Mr. Li, Yuquan Road, Haidian District, Beijing: Regarding health through drinking water, some advocate drinking a glass of light salt water in the morning and a glass of honey water at night.
Should honey water be drunk in the morning or at night?
But I remember an article in the "Health Times" titled "Is drinking salt water in the morning really good?" which stated that drinking light salt water in the morning is not recommended as it may lead to high blood pressure. Some advocate drinking a glass of honey water in the morning and a glass of cool boiled water before bed. Others have proposed the "one-day three-cups-of-water health regimen": a glass of honey water in the morning, a glass of light tea water after a lunch break, and a glass of plain boiled water before bed. So, which method is actually better?
Yu Kang, Deputy Director of the Nutrition Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital: Drinking salt water in the morning is not recommended because it may lead to high blood pressure. In the morning, one can drink cool boiled water, or for the elderly, a glass of honey water is also acceptable. Therefore, among the three methods proposed by Mr. Li, based on the efficacy of water, honey, and salt, and the body's physiological needs, the "honey in the morning, water at night" method is better. There are two reasons for this:
① After a night's sleep, most of the body's water has been excreted or absorbed. At this time, drinking a glass of honey water on an empty stomach in the morning can replenish water and add nutrition. For the elderly, it can also promote bowel movements. Drinking light salt water in the morning is not conducive to health. Under normal circumstances, the human body does not generally lack sodium. If you drink a glass of light salt water every morning, over time, the sodium content in the body can become too high, which may lead to high blood pressure, nephritis, and other diseases. It is only necessary to drink some light salt water after heavy physical labor or strenuous exercise when excessive sweating leads to the loss of sodium and salt, in order to replenish water and electrolytes.
② Drinking a glass of cool boiled water before bed is more beneficial for health than drinking honey water. Although honey is not pure sucrose, it is still a type of sugar, so it is not advisable to drink it every night before bed. Drinking a glass of cool boiled water at night is necessary. For those who do not drink enough water during the day, drinking a glass of water at night can not only supplement some water but also has the effect of refreshing the mouth, soothing the throat, and relieving coughs. More importantly, it prepares sufficient water for the body's metabolism throughout the night. Only when the body has enough water can the metabolic activities of tissues and cells be fully carried out. Additionally, drinking a little light tea water after a lunch break is also recommended, as it can relieve the greasiness of lunch, refresh the mind, and provide energy for better work in the afternoon.