Best Time to Drink Water
The human body is made up of a lot of water – an average of roughly 75%, with slight differences depending on a person’s age, gender, activity levels, and where he lives. That is why water is a vital element for your body to function properly. Increasing your daily water intake can help boost your hydration levels, which may be especially beneficial for improving your mood, brain function, and energy levels.
So how often and when should you drink water?
Although there are no absolute guidelines as to when is the best time to drink water, the following are recommended to ensure that you keep your hydration levels at its best and allow your body and mind to function well.
First Thing in the Morning
For some, having a glass of water first thing in the morning is a good way to kickstart their day. In fact, the Japanese have a healthy habit of drinking lukewarm or room-temperature water on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, even before they go about their daily routine. Known as Japanese water therapy, the Japanese believe that this practice cleanses their digestive system and regulates gut health, leading to better health conditions.
Before Meals
If you’re trying to lose weight, drinking water 30 minutes before eating is a great way to enhance your feeling of fullness and lessen your food intake. It also helps indigestion when you drink water with your meals and prevents unnecessary constipation.
When You Feel Like Grabbing Your Favorite Snack
Before you grab a bag of your favorite chips or take a bite of your favorite burger., try drinking a glass of water first. Why? Because you may actually be just thirsty, and mistake your thirst for hunger. Keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day curbs your appetite for small snacks and heavy meals.
Before, During, and After Exercise
Every time you exercise, you lose water and electrolytes through sweat. Make sure to drink water before you engage in any physical activity for that hydration reserve; and take breaks in between to drink water and replenish any lost fluids. Even right after you exercise, your body still continues to burn energy for a while before it slowly goes back to its resting stage. So depending on how intense you work out, you will need to hydrate more or less than others.
And although there are no exact rules on how much water your should drink during physical activities, the American Council on Exercise suggests the following basic guidelines before, during, and after exercise.
- 17 to 20 oz. 2 to 3 hours before workout
- 8 oz. 20 to 30 minutes before or during warm up
- 7 to10 oz. every 10 to 20 minutes during exercise.
- 8 oz. no more than 30 minutes after you exercise.
If you happen to live in areas that have warmer climate, you are most likely get thirsty more and need to drink water often to keep yourself hydrated.
Hydration happens when you lose more fluid than you drink. This can result to mental confusion, weakness, and loss of consciousness. And just as it is important to drink water, you must be mindful of the quality of water you drink. Make sure to drink only safe, clean, and healthy water; else, you might end up getting ill from drinking contaminated water. And while water in the US is generally considered safe, there are still cases of illnesses from drinking contaminated water.
Water from the tap, contains chlorine and other elements that may be harmful to your health. For your peace of mind, having a home water filtration system, ensures you have access to clean and safe drinking water. And if you’re overwhelmed by those bulky countertop or complicated undersink filtration systems, SJ Wave’s Water Faucet Filter installs in minutes and comes with everything you need to install. It effectively removes 98% of chlorine, taste, and odor while leaving the healthy minerals.
So next time, don’t wait to feel thirsty. Because when you feel so, it is a sign that your body is already low in hydration. Instead, make sure to have access to clean water anytime. This may be easy when you’re at home; when you can just reach over to your fridge for a glass of cold water; but if you’re in the office, school, or simply out a lot, make sure you carry a water container with you. Get an environment-friendly, quality and durable water container that keep your water hot or cold throughout the day. This way you never miss out on your need to drink water anytime. And more than giving you cost savings from buying bottled drinking water, which may not be so healthy after all, you’re assured that the water you drink is nothing less of pure, clean, and healthy.