4 Reasons to Chug Water First Thing in the Morning

Experiencing dry skin? Feeling fatigued? Even though it’s winter, you could STILL be dehydrated…

Many people associate dehydration with sweltering summer days or overexertion in hot and humid climates, but you can still get dehydrated in cold weather. One of the best things we can do for our bodies is drinking a tall glass of water (at least 16oz) right when we wake up in the morning. Our bodies keep operating all night long. Since we’re not replenishing our fluids, we slowly become dehydrated.

Imagine not drinking any water, tea, or any other liquids for the next eight hours. That’s essentially what we do while we sleep. 

Here are four (crazy good) reasons to chug water first thing in the morning:

1. It boosts metabolism 
   Drinking a large, cool glass of water after we wake up has been shown to fire up the metabolism by a whopping 24% for 90 minutes.
2. It flushes toxins – reduces puffiness in our skin/body
   “The kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding our body of toxins, but only if our intake of fluids is adequate”, according to Kenneth Ellner, an Atlanta-based dermatologist. Getting fluids into our body right after we wake up helps flush them out first thing in the morning.
3. It makes our brains happier and smarter. 
   Brain tissue is 75% water. When we’re not properly hydrated, the brain operates on less fuel, which makes us feel more fatigued or moody.
4. It curbs our appetite. 
   One study showed that people who drink a glass of water before every meal lost 4.5 pounds over a three-month period, because it fills up the stomach with a substance that has zero calories, and made people feel full as a result. (But don’t forget to eat breakfast!) Details: Killer Habit After You Wake UP

The shape of water…A personal tip

I used to be able to get away with a glass of wine (or three) during the week. As I’ve aged, not so much, so I’ve had to make some negotiations along the way. When I’m cooking and it’s “wine o’clock”, I’ve been filling a pretty wine glass (or three) of sparkling water – with a fresh squeeze of citrus garnish. For what it’s worth – it has worked wonders for me.