Water is the most important ingredient in the recipe for life. Not just for creating it, but more importantly, sustaining it. However, consuming water is not as simple as we make it out to be. Simply drinking an ample amount of water every day is a great start, but there are methods to further the amount of nutrition you are getting from drinking water. Read on to learn more about drinking habits, bottles, and what water actually does for your body!

The first time you should be drinking water is right after you wake up. Before you brush your teeth, before you eat your breakfast, before you do work out. While you sleep, your mouth is home to many active bacteria that release a sulfuric gas as they digest proteins in your mouth. Instead of spitting all of this out and wasting it, it is better to drink water and wash it all down. Forming this habit also makes your breath smell less throughout the day. To top it off, your mouth produces less saliva while you’re sleeping than the rest of the day, so drinking water right after you wake up reduces any discomfort you may be having due to dehydration.

You should also be drinking water during and after your meals. In many cultures, it is looked down upon to consume water while eating food. This is completely illogical, as drinking water while eating food is a great way to balance out the dehydrating compounds entering your body. Drinking water throughout the meal also prevents the urge to chug down an entire bottle at once after the meal. Drinking large quantities of water after a period of dehydration is not optimal, as it can cause queasiness and regurgitation. After finishing your meal, unless you have the intent to immediately brush your teeth, swish the water around your mouth and swallow to clean out any leftover food sediments on your teeth. This also helps with your breath.

Finally, you should be drinking a lot of water during periods of exhaustion. This can occur at many times throughout your day. If you are feeling like taking a nap after a long day, but you need to stay awake, drink water! Although it does not actually give you energy, it will make you feel good. If you feel exhausted while you are on a run, at the gym, or simply due to a prolonged headache, water may soothe your discomfort.

Whether you are drinking your water out of a bottle, pitcher, or a cup, they all have their own benefits and qualities you should seek. An interesting tradition from Ayurvedic medicine from Ancient India is drinking water out of copper pitchers. Before the world knew what bacteria was, Indian civilizations were storing water in a natural purifier; one that erased microorganisms, algae, fungi, and bacteria from the water. Drinking from pitchers to a glass is also sustainable, as they are both reusable. Plastic bottles provide no further nutrional value to the water and they cause the most environmental problems when disposed.

The only issue with metal water containers is that they may rust over time. This is why a safe choice is glass. Glass cups do not rust, but they also do not provide any extraordinary benefits. They are reusable and provide a great taste to the water. Personally, I have a metal water bottle that I take when I leave my house, but at home, I drink out of a glass pitcher into a glass cup.

There are several ingredients that you can add to your water to make it more nutritional and flavorful. One popular option is lemon, which not only adds a refreshing taste but also contains vitamin C and antioxidants that boost your immune system and fight inflammation. Another option is mint leaves, which give your water a cool and refreshing taste while aiding in digestion and providing anti-inflammatory benefits. Cucumber slices can also be added to water, providing hydration and promoting healthy skin due to their high water content and vitamin K. Finally, adding a pinch of Himalayan salt can provide essential minerals like magnesium and potassium, which aid in hydration and maintaining electrolyte balance. These simple additions can transform plain water into a nutritious and tasty beverage.

Following some of these habits can truly help you with some of the annoying problems in your life; tiredness, headaches, and poor mouth odor. Remember to sway away from plastic water bottles and stay healthy!

Sources:
https://www.wagnerdentist.com/what-happens-in-your-mouth-while-you-sleep/
https://premiumwaters.com/blog/top-5-best-times-to-drink-water-in-a-day/
https://urbannatureculture.com/blogs/news/the-mangal-jug
https://drinkoptimum.com/benefits-of-drinking-water-from-a-copper-bottle/