Health Benefits Of Drinking Water On An Empty Stomach

Most of us already know, and agree, that there are numerous health benefits of drinking water on an empty stomach early morning. There are different point of views on whether drinking water early morning before brushing is better than after brushing, but to me, that’s besides the point.

Water is the simplest form of any liquid or food that we ingest. Our body is composed of 60% of water. We can survive on just water, without any food, for 3-4 weeks. Without water, we would perish due to dehydration within 3 days.

Most of the natural fruits and vegetables, especially those with high fiber content, contain water. Besides quenching our thirst, water has been used as therapy for many other reasons as well. Calming down when we are angry, controlling anxiety, getting over a panic attack, losing weight, overcoming indigestion and constipation, finding relief from headaches and heart aches (aka heart diseases) and treating liver and kidney diseases, are just some benefits of drinking water early morning without brushing.

Infact, there are studies that show that drinking water on an empty stomach can lower the risk of colorectal and bladder cancers.

But then, how much water should we drink in the morning? Some say two glasses, others say four. Japanese claim you can cure a zillion diseases by taking 4 x 160 ml glasses (about 640 ml) of drinking water after waking up early in the morning. Some people even recommend gulping down a liter of water early morning. I suggest taking as much water as one can tolerate and divide it throughout the day provided that your drink it on an empty stomach.

There is a thing called, water intoxication. Yes, really, you can drown in your own fluids if you are over-hydrated. And your stomach also has a limited capacity to expand in one point in time. Naturally, if you fill it too much, your stomach will hurt and you might even vomit.

Listening to your body is the best thing to do. Drink slowly and as much as you can. There is no doubt that there are many benefits of drinking water early morning without brushing but that doesn’t mean you drink all of it – the recommended 8-10 glasses a day – in one sitting.

Why Drinking Water On Empty Stomach Is Important?

benefits of drinking water after waking up When you wake up after a long night’s sleep, your body is naturally dehydrated. No matter how much water you drank the day before, you have used up all your stores. The body never stops working while you sleep. The heart continues pumping blood, we continue breathing and all metabolic activities continue functioning, even if it’s at a slower rate.

The benefits of drinking water early morning without brushing include rehydration, boosting metabolism, and giving a push to your kidneys telling them to start the day on a refreshing note. You’re actually getting your body set to begin the day. Compare this to the norm of drinking a 16 oz. cup of coffee (loaded with sugar and caffeine) which can further dehydrate your already thirsty body.

Immediate, major noticeable benefits of drinking water early morning without brushing include:

1. Hydration

Water is an inexpensive (or free), widely available, caffeine free and naturally low in sodium liquid ready for ingestion any time of the day. Rather than filling up on carbonated drinks, full of nutrient deficient, empty calories and or caffeinated beverages all day, making water preferable as a primary source of hydration is the best choice a person can make.

Dehydration isn’t as uncommon as people might think and it comes in many forms. Dehydration doesn’t necessarily mean you’re feeling lightheaded and thirsty. Dehydration simply means the body isn’t getting the water it needs to run at its fullest.

We’re constantly losing water through urine, stool, tears, breath and sweat. Even when we are not sweating, there is some evaporation of water through our skin. We need to continue replenishing the water content of our body by sipping small amounts all day.

Most health professionals recommend taking 8 glasses of 8 oz water throughout the day. This is called the 8×8 rule. This equals to about 2 liters of pure water, no caffeine, no sugars, no cream.

2. Heartburn and Indigestion

This is very simple. Heart burn and indigestion are mostly a result of increased acidity in the stomach that causes it to reflux back into the esophagus. The cause is mostly over eating, eating fast, eating spicy or oily food. Those who suffer from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) are asked to sleep with their head elevated to ease the discomfort of heart burn.

Drinking water early morning without brushing and on an empty stomach will push down and dilute any of the acid in the empty stomach that is waiting to cause discomfort. It will also fill up the stomach to give it a head start, so as to churn any food that is ready to come in.

It is recommended that you start your day with a glass of water and a heavy breakfast to keep you feeling full, fresh and active all day long.

3. Regulate Bowel Activity

The main cause of constipation is dehydration. The benefits of drinking water on an empty stomach will not only cure dehydration but it will help relieve constipation and stimulate a bowel movement in the morning. This is a great way to start the day.

Your body depends on rhythmic contractions that occur in your colon to help move the food along. These contractions depend on gastrocolic reflex, which is when you fill your stomach with food or drink and your body sensing a new arrival sends signals to your intestines to evacuate. This increases the likelihood of a bowel movement. To achieve this, water is a the best calorie free choice.

