Water plays a more crucial role for the elderly. Scientific research and practice have proven that for seniors, drinking a glass of water every morning and persisting in this habit offers the following benefits for health and longevity.
1. Diuretic Effect
Drinking water on an empty stomach in the morning has a diuretic effect within 15 to 30 minutes, and the effect is rapid and significant.
2. Promotes Bowel Movements
Morning drinking can prevent habitual constipation. As the gastrointestinal tract is cleansed in a timely manner, feces will not accumulate and become dry and hard. At the same time, drinking water also provides a mild stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract, promoting peristalsis and facilitating bowel movements.
3. Detoxification Effect
Many families have the habit of a rich dinner, which means a higher intake of animal protein and salt. Animal protein, when metabolized in the body, produces certain toxic substances. Drinking water promptly in the morning helps to quickly expel these substances from the body by promoting urination.
4. Prevents Hypertension and Arteriosclerosis
If you drink a glass of warm water immediately after getting up in the morning, it helps to quickly expel the sodium chloride consumed from the previous day's dinner from the body. People who drink plenty of water and enjoy tea generally have a lower incidence of hypertension and arteriosclerosis.
5. Prevents Angina
After a night's sleep, the body loses a significant amount of water through urine, sweat, and respiration. This makes the blood thicker, and the blood vessels narrower due to reduced blood volume. This often leads to acute insufficient blood supply to the coronary arteries that supply the heart, or even blockage. Therefore, angina and myocardial infarction often occur in the early morning and around 9 a.m. If the elderly drink a glass of water in the morning, it can replenish fluids, reduce blood viscosity, and dilate and restore blood vessels, thereby reducing the occurrence of angina and myocardial infarction.
For morning hydration, plain water is the best choice. The amount should generally be around 200 to 400 milliliters. Drinking too much water is not good for the stomach and can also affect the appetite for breakfast, so it should be consumed in moderation.