Trying to boost your metabolism? How about fighting off infection? The answer could be as close as the kitchen sink. A glass of water in the morning (don’t worry, you can still have coffee!) brings amazing health benefits – from purifying your colon to increasing blood cell production! Here are 5 surprising health advantages of drinking water in the morning:
#5 – Increased nutrient absorption: Drinking water on an empty stomach purifies the colon, making it easier for your body to absorb nutrients.
#4 – New cell production: Our blood is composed of about 83% water, while lean muscle tissue is approximately 75% water. Early morning water consumption increases the daily production of new blood and muscle cells.
#3 – Increased weight loss: Believe it or not, your body works a little bit harder to raise your core temperature when you consume something cold. Drinking at least 16 ounces of chilled water in the morning can boost your daily metabolism by up to 24%!
#2. Clear, moisturized skin: It’s no coincidence that it’s called the “fountain” of youth. Water helps to purge toxins from the blood, which helps keep your skin glowing, moisturized and clear. This gives you a more youthful appearance, and over time visibly reduces signs of aging.
#1. Balanced lymph system: Your lymph nodes act as filters for foreign particles and are important in the proper functioning of the immune system. Lymph fluids circulate throughout the body, helping you perform multiple daily functions – including balancing your bodily fluids and fighting off infection.
What’s better for you, cold water or room-temperature water? Both cold water and lukewarm water have health benefits. Drinking cold water increases the number of calories you burn, in turn raising your metabolism, because your body has to work harder to return to normal temperature. However, room-temperature water can be absorbed more quickly into your system.
Should you add lemon to your water? Adding freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice – or a slice of orange – can add a hint of flavor without the calories. Some people also believe that adding lemon juice to their water increases their vitamin and mineral consumption. To an extent, that’s correct: home-grown, organic lemons have a higher vitamin and mineral content than store-bought lemons, and often contain calcium, magnesium and potassium along with high levels of vitamin C. However, if you’re sensitive to an acidic diet, consistently adding citric acid to your water could be detrimental to your overall health. Citric acid is a known bladder irritant, and can erode teeth enamel more quickly.
Can you drink too much water? If you’re worried about drinking too much water, then you’ve heard about hyponatremia – meaning “low sodium in the blood.” This occurs when someone drinks enormous amounts of water and/or loses too much salt from the body within a short period of time – like a marathon runner pounding one or two gallons of water without adding electrolytes, for example. Hyponatremia is rare, and doesn’t happen when a healthy person spreads his or her water intake over the course of the full day.
Cold or warm, pure or with a slice of citrus – there are plenty of ways to stay hydrated! Far more important than temperature or citrus is making sure you’re getting enough fluids. Wondering how much water is enough? For the average healthy adult in a moderate climate, sufficient daily fluid intake for men is about 13 cups, and for women is about 9 cups. This may souns like a lot, but keep in mind that up to 20% of our fluid intake can be drawn from the food we eat – especially moisture-rich foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. A great rule of thumb is the 8-8 rule: Drink at least 8 8oz glasses of fluids (preferably water) a day, starting first thing in the morning, and you’ll be in a healthy range.
Don’t forget that many other factors can affect your sufficient fluid intake, such as climate, elevation, exercise, breast feeding, and medications or certain medical conditions. For more information on these factors, check out this article from the Mayo Clinic: http://mayocl.in/UkbZD. If you have medical questions about your daily fluid intake, check first with your primary care physician.
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