4. Glowing Skin And Shiny Hair

It has been found that adequate hydration has a profound effect on healthy skin and hair. Without water, skin would appear dull with prominent pores and wrinkles. A variety of skin structures that support collagen build up responsible for skin elasticity require water to work effectively.

One study shows that every 500 ml (2cups) of water taken on an empty stomach increases blood flow to the skin, making it look radiant. Another study summarizes that drinking more than 2 L of water per day can have a significant impact on skin physiology.

Water also increases the metabolic rate and promotes the digestive system to flush out toxins from the body. This in turn also gives you a healthy and glowing skin.

Drink water

Just like our skin, hair also needs lubrication from inside out. Dehydration has a direct impact on the growth of hair. Lack of moisture results in dry and brittle hair and water is a natural miracle ingredient that supports vitamin consumption and assists in efficient and healthy hair growth. Water makes up almost ¼ of the weight of a hair strand, thus drinking 8-10 glasses of water every day will give you gleaming and healthy tresses. Our hair thrives on moisture-rich environment and water is one of the best ways to quench its thirst. While regular intake of water is the key, drinking water early morning without brushing is recommended.

5. Prevents Gall Stones, Kidney Stones And Bladder Infections

Drinking water early morning without brushing is known for preventing stones in the gall bladder and kidneys. This is basically because of its diluting effect. However it is essential to maintain a balance between the water intake and water output.

Naturally we cannot count how much water is lost when we sweat, especially after a workout or some strenuous activity, so we tend to keep drinking to rehydrate. Normally, a healthy kidney has the capacity to excrete 800 ml to 1 liter of water every hour. Every 3-4 liters of fluid ingested, including water in food and other beverages will produce 2.5-3 liters of urine. So it is not recommended to take in more than 1 liter (4-6 glasses) of water in one hour as it will put a load on the kidney.

Also it is advisable to eat water rich foods like grapes, berries, melons, citrus fruits, tomatoes, etc. that add to the water content in your body and limit salt intake, which tends to retain water. The more urine you pass, the better it is for kidneys and bladder infections.

Water is medicine

6. Water As A Superb Detox

Another benefit of drinking water on an empty stomach is that you provide your body with a good supply of fluid to flush out the toxic waste products of metabolism that formed throughout the night. This cleansing process gets rid of harmful substances that could have disrupted the normal functioning of the body. Water removes toxins and waste products from the body thereby cleansing it. Water is required to process all the nutrients from the food we eat and carry the assimilated nutrients to the cells.

Does Drinking Water On Empty Stomach Help You Slim Down?

Drinking water is a crucial tactic when it comes to weight loss. But drinking water early morning without brushing is the most optimal way to do it. Firstly, this purifies the colon and improves the stomach’s chances to absorb nutrients properly. A better digestive system automatically takes care of a lot of other things.

Secondly, it kick starts your metabolism and has been proven to increase your calorie burning potential throughout the day. Not only that, but water actually fills you up and curbs your appetite, allowing you to make smarter choices for your breakfast.

According to two studies, drinking 500 ml (17 oz) of water can temporarily boost metabolism by 24-30%. It is better to drink cold water to increase energy expenditure, as body will use energy (calories) to bring the water to body temperature. Researchers also estimate drinking 2 liters (68 ounces) in one day can increase energy expenditure by about 96 calories per day.

Drinking water half an hour before meals can also reduce the amount of calories people end up consuming, especially in older individuals. One study showed that dieters who drank 500 ml of water before meals lost 44% more weight over a period of 12 weeks, compared to those who didn’t. Overall, it seems that drinking water on an empty stomach can lead to significant weight loss, especially when combined with a healthy diet.

Drinking Water Early Morning Without Brushing

People say that when you get up in the morning after a 6-8 hour sleep, you tend to have bacterial build up inside the mouth so it’s not okay to drink water before brushing. If you’ve brushed your teeth, flossed and rinsed your mouth with a good antimicrobial mouth wash before going to bed the night before, there is no reason for any harmful bacteria to grow in the mouth.

The swallowing reflex works even at night, that is why there is no saliva stagnation in the mouth when you wake up. Therefore even if you just rinse your mouth with water before drinking, its sufficient enough to clear the mouth before ingesting any food. So far, no harmful effects of drinking water early morning without brushing have been ever documented. But there are definitely many benefits of drinking water on empty stomach after waking up.

We tend to complicate things when it comes to taking care of our health. A few simple steps can go a long way in taking care of ourselves. One easy way is by drinking water on empty stomach first thing in the morning. Not only will it clear the stomach, it will go a long way in reducing the risk of a number of diseases. The truth is water is not only a miracle cure but is also a vital part to a person’s well being. Simply put, taking care of your body and keeping it hydrated and active can work wonders for your health.

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