Drink Water After You Wake Up
After going six, eight, or more hours without drinking anything, it makes sense to start the day with a glass of water.
Your body loses water overnight through breathing, perspiration, and urine. Drinking some water when you wake up is a simple way to begin replacing it.
A Simple Morning Habit
There's no magic amount. You don't need a huge bottle of water or several glasses at once.
Try having one or two glasses of water soon after getting up.
The advantage of making water part of your morning routine is mostly practical: it's an easy habit to remember.
Hydration Matters More as We Get Older
Older adults can be particularly susceptible to dehydration. Our sense of thirst may become less reliable with age, and some medications and health conditions can affect fluid balance.
Mild dehydration can contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, headache, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating.
Rather than waiting until you're very thirsty, it can be useful to drink fluids regularly throughout the day.
What About the Health Claims?
You'll sometimes hear that drinking water first thing in the morning “flushes toxins,” burns fat, or dramatically speeds metabolism.
There isn't good evidence that the timing of that first glass has these special effects. Your kidneys and liver continuously handle waste products, and staying adequately hydrated throughout the day matters much more than drinking water at one particular time.
Bottom Line
There's nothing magical about morning water.
But after a night without fluids, drinking some water when you get up is a simple and sensible habit.
Keep a glass by the sink or a bottle where you'll see it in the morning. Sometimes the easiest health habits are the ones we don't have to think about.
Learn More
A practical overview of hydration and how fluid needs vary from person to person. It also explains why older adults may be more vulnerable to dehydration as the sense of thirst diminishes with age.
The National Institute on Aging recommends drinking water throughout the day to help maintain hydration and notes the importance of good nutrition and fluid intake as we age.