It is well known the importance of drinking water because it brings numerous health benefits, but do you know what is the right amount of water to drink, when and how to do it correctly?
This is very important information because the way you drink water makes this drink good or bad for the body.
Is there a best time to drink water?
By now everyone knows how much proper hydration is essential for the well-being of the body. Drinking enough water helps you keep fit and more beautiful. But it's not as well known that some times of the day are better than others for drinking. Here are the best times to drink water throughout the day.
As soon as you wake up
Among the best times to drink water during the day, there is certainly the morning. The body, at rest, does not receive liquids. A glass of water as soon as you wake up, therefore, reactivates the metabolism. This allows you to face the day on the right foot. Drinking water on an empty stomach also facilitates the work of the kidneys.
Drinking a glass or two of water on an empty stomach helps cleanse our digestive tract of toxins and, at the same time, puts our organs into action. It is enough to do this at least 20 minutes before breakfast and it is much healthier than starting the day directly with coffee, for example.
Furthermore, if you drink warm or hot water and add the juice of half a lemon, you will activate the intestine, because it is a simple but effective remedy to combat constipation.
We advise you to drink water on an empty stomach even when you wake up in the morning with water retention, with a swollen face or eyelids, to make sure that the kidneys begin to function well.
Before meals
Is it better to drink before, during, or after a meal? The best time to rehydrate is half an hour before a meal. Drinking before eating helps you feel fuller and avoid binges. Water is therefore a precious ally also for those who are trying to keep the line under control. But that's not all: choosing to drink before eating also promotes digestion. Taking too much water during meals dilutes the gastric juices, weighing down the digestive system. During the meal, it is better to drink fluids thanks to fruits and vegetables.
Before and after training
We often remember to drink at the end of the workout, because the body begs to rehydrate it. This also cools the internal organs. But it is important to take fluids even before physical activity. This helps the activity of the heart. In principle, you should drink 330-450 ml of water before playing sports, and 500 ml at the end of the workout.
When you feel tired or sick
If you feel fatigued during the day, it may be due to a lack of fluids. Taking a break to drink a glass of water can certainly help. Also, it is essential to drink a lot if you are feeling sick.
How to keep the body hydrated
Drink throughout the day: according to doctors, nutritionists, dieticians, for proper hydration and to purify the body, an adult must drink at least 2.5 liters of water a day, increasing the dose if it is very hot and anticipating the moment when you are thirsty.
Reduce fluid loss: during workdays, whether at home or in the office, or if you spend too much time outside, in the heat, on overheated public transport, or while exercising, you may lose a lot of fluids; our body must never lose more than 2% of its body weight in liquids. In these cases, it is, therefore, necessary to drink more than normal.
Never drink everything in one gulp: it is the most common mistake, you drink a large amount of water altogether with the consequence that the water has no positive effect on the body, but it immediately reaches the bladder and you must immediately run in bathroom to eliminate it.
The benefit is obtained instead by drinking in small sips: the body is helped to purify itself, the water slowly enters the cells, purifies from toxins, and deflates.
To make the water work in the best way, it should be drunk in doses equal to a spoonful of broth; in addition to the benefits, many ailments, typical of women, such as colitis, bloating, swollen belly and even poor digestion would be avoided.
Alternative to water: if drinking still water is not to your liking, you can take other types of drinks, such as juices and fruit juices or smoothies, sugar-free, decaffeinated tea, and herbal teas.
Coffee, in small doses (no more than three a day), is part of the liquid that can be taken.
Wrap-up: Tips to drink water at the right time
Starting from the minimum dose of two liters of water per day, they can be divided as follows:
- a liter of water in the morning, from waking up on an empty stomach until lunchtime.
- a liter during the afternoon until the evening, before going to bed; make sure you have a bottle of water on your nightstand and drink a glass to enjoy the benefits of water even while you sleep.
- It was once believed that, in order not to disturb the night's sleep, it was necessary to stop drinking at least 3 or 4 hours before going to bed.
- Drinking water before bed is great because it maintains water balance during sleep, improves mood, helping you rest better.
- The inconvenience could concern nocturnal diuresis: drinking too much would force you to get up several times, during the night, to go to the bathroom. The right compromise is to take only one glass of water before going to bed; in any case, it is good to evaluate the situation and decide what is the right solution for yourself.
- An American study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information has established that drinking water before bedtime, according to which it would also improve mood, giving feelings of calm and satisfaction.
- During lunch and dinner drink the right amount, in small sips between courses: you should not be afraid of feeling more bloated or not digesting, on the contrary, water makes the gastric juices flow better.
The healthy habit of drinking at least two liters of water a day associated with a balanced diet will make you feel much better, making you immediately feel lighter; but to notice the actual benefits it is necessary to wait at least two weeks so that the body will assimilate the new habits.
Only then can you notice the improvements on the skin and hair that will be brighter and more hydrated, even the roundness will be diminished because the water helps fight water retention and cellulite.
