You must have heard a million times that you must drink at least eight glasses of water daily. It can not only benefit your overall health but can also give you good skin. On average, men must consume at least 3.7 liters of water, and women 2.7 liters daily. When your body gets enough water, it can perform essential bodily functions smoothly. But should you also drink water before you hit the sheets? Is drinking water before bed beneficial for you? We bring you all the details right here.
How Does Drinking Water Before Bed Impact Sleep?
Our body reduces urine output at night. This is why when you are sleeping, you don’t feel the urge to take a bathroom break every now and then like you would when awake. But, drinking a lot of water before bed can lead to frequent urination, waking you up multiple times, and experiencing disturbed sleep. And this is not good for you.
When you wake up during the night, it adversely affects your sleep cycle. So, you are not getting the overall sleep you need, which can lead to sleep deprivation. This condition not only causes unproductive mornings and grogginess. But it can also cause health issues, such as obesity and high blood pressure. A study conducted in 2019 showed that people who slept for less than six hours each night were at risk of a heart stroke.
Benefits of drinking water before bed
If you are wondering if should I drink water before bed, the answer is yes, you can. However, avoid drinking too much as it can wake you up for bathroom breaks. So, take a look at all the benefits of drinking water before bed.
Lowers blood pressure and heart rate
Is it good to drink water before bed? Yes. Drinking water before bed can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps reduce cardiac effort and stabilize heart rate and blood pressure.
Also, a study in 2020 revealed that drinking water before bed can help combat your blood pressure.
Improves mood
One of the excellent benefits of drinking water before bed can be that it can elevate your mood. In a 2014 study, it was found that when the body doesn’t receive enough hydration, your mood gets negatively affected and it also hampers your sleep-wake cycle.
Relieves headache symptoms
Stress and day-to-day activities can sometimes induce headaches. And this can prevent you from enjoying a good night’s rest. Why? Because mild dehydration can cause headaches. So, water before bed can help you combat the same.
Improved Hydration
Keeping your body hydrated can ensure you enjoy uninterrupted sleep. This is especially true if you wake up reaching out for a glass of water. Therefore, one of the drinking water before bed benefits is that it doesn’t keep your throat dry and you feel hydrated as you sleep.
Body Temperature Regulation
Is drinking water before bed good? If you are a hot sleeper or the weather outside makes you sweaty, drinking a glass of cold water can lower the core body temperature and make it easier to fall asleep. Because when the body's temperature drops, your body receives a signal that it is time to drift into sweet slumber. So, does drinking water before bed help you sleep? Yes, it can!
Better Digestion
Water is excellent for your overall health because it can help flush out all the harmful toxins from your body. And drinking water before bed improves your blood flow and other body functions, such as digestion.
Cons of drinking water before bed
Now you know all the benefits of drinking water before bed. However, drinking a lot of water before bed isn’t good. You should limit it to no more than a glass. So, let’s learn more about its cons.
Frequent Urination
When you drink lots of water at night, you may wake up frequently to urinate. This can disturb your sleep cycle and lead to poor-quality sleep.
Mental Health
When you don’t get enough sleep every night, it can lead to ailments such as depression and anxiety. And may also lower your productivity and energy levels.
When is the best time to drink water?
Drinking water keeps you healthy and hydrated. So, you must consume water throughout the day. However, reduce your fluid intake at night and drink no more than a glass of water before bed.
Make sure you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables daily. It is beneficial for your health and can keep you hydrated as they contain a high dosage of water. Melons, cucumber, and water-rich fruits and veggies can benefit you.
You can also inculcate the practice of consuming water before and after your meal. And finally, whenever you feel the hunger pangs troubling you, try drinking a glass of water first, as being thirsty can be confused with being hungry!
Things to Consider About Drinking Water Before Bed
Things to keep in mind before drinking lots of water before bed include;
Nocturia
Nocturia is when you wake up from your sleep multiple times to pee. The main culprit here is consuming too many fluids before you hit the sheets.
Bedwetting
Ensuring less water consumption before bed can reduce bedwetting, mainly in children still prone to it. Also, emptying your bladder before you sleep is always important to avoid such accidents.
Conclusion
Water is vital for one’s overall well-being. It ensures all bodily functions take place seamlessly and can keep you in a good mood. But when to stop drinking water before bed? Well, it is always best to stop consuming too many fluids at least an hour or two before bed.
