The human body is composed of around 60% water. It is one of the most essential nutrients required to sustain and survive with good overall health.
Water is vital to our health; from skin hydration to proper digestion to avoiding migraines, there is a lot that can be fixed simply by drinking more water.
However, along with proper hydration and water consumption, the temperature of your water also plays a critical role in your body’s metabolism and functioning.
According to the traditional Ayurveda and Chinese medicinal remedies, warm water has proved to be one of the most beneficial to consume, especially in the mornings.
The benefits of drinking hot water in the morning are quite underrated and need to be looked actively into, taking into account the quantity, timings, and proper reasons associated with it.
Good to Drink Hot Water in the Morning?
The research in this area as to whether hot water is actually good to consume in the morning is still on limited fronts.
Drinking hot water can help improve digestion, reduce congestion, and promote relaxation, according to people.
Research says that an ideal temperature for the consumption of hot beverages must be between 130 and 160°F (54 and 71°C), more than what can lead to burns or scalds.
That being said, one of the best times to consume warm water is either in the mornings or right before going to bed.
A fundamental precept of Ayurveda is that it encourages drinking a cup of warm water with each meal, in accordance with what Chinese and Japanese cultures already follow for a long time.
The benefits of taking warm water on an empty stomach, even before you brush, have a lot of health benefits that you might not know about. However, the research arena needs to be broadened in this area.
Benefits of Drinking Hot Water
Drinking clean, safe, and good-quality water not only quenches our thirst, but also offers numerous benefits to our body, and maintains good health. That is the reason why it is also called “The Elixir of Life” because it is the magical fluid that provides strength and gives power to the human body.
From contributing to our mental performance to keeping our skin glowing, water is an important component of our daily health regimen. So, get a glass of water and continue reading about the key benefits of this purest gift of nature.
Keeps our body hydrated:
Water is the major component of all fluids of our body, like blood, digestive fluids, and lymph. That’s why it is one of the major needs of our body.
Now here, hydration means maintaining the right balance of fluids and electrolytes in our body. As we said, water is an essential component of all fluids, so an optimum amount of it keeps your body hydrated.
Strenuous body activity like exercise, hot weather, or some health conditions like diarrhea can cause dehydration in our bodies. In any of these conditions, we need to add up in our fluid intake. During breastfeeding and pregnancy, women might need an extra amount of water.
Regulates our Body temperature:
Body water acts as a thermoregulator, as it maintains the optimum temperature of our body by removing excess heat through perspiration.
If the temperature of the body gets too high, then this heats up water inside the body, and thus it gets evaporated from the skin in the form of sweat. It lowers body temperature and maintains it to an optimum level.
Protects body tissues and organs:
Another major role of water is in the protection of body tissues and almost all major organs like kidneys, heart, brain, digestive organs, muscles, and joints.
Adequate hydration is required for the proper functioning of all these organs. If you drink less water, you might feel dizzy because all your body tissues are in need of adequate hydration. Water provides a moisturizing effect to these delicate tissues, thus protecting them and keeping them healthy.
Also, water acts as a lubricant for joints and spinal cord, preventing them from any damage due to friction or any other trauma. So, we can say that besides giving strength and hydrating the body, water is also a good protector of our body organs.
Acts as a solvent for important nutrients and wastes:
Water acts as a solvent for the electrolytes or the vital nutrients that are needed by the cells. It acts as a solvent and carries many wastes in dissolved form away from the organs, as these wastes can be harmful to them.
Water is an essential component of blood. As a solvent, it helps blood dissolve useful nutrients and electrolytes. It helps transport these substances like oxygen and nutrients to different areas of the body where these substances are required.
Moreover, water carries the waste metabolites formed inside the cell, takes them away from the cells, and then excretes them from the body.
Aiding in better digestion
One of the foremost and most powerful benefits of drinking warm water first thing in the morning is that it enhances digestion to a great level.
Water assists in the movement of the digestive process and helps discharge waste through the stomach and intestines.
Maintain optimum hydration
The Institute of Medicine research concludes the following amount of water optimum for the genders-
- Women- 78 ounces (2.3 liters) of water per day
- Men-112 ounces (3.3 liters) per day
The warm water serves as a great source of hydrating your body although researchers say that cool water is better for rehydration.
The amount of water consumed by you in a day should also be taken care of. Too much water can also cause harm to the body.
Improving body circulation
A good blood flow is a fundamental marker of your blood pressure as well as your heart health.
A good warm bath encourages your circulatory organs — your arteries and veins — to grow and carry blood more efficiently throughout your body.
Similarly, drinking water will also enhance blood circulation inside your body. However, the research into this is limited.
Detoxification of the body
This is a self-explanatory notion that hot or warm water serves as great detox water to flush out the impurities and toxins of your body.
