The Benefits Of Drinking Water First Thing And Last Thing At Night

Drinking 7-8 glasses of water as soon as one gets up in the morning has apparently been practiced in India for many centuries as one of the best habits to adopt for good health.

Here are some reasons according to Lifehacker.co.in why a few good gulps of pure, refreshing water first thing in the morning can make a big difference to your overall well-being. (Writing as someone who previously had a 1 hour 45 minute commute, I'm not sure 7-8 glasses would have been a terribly good idea, but we're all different aren't we!)

What do you think? Are these brilliant or baloney? How much water do you drink in the morning?

Drinking water balances the lymphatic system of your body. This prompts the lymph to reach your heart in a continuous motion. The lymph glands also help strengthen the immune system, which ultimately helps your body fight infections.

• Drinking water first thing in the morning, it purges toxins from the blood, which results in glowing and better-looking skin.
• Drinking water in the morning increases your metabolism by almost 25%, which ultimately leads to weight loss.
• Drinking water helps in rehydration, which would help you get rid of headaches and back pain. These are often caused by dehydration.
• Drinking water early in the morning would make you a regular cycle, as it helps in digestion of food and prevents constipation.
• Drinking water helps you think better, as your brain is made up of fluid.
• Drinking water also boosts your energy levels as the nutrients are absorbed better.

Bear in mind, when you start the habit of drinking water in the morning, start with not more than 4 glasses of water. Increase the intake eventually as you start to realise the advantages.

How much water should you drink during the day?

This is a whole crazy area, with many myths and counter-myths about how much water you should be drinking. Some say 2 litres per day, some say 8 glasses, some people barely touch a drop. But what is right?

The truth is your daily requirement depends on your size, diet and unique body chemistry. Some say tea and coffee don't count because they dehydrate you. Actually, up to 5 cups of tea or coffee is generally fine.

Obviously, be aware of what time you are taking your tea and coffee, as the caffeine can linger in your system and cause you problems getting to sleep, but for hydration purposes, when consumed in moderation these drinks shouldn't make any difference to hydration. Most people recommend no caffeine after 4pm.

And finally, should you drink water last thing at night?

Simply... yes. Here's why.

1. Hydration and replenishment of nutrients and minerals.

Water contains valuable nutrients and minerals necessary to help your body function as it should. Drinking water last thing is one of the best ways to store these. Water hydrates (duh!) and the good thing about that is that it helps you replenish what you've lost through the day's activities. So a last thing at night glass can "top you up" to your natural levels.

2. It burns calories! (what!? say that again!)

Yep, drinking cold water your body uses up more energy warming up again, increasing the rate of calorie-burning by your metabolism. Because you're not ingesting new calories it will help burn those existing ones. And we all love that, right?

3. It's a toxin-buster!

Your digestive tract, your muscles and your skin will all benefit from having the supplies of fresh clean water and the time to burn out the bad stuff. It'll make you feel better, help your weight loss and you'll feel the benefits of having more energy during the day. Couple that with a good quality of sleep and you'll notice a "new you" in no time!

Finally, remember not to break your sleep!

All you need to consider is how much you can sensibly drink without it affecting your sleep pattern too much. Try out different amounts, and don't drink so much you have to get up every half hour because any benefits from the water will be lost through interrupted or broken sleep. One glass is probably a good amount to start with, and you will start reaping the benefits in no time at all.