If you’re like a lot of folks, your day doesn’t really begin until you’ve had your coffee. Or maybe you’re more of a tea fan.
Either way, you likely start you day with a jolt of caffeine.
But if you’re willing to reach for a glass of water first, you could be looking at some surprising rewards. Health benefits that could make putting off your coffee for a couple of minutes more than worthwhile. (Yes, REALLY!)
1. Wake your whole body up:
By the time you stagger into the kitchen in the morning you’ve already gone six to eight hours without water. Since water helps move oxygen into every cell in your body the overnight water fast can leave your whole system running a bit slow.
Downing a tall, cool glass of H20 gives your cells exactly what they need to get rolling so you can wake up and leave that sluggish feeling behind.
2. Rehydrate your brain:
Studies out the University of Connecticut show that it only takes mild dehydration—around 1.5 percent, or about the time you start to feel a bit thirsty—to start to impact your brain function. Dehydration makes it harder to concentrate, remember and perform even the easiest of mental calculations.
Reaching for a caffeinated drink first thing, before you rehydrate, can make the situation even worse. So it’s really no wonder it takes many of us so long to wake up in the morning. Drink a glass of water first instead to get your brain firing on all cylinders.
3. Support healthy bowels:
Water is essential for healthy bowels. From a functional standpoint, your intestines need to be hydrated in order to contract properly. And just as importantly, the water hydrates your stool, keeping it from becoming dried out and causing constipation (which is a terrible way to start the day).
But that’s not all the H2O does. Water on an empty stomach signals your intestines to start making room for whatever is about to be digested. So when you drink a glass of water first thing in the morning you’re giving your digestive tract a heads up that it’s time to go to work and giving it the tool it needs to do just that.
4. Boost your mood:
Experts say mild morning dehydration messes with your mood too. Studies have linked low-level dehydration with lower mood and energy. Don’t start the day grumpy. Grab a glass of water first thing to lift your spirits for the rest of the day.
5. Ease a.m. heartburn:
Many people wake up with heartburn and indigestion, and lack of water could be the reason why.
Your stomach doesn’t sleep just because you do, which means it cranks out acid all night long. By the time you wake up in the morning you’re mildly dehydrated, but have an abundance of acid, which can trigger a bout of heartburn. Acidic coffee could make the problem worse, while a glass of water will help dilute the acid, cooling the burn.
6. Help prevent kidney stones:
Kidney stones form when minerals in your urine clump together, instead of passing through. Keeping enough water flowing through, and avoiding dehydration, helps keep those minerals from bonding in the first place.
Try adding the juice of half a lemon for even more stone-fighting benefits.
We’d never tell you to give up your morning coffee or tea, there are far too many benefits to do that. But while waiting for your morning cup of caffeine to brew, start your day off on the right foot with a tall glass of water.
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