According to a 2020 research project, warm water can help preserve kidney function while dispersing waste elements in the blood at the same time.
Apart from water, homemade detox drinks can also work wonders for your overall health and aid in the detoxification process.
Reduce stress levels
Drinking hot water might help your central nervous system function better, so you might feel less anxious if you do.
Drinking less water affected feelings of relaxation, pleasure, and good emotions, according to a 2014 study.
As a result, staying hydrated may help to boost your attitude and relaxation.
Not many may relish the taste of plain water in the morning. A zingy drink that wakes you up and provides you with hydration too can be an excellent morning drink. Healthstripe sugar free electrolyte powder has the electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins you need to kickstart your morning in a healthy way. Just mix a stick of the powder in a glass of normal or cold water and your morning pick-me-up is ready.
Relieving nasal congestion
The steam from a cup of hot water or tea works wonders in treating itchy and sore throats. It helps in curing sinus headaches and migration.
Bonus: 5 Best Teas For Headaches and Migraines
Our sinuses and throats have mucous membranes which need warmth to treat nasal congestion. Warm water helps with that. It also alleviates a painful throat.
What Happens When You Drink Hot Water In The Morning?
As already known, mornings are the best time to consume hot water or in general. It improves your bowel movements, aids in digestion, and relieves the problem of constipation.
Moreover, warm water in the morning along with honey and lemon is also known to help drastically in weight loss.
One glass of warm water in the morning works as a great booster for both your mind and your body. You feel active, energized, and light the entire day. It feels like rejuvenating your body cells.
Why might people drink mild hot water in the morning?
The body’s metabolism gets activated by drinking mild warm water in the morning. Activation of metabolism early in the morning helps consume the deposited fats. It burns fats and prevents obesity and other medical conditions.
Other than that, warm water smoothens the normal digestive functions. Most of the time, digestive problems are caused by the trapped excess water or the waste stuck inside the intestines.
Warm water intake in the morning speeds up the elimination of waste products by increasing the contractions in the intestine. In this way, it helps cleanse the intestines and removes the excess wastes, preventing gastric problems. It keeps the digestive tract in good health.
If you keep on drinking warm water, especially in the morning, for a long time, it will provide you with the following benefits:
- It helps cleanse the skin and eliminates skin-related problems.
- It improves digestion, increases the appetite, and keeps you in good health.
- Detoxify your body by detecting and eliminating harmful toxins from the body.
- Improves body metabolism.
What happens if we drink hot water daily?
There is no harm in consuming a cup of hot water daily keeping in mind the accurate temperature and the amount.
However, if you experience any shortcomings in continuing with hot water for a long time, like a messed up sleep, sore throat, feeling less thirsty, etc., you should avoid continuing this habit on a daily basis and resort to alternative days.
Advantages and disadvantages of Drinking Hot Water
The advantages and disadvantages of drinking water depend upon many factors. On one hand, it may provide many health benefits but on the other side, there can be downsides as well.
Advantages of drinking hot water
- Relieving muscle and joint pain
- Helps in relaxation
- Weight loss
- Assisting digestive process
- Promote saliva production
- Prevent premature aging
- Improving immune system
Disadvantages of drinking hot water
- Worsen the problem of hypertension
- Excessive consumption leads to dehydration causing kidney stones and osteoporosis
- Can affect dental health
Takeaway
Overall, the positive effects of drinking hot water in the morning clearly outweigh the negative side of it.
However, the key is to maintain the balance of the temperature of the hot water and also take into account the timings and amount being consumed.
How much warm water should you drink In the morning?
It depends on various factors like age, weather, and diet. The broader guidelines that can be followed recommend that one might drink one or two glasses of hot water after waking up or brushing your teeth. You can drink warm water even before having breakfast. You can drink at least three glasses of hot water in the morning.
Does drinking warm water clear skin?
Yes, along with various other benefits, drinking warm water helps clear skin and improves the body’s metabolism. Due to that, the deposited fats get burned, and blood circulation through the circulatory system gets better. In this way, blood flow towards the skin improves. It also detoxifies or removes excess toxins from the skin.
Can warm water help improve digestion?
Yes, drinking warm water maintains a healthy digestion. As warm water increases the contraction in the intestines, it removes excess water and wastes that may cause digestive problems. An adequate intake helps prevent chronic dehydration. Compared to cold water, it breaks down the food faster, prevents constipation and other gastric problems, and improves regular bowel movement.
What are the benefits of drinking warm lemon water?
Drinking warm lemon water helps improve the body’s immune system. It’s good for the healthy brain and healthy heart. It is effective for weight loss and controls blood pressure. It helps clear the skin and aids in digestion. We can say drinking warm lemon water, especially in the morning, can be a good habit to adopt.
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