Drinking hot water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy that has recently gained popularity in the Western world. Many people claim that consuming hot water before breakfast can provide a variety of remarkable health benefits.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the top 10 evidence-based ways that making hot water your daily morning elixir may transform your health.
An overview of hot water health benefits
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the wellness perks of drinking hot water before eating in the morning:
- Boosts digestion
- Aids weight loss
- Detoxifies the body
- Balances pH levels
- Improves blood circulation
- Alleviates pain
- Boosts immunity
- Clears sinuses
- Promotes healthier skin
- Improves lymphatic drainage
The vast majority of these benefits can be attributed to hot water’s stellar hydrating abilities. By improving hydration, hot water enhances the function of all systems, organs, and processes in the body.
Now, let’s explore the top 10 health benefits of drinking hot water on an empty stomach in more detail.
Boosts digestion
Drinking hot water first thing in the morning may stimulate and improve digestion in several ways. First, the movement of the water through the digestive tract helps “flush” the system, allowing for the efficient elimination of waste and toxins. Secondly, the heat from the water may promote increased blood flow to digestive organs, “waking them up” to operate at peak performance.
Aids weight loss
Proper hydration is crucial for shedding pounds. When you’re poorly hydrated, your body tends to keep water rather than flush out waste products. This can lead to bloating and water weight gain. Sufficient water intake prevents water retention while keeping your metabolism efficiently burning calories. Starting your day with hot water is an easy, refreshing way to meet a portion of your daily fluid needs, setting you up for safe, effective weight loss.
Detoxifies the body
Hot water may gently flush out toxins, promoting the health of blood, organs, and tissues. The warmth of the water likely improves circulation as well, further facilitating systemic detoxification. Some natural health advocates also believe hot water melts fat deposits where toxins may be stored. However, more research is needed to substantiate this claim.
Balances pH levels
The typical Western diet often makes our bodies more acidic than they should be, which isn't good for our health. Over time, too much acidity can cause inflammation and damage our cells. Drinking hot water, which contains minerals, can help neutralise this acidity and keep our body's environment slightly alkaline, which is healthier. Also, because hot water helps us stay hydrated, it supports our kidneys in doing their job to balance our body's acidity and alkalinity by getting rid of excess acids.
Improves blood circulation
Drinking hot water can help widen your blood vessels, similar to how a warm towel relaxes your muscles. This makes it easier for blood to travel through your body. When blood flows better, it carries oxygen and important nutrients to different parts of the body more quickly and gets rid of waste materials faster. This can make your hands and feet feel warmer and even improve how your brain works.
Alleviates pain
Hot water can act as a natural painkiller because the warmth can ease inflammation and change how our body senses pain. It can also encourage our body to release endorphins, which are chemicals that make us feel good and reduce pain. For example, a study showed that using warm compresses helped lessen the pain of childbirth more effectively than other methods that don't involve medication.
Boosts immunity
Hydration status profoundly impacts immune function. Even mild dehydration disables the body’s ability to fight infection and disease through decreased lymph flow and impaired white blood cell function. Research reveals that proper hydration with plain water strongly supports numerous aspects of the immune response. Given its stellar hydrating effects, hot water provides a quick immune boost to start your day.
Clears sinuses
Drinking hot water can help clear up blocked sinuses, much like steam does. It works like a natural humidifier inside your body, making the tissues in your nose moist. This moisture helps break down and loosen the thick mucus and any buildup, making it easier for you to breathe by clearing out your sinuses. So, drinking hot water can give you quick relief from stuffy sinuses without needing medicine.
Promotes healthier skin
As the body’s largest organ, your skin serves as a backup eliminatory channel for toxins when primary pathways like the colon, liver, and kidneys are sluggish. This “toxic sweat” can manifest as breakouts, rashes, irritations, and dullness. Getting your daily fill of water flushes waste from the inside out, lightening the detox load on your skin. Better hydration also plumps up skin cells for a glowing, youthful appearance.
Improves lymphatic drainage
The lymphatic system is like your body's cleaning crew, catching toxins and waste. For it to work well, it needs enough water. If the lymph fluid doesn't move properly, it can cause swelling and sickness. Drinking hot water helps keep you hydrated, which keeps this cleaning system flowing smoothly and helps prevent buildup that can make you feel unwell.
Optimal time for drinking hot water
To gain the most benefits from your morning cup of hot water, most natural health experts recommend drinking it immediately upon waking or before eating breakfast. This allows for maximum absorption and systemic circulation before dilution from food or other beverages.
Drink your hot water slowly, allowing the warmth to work its way through your entire digestive tract. For improved cleansing, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger, turmeric, or mint may be added.
To avoid burning injuries, allow your water to cool slightly below boiling temperature before sipping. As always, use caution when consuming any liquid straight from a water heater, kettle, or pot.
Considerations and precautions
For most people, drinking hot water in the morning is very safe. However, certain individuals should exercise caution with this hot beverage:
- Children: Due to smaller body size, children are at higher risk for burns from excessively hot water. Stick to warm water instead of very hot.
- Elderly: Seniors may have a decreased ability to sense heat. Thermal injuries can easily occur if the water temperature is too high.
- Pregnant women: Expectant mothers already need to stay extra hydrated. Be sure to supplement morning hot water with plenty of cooler fluids throughout the day.
- Those with dysphagia: People with swallowing difficulties have an increased risk of throat burns. Stick to lower temperatures or avoid hot liquids altogether.
Conclusion
Drinking hot water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is a simple yet powerful health hack. The warmth, hydration, and therapeutic properties provide a multitude of evidence-based wellness benefits. From improved digestion and immunity to clearer skin and easier breathing, hot water is truly a panacea beverage. Plus, it's calorie-free, easy to make, and suitable for on-the-go hydration.
