migraine and headache frequency. Has been a game changer for me.
While more studies need to be done, there is at least some correlation between good hydration and things such as improved blood pressure, a decreased risk of fatal heart attacks, and a reduced incidence of blood clots and strokes.
How Much Is Enough?
Though this varies from person to person, experts generally agree that drinking an average of eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day is adequate, while others say that dividing your body weight by half and drinking that amount of water in ounces is a good estimation.
When you exercise or when the weather’s hot and you perspire, your body’s requirements for water will increase. You can also overdo it with water, so balance is key. Don’t be one of those people carting a Water Tower around with you. We get it. Hydration is your religion. Relax.
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Ready for the legal disclaimer? Information offered here is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. As with any health recommendations, please contact your doctor to be sure any changes you wish to consider are safe for you!
Mental Health Hormones Doctor Anita Sadaty Share The Health board certified gynecologist New York Functional Medicine NY Women’s Wellness