[Today's Health] "Even drinking a glass of water is an art" - The miracle of a "dawn glass of lukewarm water"

 What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?                        Many of you probably rinse your mouth and drink a warm glass of water — since that is exactly what I do, too.                                                                          Now, shall we take a closer look at how a warm glass of water in the early morning affects our body?

1. Wake up thick, sticky blood to prevent "cardiovascular accidents" (Most important!)

• The Principle : While sleeping, you lose about 500ml to nearly 1 liter of water through breathing and sweating. Because of this, when you open your eyes in the morning, your body is dehydrated, making your blood viscosity (stickiness) reach its highest level of the day.

• The Effect of Warm Water : Drinking warm water on an empty stomach at this time is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, immediately thinning the blood. While cold water shocks and constricts blood vessels—causing a sudden spike in blood pressure and placing heavy strain on the heart and brain vessels—lukewarm water close to body temperature gently relaxes blood vessels and boosts circulation.

• Medical Evidence: Specialists from the Korean Stroke Society and the Korean Society of Cardiology state, "Dehydration in the morning is one of the biggest reasons why cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke, are concentrated between 6 AM and 10 AM in older adults." They highly recommend a glass of lukewarm water on an empty stomach as the best preventive medicine.

2. Gently awaken the stomach and intestines to support "digestion and bowel movements"

• The Principle : Just after waking up, our gastrointestinal tract is still asleep and in a resting state.

• The Effect of Warm Water : When warm water enters the stomach at this moment, it gently envelops rather than irritates the gastric mucosa, triggering the "gastrocolic reflex." In other words, it signals the brain that food has entered the stomach, prompting the intestines to start moving. Additionally, the gentle warmth relaxes the digestive tract muscles, which improves digestion and softens stools that hardened overnight, making it highly effective for relieving chronic constipation.

• Medical Evidence : According to research by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), while cold water can temporarily contract gastric muscles and cause digestive issues, warm water (about 37°C to 40°C) smoothly promotes the release of intestinal gas and bowel movements, protecting gut health.

3. Wash away "body toxins" accumulated overnight (Natural detoxification)

• The Principle : During sleep, our kidneys and liver work hard filtering out bodily waste and toxins. When you wake up, these toxins are concentrated in your urine and body.

• The Effect of Warm Water : Drinking warm water first thing in the morning slightly raises your core body temperature, which supports weight management by boosting metabolic activity and aids detoxification by quickly flushing waste out through the kidneys. In short, it is like flushing away the residue built up in a water filter overnight with a clean splash of water.

💡 How to Properly Drink Your Morning Glass of Water

Just as the right way to take medicine matters, you shouldn't just drink your morning water mindlessly.

• Rinsing your mouth before drinking is a must! While sleeping, a massive amount of bacteria breeds in your mouth. This is because saliva production drops, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. If you drink water right after waking up, those harmful oral bacteria go straight down into your stomach, potentially causing gastritis or esophagitis. Make sure to lightly rinse your mouth with lukewarm water and spit it out before you drink.

• No chugging! "Sip slowly, one mouthful at a time" Gulping down water all at once can strain your heart and shock your stomach. It is best to take slow, gentle sips—holding each sip in your mouth for a moment to feel the temperature before swallowing, much like drinking tea. A volume of about 200 to 300ml (roughly one and a half standard cups) is ideal.

Please try to make it a habit: every morning right after you wake up, thoroughly rinse your mouth first, gently warm some water in the kettle, and drink a lukewarm glass.

This simple yet powerful habit of self-care will keep your blood vessels and gut strong for life. 

I hope you had a wonderful start to your morning today with a warm glass of water!