We all know that water is the most important thing for our well-being and smooth functioning of the body processes. Well! The main concern is what is the best time to drink water in a day?
Be it cold water, hot water, or flavor infused water, one must always keep in mind the time of consuming it.
It is believed that drinking water 30 minutes before any main meal will drastically improve your digestion. Likewise, drinking water before and after the workouts will keep your body hydrated and help to replenish the fluids lost in the form of sweat.
As you are well aware of the importance of drinking water on time, let’s talk about the right time to drink water in a day!
How to Drink Water Correctly?
We often hear from our elders that gulping down water from a bottle is not the right way to drink water, but instead, we should take a glass of water, and drink it slowly-sip by sip. This is, perhaps, correct, and we all must follow from the very moment.
The reason behind no gulping of water is that it can make you feel bloated. However, when you drink water from a glass, sip by sip, your body remains well hydrated and no discomfort is observed.
Another popular saying by elders is “always drink water by sitting down”, the posture matters. Well! No scientific study has been observed but it is believed that when we are standing or walking, the blood flow is high towards our hands and legs, which can prove a barrier for the water to reach the digestive system properly and do its work.
Best Time to Drink Water after a Meal
There is still debate in the scientific community about the best time to drink water. Should we drink water before or after a meal? Both seem to have their benefits and it also depends on your body type.
However, if you are drinking water after a meal then the best time to drink water is thirty minutes to one hour after you have finished eating seems to be the effective time.
Worst Time to Drink Water
While water is certainly good for you, drinking excess quantities of water rapidly should be avoided at all costs.
Drinking too much water before going to bed can cause your sleep to be interrupted by trips to the bathroom.
During exercise, it is ill-advised to gulp down water, only drink enough to keep your throat from getting dry as too much water can cause lethargy due to the simultaneous loss of electrolytes.
Best Time To Drink Water For Glowing Skin
Regularly drinking water is one of the best tips for glowing and healthy skin as it tightens skin, maintains pH, and prevents acne, heat bumps and dry skin.
A good water-drinking regimen for glowing skin is as follows
- A glass of water after waking up. You may add a spritz of lemon or honey to it.
- A glass of water in the afternoon to rejuvenate.
- A glass of water (but not too much) before going to bed.
- In addition to this, drink water just before you feel thirsty. Listen to your body and its needs!
Water Drinking Schedule For Weight Loss
Water can help you lose weight if coupled with a healthy diet and exercise.
- Drink water throughout the day. Don’t think of it as something to be done at fixed points.
- Drink water before meals. This makes you feel fuller so you eat less and lose weight more quickly.
- Drink water when you would drink sweetened drinks such as coffee, soft drinks, and even packaged fruit juices which have a deceptively high amount of sugar.
Best Time to Drink Water For Weight Gain
So what is the best time to drink water if our goal is to gain weight?
The best way to answer this question is to answer it negatively. The best time to drink water to gain weight is to avoid drinking water at times when it can make us feel full. This means not drinking water before meals. Doing so will allow us to eat to satiate our appetite. Apart from this, drink water regularly throughout the day. A substantial amount of body mass can be lost when engaged in heavy exercise, especially outdoors. Make sure to replenish the water loss and electrolytes
5 Best Times to Drink Water to Stay Hydrated
Try to be consistent and drink throughout the day. Make sure to your next sip in a smart way to benefit your body too.
Read below to incorporate the right time to drink water in your daily schedule:
1) Take the very first sip when you wake up: Many people have a habit of drinking coffee early in the morning or immediately after opening their eyes.
For a fact, coffee can dehydrate you even more while you haven’t taken a sip of water the whole night. Ideally, water should be consumed first before any other drink to make your body hydrated and well in senses. After that, you can go for any beverage of your choice in restricted amounts, of course!
2) A glass of water before your meals: If you are on a weight loss journey, you are on the right step. Drinking a glass of water 30 minutes – 1 hour before your meals as it will make you feel full and slightly reduce your calorie intake.
Although, we cannot completely say that it’s the best method to reduce weight. According to a study, the more hydrated you are, the more efficiently your body works from thinking to burning body fat.
Know More: What is Dry Mouth Anxiety?
3) To buzz off midafternoon laziness: Feeling low on energy during the afternoon? We all go for coffee to the rescue but instead swap your choice to a bottle or glass of water.
Consuming caffeine six hours before bed can disrupt sleeping patterns, which can affect your mood the next day. Dehydration may be the root cause of this midafternoon laziness, so drinking water can help overcome extreme fatigue on that Sunday afternoon!
4) Before, during & after the workout session: People who are preparing for intense workouts or serious game sessions should regularly drink water in the days leading up to the performance.
Also, consume lots of water immediately before the sessions to avoid bloating. For light workout sessions, drink a cup of water at least 30 minutes before the session.
To combat the lost body fluids in the form of sweat, maximize performance and recovery, and keep your body well hydrated, keep on sipping water during and post your workout sessions.
5) Take a sip or two before bedtime: Waking up with a dry mouth is one of the common problems faced by individuals who are on medications. To fix this issue, take only a few sips of water before your bedtime to avoid dry mouth in the middle of the night.
Remember, don’t drink the whole glass just before going to bed as you might need to rush to the bathroom, and eventually, your sleep will be disturbed.
Now, let’s talk about the right way to drink water for better hydration and reap all the benefits of water.
Also Read: Is 8 Glass of Water in A Day Enough?
Bottom line:
We might shift our focus to the fact that water is the most essential element for our survival and should be consumed at any time of the day. Rather, when it is consumed plays a crucial role in our bodily functions. Always make sure you’re consuming at the appropriate time of the day to reap all the benefits.
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