How are you drinking your water? As strange as it sounds, the amount of water you drink is just the beginning. How you drink water can have huge health benefits, too. Here are 10 easy tips to power up your water benefits.
Proper hydration promotes good digestion as well as the correct acid/alkaline balance to get the most nutrients from your food. Either of these can make the difference between you enjoying good health and suffering.
How much water we need to drink depends on other factors like the amount of fruits and vegetables we eat. Humans are 75 percent water, so we need some level of consistent hydration. The exact amount is a whole different discussion. Below are the ways to get the most from the water you do drink.
1. Drink water first thing in the morning.
- Drink 2-3 cups of pure water after your night of fasting.
- Drink as much as feels good. If you feel nauseous do not continue to drink.
- It is important that the water has nothing in it so that is passes through right away. If it contains anything at all (even lemon juice), it will stay in your stomach up to one hour not going into cleansing mode.
- The water will flush your kidneys and bladder clean, removing debris from your stomach and colon.
- Drinking water in the morning prepares the stomach for food by stimulating the glands on its walls. Drink warm or hot water as it is gentler on the empty stomach.
- It will also promote a bowel movement almost right away. This is dependent on what you ate and how hydrated you kept yourself the day before.
- Wait 15 to 30 minutes before consuming any other beverage or food. This is when you can drink your lemon water which is alkalizing and cleansing.
2. All the water you drink is best when it is warm, not hot and not cold.
Cold water is shocking to a warm stomach, and those who continually drink very hot drinks are more likely to develop throat issues and digestive difficulties.
Cold water is shocking to a warm stomach, and those who continually drink very hot drinks are more likely to develop throat issues and digestive difficulties.
“Very cold, or very hot drinks are not usually good for the digestive system at any time. When they vary too greatly from body temperatures, they may cause shock to the system. Dentists warn against very cold food or liquids on the teeth. Physicians note that those who are habituated to very hot drinks are more likely to develop throat cancer and digestive difficulties.” – Dr. Raymond Moore
3. Avoid drinking right before or after a meal.
Drink between meals if needed but wait for 1 – 2 hours before drinking anything. We don’t want to dilute our digestive juices; we need them at full strength to digest and get all the nutrients from the food.
Drink between meals if needed but wait for 1 – 2 hours before drinking anything. We don’t want to dilute our digestive juices; we need them at full strength to digest and get all the nutrients from the food.
4. For those with any constipation problems, it is useful to drink 1 or 2 cups of warm water before bed.
5. Tap water has added chemicals.
It’s best to drink purified water. Chlorinated water can destroy nutrients your body needs, such as Vitamin A, B, C, E and fatty acids. Some chronic skin conditions like eczema, acne and psoriasis may clear up or improve by simply switching to unchlorinated drinking water. Buy a good filter. Filters don’t have to be expensive.
It’s best to drink purified water. Chlorinated water can destroy nutrients your body needs, such as Vitamin A, B, C, E and fatty acids. Some chronic skin conditions like eczema, acne and psoriasis may clear up or improve by simply switching to unchlorinated drinking water. Buy a good filter. Filters don’t have to be expensive.
6. Eliminate plastic bottles.
Pour your water in a glass or stainless steel bottle, so it’ll be free of plastic contaminants. You’ll also be doing the earth a favor.
Pour your water in a glass or stainless steel bottle, so it’ll be free of plastic contaminants. You’ll also be doing the earth a favor.
7. Slowly decrease the amount of packaged juices you drink while increasing water intake.
Fresh juice is fine to drink. Packaged juices tend to have sugar or chemicals that are deposited in our bodies with detrimental health effects. Also, when a fruit juice is processed it becomes very high in “natural sugar,” which is way too much sugar for our bodies.
Fresh juice is fine to drink. Packaged juices tend to have sugar or chemicals that are deposited in our bodies with detrimental health effects. Also, when a fruit juice is processed it becomes very high in “natural sugar,” which is way too much sugar for our bodies.
8. Eliminate soft drinks.Soft drinks tend to have acid content that negatively impacts the teeth and mouth. They’re also full of sugar or artificial sweeteners, and even unwanted chemicals.
9. Herbal teas are acceptable to include as part of your daily water quota.
10. Coffee and black teas DON’T count as water content.
They are too acid-forming and dehydrating.
They are too acid-forming and dehydrating.
Now you’ve learned how you drink water, proper timing, temperature and quality of water can help improve digestion, reduce acidity and balance the body.