Is drinking salt water on an empty stomach in the morning really good?
Core tip: Some people believe that drinking salt water in the morning can effectively prevent constipation, but for healthy people, drinking salt water in the morning has no benefits for the body.
Many people believe that drinking light salt water is good for their health, so they drink it upon waking.
This belief is, however, incorrect. Research suggests that during a full night's sleep, a person does not drink any water, but breathing, sweating, and urination continue, and these physiological activities consume a lot of moisture. Waking up and drinking some plain water can quickly dilute the blood and correct the hyperosmotic dehydration that occurs at night. Drinking salt water, on the other hand, can worsen hyperosmotic dehydration and make you feel even more thirsty. Moreover, morning is the first peak of elevated blood pressure for the body, and drinking salt water will make blood pressure even higher. However, for patients with diarrhea, who lose a significant amount of sodium in their bodies, drinking some light salt water can be beneficial.
Opinions and suggestions:
1. What to drink?
Fresh plain water is the best choice. Plain water is natural water that has been purified through multiple layers and then boiled. Microorganisms in the water have been killed by the high temperature, and the calcium and magnesium elements in the boiled water are very beneficial to health. Studies have shown that hard water containing calcium, magnesium, and other elements has a preventive effect on cardiovascular diseases.
The first glass of water in the morning should preferably not be juice, cola, soda, coffee, milk, or other beverages. Most carbonated drinks like soda and cola contain citric acid, which accelerates the excretion of calcium during metabolism, reducing the calcium content in the blood. Long-term consumption can lead to calcium deficiency. Other beverages have a diuretic effect; drinking them in the morning cannot effectively replenish the body's needed water but will increase the body's demand for water, leading to dehydration instead.
2. What temperature?
Some people like to drink ice water from the refrigerator after waking up in the morning, thinking it is the most refreshing. In fact, drinking such water in the morning is inappropriate because the stomach and intestines are empty at this time. Water that is too cold or too hot can irritate the stomach and intestines, causing discomfort. When drinking water in the morning, it is best to drink plain water at room temperature. In cold weather, you can drink warm water to minimize stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract. Research has found that plain water that has been boiled and cooled to 20-25°C has special biological activity. It can more easily pass through cell membranes and promote metabolism, enhancing the body's immune function. People who are accustomed to drinking warm and cool plain water have higher dehydrogenase activity in their bodies, better metabolic conditions, and less lactic acid accumulation in their muscles, making them less prone to fatigue. When leaving water out the night before, be sure to cover it, as water exposed to the air for too long will lose its activity.
3. How much to drink?
A healthy person should drink at least 7-8 glasses of water (about 2.5 liters) per day. When the amount of exercise is large or the weather is hot, the amount of water should be increased accordingly. Waking up in the morning is a key time to replenish the body's water for the new day. Drinking 300 ml of water at this time is optimal.
4. How to drink?
Drinking water in the morning must be on an empty stomach, meaning drinking before breakfast; otherwise, you will not get the effects of promoting blood circulation and flushing the intestines. It is best to sip the water slowly, as drinking too quickly is very harmful to the body and may cause a drop in blood pressure and cerebral edema, leading to headaches, nausea, and vomiting.