Do you often have the urge to drink water first thing in the morning? If yes, have you noticed how differently your body reacts when drinking 1 litre of water on an empty stomach? You feel instantly rejuvenated and ready to start the day. Certainly, you must have heard it said over and again that ‘water is an essential part of life’, whether you are drinking it or using it for external purposes. Your body – which comprises 60% of water – needs this essential liquid in large amounts to properly perform various bodily functions such as digestion.
Now did you know that it is good to also drink water on an empty stomach? It’s true that many people don’t like the idea of drinking water, let alone downing more than a glass of water in the morning. But in this article, we’ll be showing you the benefits of drinking 1 litre of water on an empty stomach before breakfast.
Image Credit:
Joseph Greve
Drinking 1 litre of Water on an Empty Stomach – 9 Benefits
Most of the time, it’s easy to forget to take sufficient water throughout the day – probably because you’re too busy. Once this becomes a daily occurrence, you may begin to experience some symptoms that include dehydration or insufficient hydration. Drinking at least 1 litre of water in the morning immediately after waking up will give your body many health benefits, as seen below.
1. Serves as a lubricant
Upon waking up in the morning, your body is usually in the mood to start afresh. More so ,you might experience dryness in the mouth, stiff joints, and even a blocked nose, especially during cold weather. Drinking some water after waking up will help to loosen the stiff joints, provide enough liquid for the mouth and respiratory organs and you’ll feel generally reinvigorated.
2. Works as a detoxifier
Detoxifying should be practised as it might help reduce the risk of developing diseases. Although there are different methods of detoxifying, something as simple as drinking water can help you achieve easy and cheap detoxification. By drinking water on an empty stomach, toxins will be flushed out from your body, thereby preparing it to receive fresh nutrients. Think about all that beer you drank last night. Yup, that too will find its way out. Even more, your body and skin will generally show the results of detoxification by looking hydrated, healthier, and well cared for.
3. Helps with calorie control
Water naturally makes you feel full, thereby curbing the need to stuff yourself unnecessarily. When you drink up to a litre of water on an empty stomach as part of your morning routine, you won’t feel the need to stress-eat or consume foods or drinks that are high in calories. Since you’d already feel full, you will want to ration your breakfast which will take you all the way to lunch. All in all, you won’t be eating more than what is necessary.
4. Assists with weight loss
When you use water to control your calorie intake, you will find it equally as easy to use as a method of weight loss. Some studies reveal that thermogenesis triggered by water can be responsible for increasing body metabolism by 24 to 30% in adults for up to 60 mins. So, if you’re on a weight-loss journey, you might want to give drinking water up to 1 litre on an empty stomach a try.
Image Credit:
Ethan Sykes
6. Helps to boost energy
Mornings are the most important part of the day, especially for 9-5 workers. How your morning starts will determine your mood for the better part of your day. Instead of starting your day with caffeine, try exchanging coffee for water. Drinking water on an empty stomach can stimulate your red blood cells to multiply at a quicker rate, thereby increasing your energy level. Also, drinking water early in the morning increases bowel movement which further leads to you feeling lighter and ready for the day.
7. Helps to boost mental performance
Dehydration affects mental performance, and so drinking water often and in sufficient quantities is necessary for optimum mental performance. You will also discover that when you’re dehydrated it’s easy to develop headaches. For the most part, headaches reduce or stop any activity that is mentally tasking. Starting your day with drinking up to a litre of water will reduce the possibility of experiencing a headache and helps boost mental performance.
8. Aids normal and easy transportation of nutrients
Without water, there can’t be an optimum distribution of nutrients that the body needs to function every day. Water aids easy circulation of blood through which nutrients are carried to the cells. It also helps the removal of waste from your cells, keeping them in top form.
9. Assists with shock absorbance
Water, as an essential nutrient itself, works from the inside to first to protect your organs and tissues. It also acts as a shock absorber against attacks from dangerous organisms, while equally maintaining the cellular shape of said organs.
10. Encourages the growth of healthier hair
Dehydration leads to stunted hair growth or breakage, and since each hair strand is 25% water, it is essential that you take in enough water to maintain your locks. Doing this early in the morning is even more helpful for improving hair growth because your hair will be getting a percentage of what it is naturally made of (protein). When you combine water with other fluid-based fruits and veggies, your hair will look glowingly healthy.
To Conclude
Your body needs a steady supply of water to carry out regular bodily functions such as transporting oxygen and nutrients to your cells, normalizing body temperature, keeping your organs in good condition and keeping your joints well lubricated. As much as possible, it’s vital to stay hydrated by drinking water to maintain a healthy body. Drinking up to 1 litre of water daily on an empty stomach is a good place to start practising.
If you enjoyed reading about the benefits we’ve highlighted and have learned something new, kindly leave a comment and subscribe to our newsletter to know when we drop other health tips. Also, feel free to share this article with others that might benefit.
