When you wake up after a long sleep,
your body is naturally dehydrated. No matter how much water you drank
the day before, you have used up your stores and it’s time to refill the
tank.
The first thing drinking water after waking up will do is provide your cells with much needed, life-giving water.
Compare this to the norm; drinking a 16 oz. cup of coffee, which will further dehydrate your already thirsty body.
Partaking in this immediate rehydration will have major noticeable benefits including:
– Feeling more refreshed
– Having more natural energy throughout the morning
– Being healthier & happier
1) Flushes out toxins
After nourishing your cells, drinking water after waking up will flush unwanted toxins out of your body.
While
you sleep your body repairs itself, replenishes energy and balances
hormones. The result is toxins and other waste materials being released
and waiting to be flushed out.
After
clearing your body of these toxins, you will feel great and be able to
absorb more nutrients from a well-balanced breakfast.
This also leads to clear skin and better overall well being.
2) Fires up your metabolism
Drinking water is a crucial tactic when it comes to weight loss. But drinking water after waking up is the most optimal way to do it.
Think
of drinking water after waking up as an alarm clock for your
metabolism. This morning water kick starts your metabolism & has
been proven to increase your calorie burning potential throughout the
day.
Not only that, but water
actually fills you up & curbs your appetite, allowing you to make
smarter choices for your breakfast.
These
smart choices tend to roll over to smarter choices throughout the day.
If you know anything about healthy eating, then you know that this
momentum is so powerful. There’s no better way to start that momentum
than with a tall glass of delicious water.
3) Fuels your brain
Here’s a fun fact; your brain is 75% water.
If you’ve been drinking enough of it, you will know that without water your brain is not going to function at its optimal level.
A
morning glass of water will leave you feeling sharp and clear
throughout the day, giving you an edge over all the dehydrated zombies
you’ll encounter.
4) Keeps you regular & relieves constipation
The main cause of constipation is dehydration.
Drinking
water when you wake up will not only cure dehydration but it will help
relieve constipation, help to keep you regular and promote a morning
bowel movement. This is a great way to start the day.
5) Prevents and cures disease
As
stated above, in Japan it is believed that drinking water this way can
cure even the harshest diseases over time. I am not a scientist or a
doctor, but what I do know is that doing this will certainly help cure disease and can certainly help prevent them, even if the effects are subtle.
Something that is so healthy and good for you, if not performing miracles, is going to have a positive impact on your health.
One
of my biggest beliefs is to control what you can, and don’t worry about
the rest. Something like drinking a glass of water when you wake up is
certainly under your control, so why not do it.
6) It’s completely refreshing
Last, but certainly not least, the 6th
reason you should partake in the practice of drinking water after
waking up is that of how good and refreshed it will make you feel. There
really is nothing more refreshing than waking up, dry-mouthed, and
enjoying life’s purest substance.
It revitalizes me, and I feel crisp and clean afterward.
So how much water should I drink?
If this sounds like something you are into that great. But how much water should you drink to reap the benefits?
The
amount varies around the web. In the Japanese healing protocol, it is
noted that you should drink 4 160mL glasses of water upon waking. This
translates to 20 oz. of water. To give you a good idea, that’s 1/3rd of a 2-liter coke or 2.5 cups of water.
Warm or cold?
Sorry
to say this, but warm. Preferably body temperature! I know this is not
always feasible to drink two 98 degree glasses of water when you wake up
so opt for room temperature.
Cold
water needs to be heated up to core temp by the body, expending energy.
Warm water allows your body to maintain homeostasis, optimally flushing
out toxins and replenishing the cells. A good way to think of it is “pouring cold water over a hot car engine,” but maybe a little less extreme.
All this being said, don’t read too much into it. I often drink cold water waking up and it is not going to be a deal breaker!
Can I eat right away?
You
should wait at least 15 minutes after drinking your water to eat. The
optimal length in Japanese culture is to wait 45 minutes until eating.
The “exact protocol” of the Japanese water cure is as followed:
1) As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth (don’t read into this), drink 4 × 160mL glasses of water
2) Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes
3) After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4)
After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink
anything for 2 hours – i.e. you can drink straight after a meal (within
the first 15 minutes) but not for 2 hours after that.
5)
Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at
the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually
increase it to 4 glasses per day.
Credit: #menprovement
