Drinking water in the morning
A glass of water first thing in the morning makes sense for a plain reason: you have gone the whole night without any. One 250 ml glass at whatever temperature you like is enough, and the rest of your water follows through the day.
Why drink water in the morning
You breathe and sweat a little overnight, and you cannot drink while you sleep. A morning glass puts some of that water back and takes the first 250 ml off your daily amount.
It is also the easiest habit to keep. Most mornings run the same way, and a glass left by the kettle tends to get finished.
Do not expect miracles from it. Water on an empty stomach does not kick-start your metabolism or flush out toxins. What it does is start the day with water, so you are not catching up in the evening.
How much water to drink in the morning
One 250 ml glass is enough. Have two if you want more, though a whole litre on an empty stomach is hard going and adds nothing.
Spread the rest across the day. The calculator shows how much you need in total.
Warm or cold water in the morning?
Whichever you enjoy. There is no evidence that warm water in the morning works better than cold. Many people find warm easier on an empty stomach, and cold wakes you up on a hot day.
Ordinary drinking water from a filter or a bottle is fine. Mineral water high in salts is better kept for now and then.
Water with lemon or honey
Fine, if you like the taste. A slice of lemon changes little apart from the flavour, but the acid is hard on tooth enamel, so rinse with plain water afterwards.
Honey adds sugar and calories. If you are watching your weight, leave the morning glass plain.
Can you drink water before a fasting blood test?
For most fasting blood tests, plain still water is allowed: fasting means no food, sweet drinks, tea or coffee. Juice, coffee and water with lemon or honey all count as breaking the fast.
A few tests have stricter rules, so check with the lab or the doctor who ordered it.
How to remember the morning glass
A few things that work for most people:
- pour a glass the night before and leave it by the bed or the kettle
- drink it while the coffee brews
- tie it to something you do every morning, like brushing your teeth
- log it in a tracker, so the day starts with a tick
Where Drip comes in
In Drip you set when you get up and go to bed. The first reminder comes one interval after you wake, so the morning glass is yours to have.
Log it in the bot and Drip sees you are ahead, so it skips the reminder you no longer need. Everything you drink after that counts towards your number too.
Questions
Is it good to drink water first thing in the morning?
Yes. It replaces some of the water you lost overnight and starts your daily amount. It has no special effects such as speeding up your metabolism.
How much water should I drink in the morning?
One 250 ml glass is enough. Drink the rest of your amount through the day.
Is warm water better than cold in the morning?
No. Drink whichever you prefer. Warm water is simply easier for many people on an empty stomach.
Can I drink water before a fasting blood test?
Usually yes: plain still water is allowed before most fasting tests. Check the exact rules with the lab.
Further reading
This is not medical advice. If you have kidney or heart problems, are pregnant or your doctor limits fluids, your doctor sets the amount.
