8 Fantastic Benefits of Drinking Water After Waking Up

Everyone has heard the benefits of drinking water, especially when it comes to the positive effects it has on skin and complexion.  I have personally written about the benefits, regurgitating what I’ve heard without knowing more details.  So, I decided to actually research the benefits of drinking water and came across the more specific benefits of drinking water after waking up.

I wanted to share what I learned about the benefits of drinking water after waking up.  I have recently started trying it, and I have noticed a major difference in a few things.

First, my skin looks noticeably brighter and healthier, with fewer breakouts.

Second, although I don’t experience headaches often, when I do, I notice a correlation between a lack of water and increase in headaches.  On the other hand, increased water consumption has put a stop to my headaches altogether.

Third, I just feel healthier!  Although it can be a pain to go to the bathroom more frequently, my body just feels better overall.

The Japanese have a tradition of drinking water immediately after waking up in the morning.  It is believed that the water will nourish an empty stomach, aid in digestion and cure diseases. There is a term for this, known as Japanese Water Therapy.  In addition to drinking 4 glasses of water after waking up, the Japanese theory also indicates that it is important to walk quietly each day for one hour, gargle salt water before going to bed, eat/drink while sitting and chew food completely before swallowing.

Since Japan has the highest percentage of centenarians (people over 100 years old), they must be doing something right! (Source)

How much water to drink after waking up?

In order to stay true with the Japanese Water Therapy, it is recommended to drink 32 ounces of water after waking up.  This is equivalent to four, 8-ounce glasses.  To put into perspective, 8 ounces is about 2/3rds of a beer glass.

Four glasses can seem daunting, but I have personally found it easier to drink out of a mason jar.  Two regular mason jars full to the brim is just under 32 ounces. Although it’s roughly the same amount of liquid, something about drinking two glasses versus four seems much easier psychologically.

If 32 ounces is too much, just try 16 ounces at first and work your way up over time.

Below are the more specific benefits of drinking water after waking up.  Give it a shot, I think you will be surprised by the results!

1. Enhanced Mental Acuity

According to Psychology Today, dehydration can cause impaired short-term memory and make it more difficult to recall long term memories overall. Since the brain is made up of roughly 73% water, proper hydration is essential for proper brain functioning.

Therefore, to ensure the brain’s cellular efficiency, it is crucial to be hydrated.  This is especially important in the morning, since we go 6-8 hours at night without fluid intake.

2. Decreased Headaches

If you have ever had a bit too much alcohol to drink, you have likely experienced the negative effects of being hungover: headache, decreased ability to concentrate, nausea, fatigue, etc.

Scientists believe the main culprit of the throbbing hangover headache is due to dehydration.  Since dehydration results in a reduction of blood volume, a dehydration headache develops, according to the University Health News. This reduction in blood volume affects how much oxygen rich blood reaches the brain, causing pain.

If you have a headache, try drinking more water.  By consuming 32 ounces in the morning, you will be well on your way to preventing dehydration headaches throughout the day.

3. Increased Energy

Feeling lethargic, sleepy, or tired when waking up in the morning?  These are some of the symptoms caused by dehydration.  Drinking water first thing in the morning after waking up can help alleviate some of the grogginess associated with getting out of bed.

The same holds true during the day.  Instead of reaching for a coffee or soda, try drinking water.  On average, Americans drink only 20 ounces of water on average per day, a far cry from the recommended 64 ounces per day.  Therefore, it is fair to say that a majority of Americans are in a perpetual state of dehydration.  Chances are an increase in water will help take care of the sleepy symptoms caused by a lack of hydration.

4. Healthy, Glowing Skin Complexion

Drinking water after waking up and throughout the day has a two-pronged effect on the skin.

First, skin is the largest organ of the body.  When the body is dehydrated, the skin is punished.  This results in dryness, tightness and flakiness.  According to UW Health, “dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling”.

Drinking water in the morning will help plump skin cells, diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Second, since consuming water is a highly effective way to flush internal toxins and hydrate the skin, it can have a positive effect on skin complexion.  Surprisingly there is no definitive research by academic sources on the link between toxicity and breakouts.  However, researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia showed that consuming two cups of water drastically boosts blood flow within the body and skin. (Source)

I’m not an expert, so I cannot say drinking water decreases acne.  But, I will say from personal experience that drinking water after waking up gives my skin a healthy glow throughout the day, and it appears to have a positive impact on preventing breakouts as well.

5. Enhances Smooth, Shiny, Strong Hair

Since water plays a massive role in bodily health, water can also affect the condition of the scalp.

A dehydrated scalp will cause skin to dry and flake, which can cause irritation and itching.  This skin damage can lead to further conditions, such as dandruff.

Although hair shaft cells are dead, they are produced by live hair follicles.  Healthy hair is produced by healthy hair follicles.  So, healthy hair follicles will benefit from a properly hydrated scalp, which occurs from proper water hydration.  On the contrary, hair that grows from weakened, dry hair follicles can be brittle, thin and unhealthy.  This can ultimately lead to permanent cuticle damage. (Source)

6. Can Help You Lose Weight

According to the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, a study in 2010 showed that drinking two cups of water (16 ounces) immediately before a meal can lead to eating 70-90 fewer calories.  Results of the study indicated that participants lost five pounds over a 12-week period, versus those that did not drink water before meals.

The senior author, Brenda Davy, Ph.D., states that drinking water before a meal is effective “simply because it fills up the stomach with a substance that has zero calories”.  As a result, people feel fuller and eat less food during a meal.

7. Can Help Boost Metabolism

Drinking water after waking up, or at all for that matter, can help enhance your body’s ability to burn fat.

According to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, a study in 2003 titled Water-Induced Thermogenesis, showed that drinking 500ml (17 ounces) of water “increased metabolic rate by 30%” in men and women.  The increase was noticed within 10 minutes and peaked at 30-40 minutes after water consumption.  The effect lasted for roughly one hour!

So what does this mean? An increase in metabolic rate increases the amount of calories burned, so it is easier to lose weight and keep it off.

8. Aids in Detoxification

Water aids the kidney’s ability to filter toxins.  Daily, the kidneys filter between 120 and 150 quarts of blood to eventually produce 1-2 quarts of urine.  Urine is composed of excess waste, toxins and fluid.  Increased water consumption helps produce more urine, which flushes out more waste, toxins, and infection causing bacteria.  (Source)

Additionally, water helps the body maintain regular bowel movements.  Those that do not have regular bowel movements can be more prone to a variety of conditions and diseases, such as colon cancer, urological disorders, and incontinence. (Source)

Drinking water after waking up will help remove the built up toxins and waste that accumulated overnight, giving your body a great start to the day!

The Japanese Water Therapy, in more detail.

There are three things the Japanese Water Therapy suggests (we already discussed number 1 earlier):

1. Drink 32 ounces of water after waking up on an empty stomach, ideally at room temperature.
2. Brush your teeth after drinking the water and avoid eating breakfast or drinking coffee for at least 45 minutes.
3. Throughout the day, avoid eating or drinking after meals for at least two hours.

Note: The theory also suggests that if you are elderly or suffering from a serious health condition, try starting out small with one glass of water.  You can gradually move up from there.  If you can’t drink all 32 ounces at once, rest for a few minutes and continue after the break.  The theory claims to provide a lifetime of benefits, especially when incorporated into your daily schedule.

Thanks for reading the 8 Fantastic Benefits of Drinking Water After Waking Up.  Check out more of our popular articles:

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-Chris

Also thank you to my other sources, which served as great inspiration for more researching:

• A Life of Productivity
• Life Hack
• Cure Joy
• The Health Flash