As cliche as this may sound, water is vital for our bodies. To most of us, it is almost always available for consumption. However, some of our consuming patterns may reflect an unhealthy, inconsistent way. As if there's a guidebook to consuming water, I wonder.
Read on and be the judge.
Unhealthy water drinking habits and how to get rid of them
1. Drinking ice-cold water
Ice-cold water on a balmy day is without a doubt satisfying. The repercussions, however, are not worth it.
Here’s what drinking ice-cold water does to your body:-
Slows down your heart rate.
Increases the risk of getting a sore throat. How? Well, the habit of drinking ice-cold water can lead to the build-up of respiratory mucosa or mucous membrane. Respiratory mucosa is a protective layer of the respiratory tract. When this layer gets congested, the respiratory tract becomes vulnerable to various infections. The chances of having a sore throat at this point are very high.
Shrinks blood vessels and disrupts normal digestion. Chilled drinks contract the blood vessels and restrict digestion. Your body will focus on regulating the body temperature rather than digestion. The natural process of absorbing nutrients during digestion becomes hindered.
Solidifies fat in the food you eat, making it hard for your body to breakdown unwanted fats from your body.
May lead to constipation. Coldwater causes the food passing through the body to solidify and harden. It may also cause the intestines to contract, which is one cause of constipation.
The solution, stick to room-temperature water even when it’s hot.
2. Chugging down water
One of the most satisfying feeling I know is chugging down water when you’re thirsty. However, chugging too much water isn't good for your health. It can flood your system and imbalance your electrolytes, mostly sodium, leading to "water intoxication". Yes, that is a thing. Water intoxication is a disruption of the brain function caused by drinking too much water.
Tissues and muscles have low absorption levels. When you chug down a lot of water in a short time, your kidneys will register that as excess water and will want to expel it from your body. You will end up peeing a lot quicker, therefore denying your body enough time to store some to break down food & absorb nutrients.
Water dilutes saliva. Saliva is vital in digestion as it helps stimulate the gastric juices in the stomach. But if the water you're consuming doesn't carry enough saliva, your body won't digest and absorb food the right way.
The solution, sip just about 60-90 ml of water at a time throughout the day.
3. Drinking water immediately after a meal
This goes without saying. So obvious, right? Still, do you know why.
Gastric juices are produced when eating food to break it down so that the body can absorb necessary vitamins and nutrients.
If you drink tons of water, you can dilute the gastric juices and cause insulin levels to rise. This can lead to feeling bloated & gassy and can also cause indigestion.
Drinking water before you eat can have the same negative effects. It is recommended that you drink water about 1-2 hrs before you eat. If you’re trying to limit the amount of food you consume, this is an excellent trick.
* It is okay to drink water during meals, just do it in small sips & slowly.
4. Drinking water on the go
As weird as this may sound, drinking water while walking or running may cause you to drink water faster. This is not good for your overall health. Your muscles & nervous system are not relaxed as compared to when you are seated. Therefore, this might cause a kink in the digestion process.
Solution? Take your time. Sit then sip.
5. Not drinking water after waking up
Your morning routine should involve drinking at least one glass of water when you wake up or before taking breakfast. When you wake up, your mouth is full of saliva, this saliva aids in digestion and helps things move along. Drinking water as soon as you wake up takes all that saliva to your stomach.
* A tip to help you do this is to keep a glass of water (or a small thermos with hot water, if you prefer warm water) next to your bed. Take a few sips immediately after waking up.
6. Not drinking water before you sleep
According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2002, water and other fluids aid in the prevention of fatal coronary heart disease, drinking water at night just before bed can help improve circulation during the night.
Drinking at least 5 glasses of water every day can prevent the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
I hope you've found this article helpful.
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