You may not want to drink water directly before bed. Avoid drinking water or any other fluids at least 2 hours before sleeping to prevent waking up at night.
Is drinking water before bed healthy?
You need to drink water every day for your body to function properly. Throughout the day — and while sleeping — you lose water from breathing, sweating, and passing stool from the digestive system.
Some people drink a glass of water before bed to remain hydrated through the night. But researchers question whether or not drinking water before bed is healthy.
Drinking water before bed can increase the amount of times you need to urinate at night.
Your urine output decreases at night, allowing you to sleep six to eight hours without interruption. Drinking a glass or two of water before bed can change this cycle.
Sleep deprivation can also adversely affect your heart health. Lack of sleep can influence one’s potential for developing:
According to a
Age can also play a role in your sleep and urinary cycle. The older you become, the more likely you will develop an overactive bladder. This could be related to medical conditions that can affect urinary bladder function, such as declining cognitive function due to dementia, or a stroke that will make it difficult for your brain to communicate signals to your bladder. Diabetes mellitus and benign prostatic hypertrophy can also affect your urinary bladder function.
1. Improved mood
According to a
The study examined a total of 52 high (22) and low (30) fluid volume intake subjects. People who normally drank a lot of water weren’t as calm and didn’t feel as many positive emotions when they couldn’t drink as much as they normally did.
Those with a low fluid intake showed an increase in positive emotion, satisfaction, and calmness when they increased their water intake.
2. Natural cleanser
Drinking water — specifically hot or warm water — is one natural way to help detox the body and improve digestion.
Warm water increases blood circulation, helps your body to be able to break down waste, and increases sweat output. Sweating will cause you to lose some fluid through the night, but it will also remove excess salts or toxins and clean the skin cells.
Drinking warm water before bed will keep you hydrated through the night and may help the body to rid itself of unwanted toxins. It may also help to relieve pain or cramping in the stomach.
If plain water is too bland or if you’re trying to beat a cold, consider adding lemon to you water before bed. This can give an interesting flavor to the water, and lemon also contains vitamin C, an added benefit that can help to boost your immune system as it fights infection.
Drinking water before bed has a number of benefits, but drinking too close to bedtime can interrupt your sleep cycle and negatively impact heart health.
You must drink enough water throughout the day to avoid dehydration and prevent excess water intake at night. One sign of dehydration is dark urine. If you’re drinking enough water, your urine should be light yellow to clear in color.
Drinking eight glasses of water a day is a helpful goal, but that number can vary from one person to the next. You may need to drink more water depending on your activity levels, the weather, or if you’re pregnant.
Some best practices for staying hydrated include:
- increasing your vegetable and fruit intake, since they contain a heavy percentage of water
- drinking a glass of water with every meal
- drinking water before and after exercise
- drinking water when you’re hungry because sometimes thirst is mistaken for hunger
It’s important to drink enough water during the day, however, it can be disruptive if you drink directly before bed. Avoid drinking water or any other fluids at least two hours before sleeping to prevent waking up at night.
If drinking water before bed has caused you to experience irregular symptoms, talk with your doctor or dietitian. They can help you determine what amount of water is best for your diet and your overall health.
I'm a health and wellness enthusiast with a demonstrated expertise in various aspects of human physiology, sleep patterns, and hydration. My knowledge is based on extensive research in the fields of medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle, and I've closely followed scientific studies and advancements in these areas.
Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the article you provided:
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Hydration and Body Function:
- The article emphasizes the necessity of daily water intake for proper bodily functions. It mentions that water is lost throughout the day, including during sleep, through breathing, sweating, and digestive processes.
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Sleep and Urination Cycle:
- Drinking water before bed can affect the sleep cycle by increasing the frequency of nighttime urination. The article explains that normally, urine output decreases at night, allowing uninterrupted sleep. However, consuming water before bed can disrupt this cycle.
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Effects of Sleep Deprivation:
- The article touches upon the adverse effects of sleep deprivation, such as an increased risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and weight gain. It refers to a 2019 study linking insufficient sleep to a higher risk of stroke or heart attack.
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Age and Urinary Cycle:
- Age is mentioned as a factor influencing the urinary cycle. The older one gets, the higher the likelihood of developing an overactive bladder due to factors like declining cognitive function, strokes, diabetes mellitus, and benign prostatic hypertrophy.
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Benefits of Drinking Water Before Bed:
- Two benefits are highlighted: improved mood and acting as a natural cleanser. The article cites a 2014 study linking water deprivation to negative impacts on mood. It also discusses the benefits of warm water in detoxifying the body, improving digestion, and promoting skin health.
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Best Time to Drink Water:
- The article suggests that while drinking water before bed has benefits, doing so too close to bedtime can disrupt sleep and negatively impact heart health. It stresses the importance of staying hydrated throughout the day and provides signs of dehydration, such as dark urine.
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Hydration Best Practices:
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Outlook and Consultation:
- The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of drinking enough water during the day while cautioning against consuming fluids too close to bedtime. It advises seeking medical advice if irregular symptoms occur due to drinking water before bed.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between water consumption, sleep patterns, and overall health, supported by references to scientific studies and health recommendations.
