Water = Better Mornings Every Day!!

The benefits of drinking plenty of water every day are many, in fact drinking enough water daily is crucial for the body to properly function.  The human body is more than 60% water.  Vital organs like the brain and heart are about 73% water, the lungs are closer to 83%, skin is 64%, and bones are around 31%.  WATER IS IMPORTANT!!  

The weather has quickly changed here in beautiful north Florida.  The warm days have reminded me just how important it is to regularly hydrate especially when working outside at the farm sweating my ass off! 

We all know drinking enough water every day is important and yet most of us don’t follow through.  I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. We all have reasons. Maybe it’s been a busy day and ‘all the things’ seem much more pressing than stopping to hydrate. Maybe it’s that you don’t love how water tastes so you decide to grab a soda, juice, or coffee instead. This list can go on and on.

Growing up I was always told, like most of you, drinking plenty of water is important to my health. It’s not super motivating to be told to do something just because it’s good for us. Maybe the benefits don’t outweigh the cost.  I chase my kiddos around with bottles of water constantly reminding them to take a break from playtime to hydrate but they usually ignore me.  I don’t chase them around spouting off the reasons why it is important to drink enough water, but I probably should start doing just that!! 

Making healthy lifestyle changes can be easy.  You don’t have to change everything about your life!  In fact, I strongly suggest you don’t.  When we start off with a couple of changes and stick to creating one or two new habits at a time, momentum builds!   

If you want to start making healthy changes, I have an easy one for you today.  Leave a tumbler or bottle of water on your nightstand each night before you go to sleep.  When you wake up each morning start your day off by drinking the water you left on your nightstand the night before. THAT’S IT!!  

I’m not going to leave you with a to-do without telling you why I recommend this small morning routine adjustment.  If the benefits I’m sharing with you don’t completely convince you, give it a try for yourself for at least 30 days to see how you feel.  During the 30-day experiment, it is helpful to document any changes to how you feel each day. Download the weekly water journal below to track your progress and document all the positive impacts of this small morning routine change!

This simple adjustment to your morning routine has both long- and short-term benefits to how the body functions and how you feel both physically and mentally.  You can still have your coffee just drink your water first!!  I’ll keep the info short and to the point, let’s get to it.   

Drinking a glass of water first thing provides much-needed hydration for the body.

If we are getting a full night’s sleep (7-8 hours) that’s a long-ass time for your body to go without any fluids.  By drinking water first thing we give our body the fluids it needs to function properly and set the tone for the rest of the day. 

Drinking a glass of water first thing boosts immunity.

While we sleep the body repairs itself and extracts toxins.  Drinking water first thing on an empty stomach aids in the balance of the lymphatic system, the system responsible for eliminating toxins from our bodies.  Drinking water first thing helps the body naturally eliminate toxins and bacteria which could lead to illness. 

Drinking a glass of water first thing gives metabolism a boost.

Our metabolism converts what we eat to energy.  By drinking a glass of water in the morning our metabolic rate can increase by about 25% for about an hour!  Yes, please!!  This means faster digestion and of course weight loss.  Water first thing also prepares the body to break down the food eaten more efficiently making the cells of the body (YOU AS A WHOLE) more productive.

Drinking a glass of water first thing wakes up the brain.

Like I mentioned earlier the human body is about 60% water, our vital organs like the brain and heart are more like 73% water.  When we hydrate first thing in the morning, we are replenishing the water the brain needs to repair and function.  When properly hydrated we are more alert, have more energy, and increased overall cognitive function first thing in the morning.  Drinking a glass of water when we wake up gives the brain a boost of energy and mental alertness. 

Consuming water speeds up the rate at which oxygen is delivered to the body’s vital organs. Like water, oxygen is vital to the body. Drinking water first thing wakes the body up quickly with a boost of natural energy. 

Drinking a glass of water first thing aids in weight loss.

Studies show drinking cold water in the morning has a thermogenic effect, meaning your body uses calories (energy) to warm up the water in the digestive system after it’s consumed.  This can increase the metabolic rate by 20-30% for up to an hour.  Drinking water before breakfast or any meal for that matter also reduces the amount of food eaten by filling up on water first. 

Drinking a glass of water first thing improves skin & hair health.

Dehydration is one of the main causes of unwanted skin issues including wrinkles, dark patches, large pores, loose skin, dryness, flaking skin, uneven texture, irritation, blemishes, and more.  Drinking water in the morning flushes out harmful toxins, rehydrates the body, and promotes blood flow to the skin.  Hydrating in the morning helps nourish the skin and hair from the inside out!!  The weight of our hair is nearly ¼ water, when we are dehydrated hair can become brittle, thin, or even fall out. 

HEAL YOUR BODY FROM THE INSIDE OUT!!

Drinking a glass of water first thing helps Us POOP!

Drinking water in the morning triggers the intestines to get moving.  During sleep, the body processes food consumed during the day.  In the morning the body is finished and ready to get rid of toxins and anything not absorbed by the body.  The large intestine absorbs excess water in the body, if there are insufficient amounts of water, it can be difficult to move the bowls.  Building a habit of drinking a glass every morning when you wake up will ensure the digestive system becomes more regular.

Drinking a glass of water first thing treats & prevents headaches.

Drinking water first thing can eliminate or reduce the frequency and duration of headaches.  Even mild dehydration can bring about massive migraines.  During sleep, the body can become slightly dehydrated since the brain is mostly water it can temporarily shrink from fluid loss leading to a dehydration headache because the brain has pulled away from the skull slightly. 

OUCH!  This is definitely something I want to avoid!  Preventing a dehydration headache is as easy as drinking a glass of water.  

Now I think I’ll start chasing my kids around with water but instead of reminding them to drink I will start saying water will help you poop more; my son would love that! LOL.  But seriously I hope you give this little change a try to see how beneficial small changes can be to your overall health.  You don’t have to change every part of life all at once.  Trying to implement too many changes can feel impossible to do and can keep us from making any sort of progress at all.  Starting small, like adding a glass of water to our morning routine each day is quick and easy to do with immediate and long-term rewards.