- Unnikrishnan. S
Generally, people say that you should drink water as soon as you wake up in the morning. It is said that this not only provides hydration to the body but also helps flush out waste from the body. Likewise, it is also said that drinking water before eating can help control body weight. Is all this true?
Answering questions on this, Kochi Aster Medcity internal medicine specialist Dr. Vinod Xavier.
Is it necessary or unnecessary to drink a large glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning?
It is not necessary to drink a large amount of water immediately after waking up in the morning. However, it is a good habit to drink a moderate amount of water to make up for the body’s water loss overnight. There is no need to force yourself to drink a large amount of water.
Does the body accept cold water / room-temperature water / warm water in the same way, regardless of which one is consumed?
The body does not absorb water based on its temperature. The stomach adjusts the liquids it takes in to the body’s temperature. However, drinking room-temperature water is easier and more comfortable.
Can not drinking enough water throughout the day affect sleep?
Not drinking enough water can cause dry mouth and headaches. Thirst may wake you up at night. This can affect sleep. At the same time, drinking a large amount of water just before going to sleep may make you need to urinate frequently. This can also affect sleep. The best approach is to drink water at regular intervals throughout the day.
Can drinking water before eating help control body weight?
Drinking water before eating creates a feeling of fullness in the stomach. This can help reduce the intake of high-calorie foods. However, drinking water does not burn fat through metabolism. It can help control appetite and help you understand whether you are thirsty or hungry. However, drinking too much water while eating may cause uncomfortable bloating in the stomach.
Does drinking hot water from plastic bottles kept in cars, or water kept overnight in a copper vessel, cause health problems?
It is better to avoid drinking water from plastic bottles that have been left in a car for a long time. This is because heat can cause some chemicals from certain types of plastic to leach into the water. However, the risk is low.
Keeping water overnight in a clean, high-quality copper vessel is generally safe, but storing it for a long time or storing it in an unsuitable vessel can lead to excess copper leaching into the water. This may cause gastrointestinal symptoms.
How should water/electrolyte intake be during recovery from fever, stomach ulcer, or a viral infection?
During fever or an infection, there is often greater loss of fluids and essential electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride.
Therefore, drinking ORS, tender coconut water, and electrolyte drinks can help correct dehydration.
Is it important to drink water before going to sleep to avoid kidney stones?
Stones form from concentrated urine. Drinking a glass of water shortly before going to sleep reduces the concentration of urine at night and helps prevent minerals such as calcium and oxalate from settling. However, the total amount of fluid consumed in a day is what matters most.
In Tamil: M. Muthumari
