Water is one of the seven most important nutrients for the human body. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that water helps to activate Yang energy and unblock the meridians. Modern medicine considers water a vital component of human tissues, with water accounting for 60% of an adult's body weight. All metabolic processes within the body require water to be completed; therefore, water can be called the fountain of life.
As people age, the body's inherent water and the water within cells gradually decrease, leading to a chronic, physiological state of dehydration. This is one of the reasons for dry skin and increased wrinkles in the elderly. Due to long-term dry skin and reduced sebaceous gland secretion, the skin's resistance to pathogens diminishes, making it more susceptible to skin diseases such as boils, dermatitis, and eczema. Furthermore, reduced water in the elderly can decrease the normal secretion of mucus in the intestines, causing feces to remain in the intestines for too long. This leads to an excessive buildup of harmful substances produced by bacteria, which, once absorbed by the body, can cause symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and lethargy. Toxins in the feces are also harmful substances that can induce colorectal cancer.
Water plays an even more crucial role for the elderly. Scientific research and practice have proven that for the elderly, 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, which is rapid and significant.
2. Promotes Bowel Movements: Drinking water in the morning can prevent habitual constipation. By cleansing the gastrointestinal tract in a timely manner, feces are not allowed to accumulate and become hard. At the same time, drinking water provides a mild stimulation to the stomach and intestines, promoting peristalsis and facilitating bowel movements.
3. Detoxification Effect: Many families have a habit of having a rich dinner, leading to a higher intake of animal protein and salt. Animal proteins are metabolized in the body, producing certain toxic substances. Drinking water promptly after waking in the morning helps to quickly expel these substances by promoting urination.
4. Prevents Hypertension and Arteriosclerosis: Drinking a glass of warm water immediately after waking in the morning helps to quickly expel sodium chloride consumed from the previous day's dinner. People who generally drink more water and enjoy tea have lower rates 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, causing the blood to become thicker and the blood vessels to narrow 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. For the elderly, drinking a glass of water in the morning can replenish fluids, reduce blood viscosity, and dilate and restore blood vessels, thereby reducing the incidence of angina and myocardial infarction.
For morning hydration, plain boiled water is the best choice. The recommended amount is generally around 200 to 400 milliliters. Drinking too much water is not good for the stomach and can also affect the intake of breakfast, so moderation is key.