Editor’s Note: I don’t remember drinking water when I was a kid, and that habit has continued deep into adulthood.
I’m puzzled and amused that my grandsons, 6 and 20 months, don’t climb into a car seat or a stroller without a water bottle. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing; it’s just different (healthier) than the syruppy Kool-Aid and metallic garden hose gulps that got me through my 1960s childhood. They don’t know what they’re missing.
What sent me down this waterlogged path today is a news release from the Cleveland Clinic about why we should drink water when we wake up. I still prefer my morning water with some flavoring, and coffee beans don’t count, according to the doctor, but her take is worth a read.
-Marie Elium
From Cleveland Clinic
When you first wake up, do you go right for a cup of coffee? You may want to consider a glass of water instead.
“People have lots of GI water loss, what we call insensible losses. So, in a typical eight-hour sleep, you would lose about 300 to 400 cc of water while you sleep. And that’s through your breathing, for example, your skin. You sweat quite a bit overnight,” says Adrienna Jirik, MD, gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic.
“I tell patients to drink at least a cup of water when you wake up in the morning. You don’t really know what’s going to happen for the rest of the day. We’re all guilty of not drinking enough water.”
Dr. Jirik says that drinking water right after you wake up can also help boost metabolism, improve digestion and prevent urinary tract infections. Does the temperature of the water matter? Not really. What matters more is that you’re staying hydrated. However, if you aren’t a fan of plain water, you could always add a slice of lemon or another fruit to give it flavor. Other options include carbonated or sparkling water.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be water. It can be some sort of liquid. Something heavily caffeinated has what we call a diuretic effect and can make you urinate a little bit more. So, before your coffee, why don’t you drink a little non-caffeinated tea, for example. Even some juice is fine,” she says.
Dr. Jirik says,while drinking water is important, other factors play a role in digestion. She recommends eating smaller meals throughout the day and getting regular exercise.
