What You Should Do Before Drinking Coffee in the Morning
Shandra Martinez
| 3 min read
For about half of all adults in this country, their morning ritual involves a cup of coffee. Whether it’s tossed back as an efficient espresso shot, sipped hot from a favorite mug, or savored as an ice coffee latte, this caffeine infusion is how many of us jumpstart our day. And while coffee does have a nice list of health benefits, there’s a lot to be said for putting that first java of the day on hold until you’ve had a big glass of water.
Let’s look at the importance of making water – either dressed up or plain – your first drink of the day. While there’s no stopping the 150 million Americans who enjoy their morning cup of joe, you could be setting yourself up for some coffee side effects if you make a beeline for the beans. Some people who drink coffee on an empty stomach may experience digestive issues like acid reflux or an upset stomach. Others may feel a little jittery when those first doses of caffeine hit their system. Having a little water in you first can dilute some of those issues.
Hydration before caffeine
Why is drinking water first thing in the morning so important? Let’s start with the fact that our bodies are made up of about 60% water, and drinking water throughout the day helps all our systems to function properly. After sleeping for several hours each night, it’s normal to wake up feeling a little dehydrated. So the first thing you should reach for is a glass or two of water, according to nutrition experts interviewed by USA Today. Doing this not only starts you off on a good path for your daily hydration, but it ensures you’ve got water in your system to help digest your breakfast. Here are some other benefits and tips for making water your wake-up drink.
- Restores fluids lost during sleep
- Gets your metabolism on track for the day
- Keeps the munchies at bay
- Drinking room-temperature water is ideal
- Aim for one or two glasses
Ways to dress up your morning water routine
While room-temperature water is the easiest way to hydrate first thing in the morning, not everyone looks forward to guzzling straight H2O as soon as they wake up. If you’d prefer to give your morning water routine a makeover, here are some suggestions for dressing up this simple drink, while still getting all the non-caffeinated benefits, according to Healthline.
- Sip a couple cups of hot herbal tea. Keep a selection of different flavored tea bags or loose tea on hand to make sure you’ve got some variety to look forward to.
- Pour a mug of hot water and add in a lemon slice or a squeeze of lemon juice. A spoon of honey is optional. This is a warm, refreshing way to start the day. The citrus gives you a vitamin C boost.
- Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to your water. It can help lower your blood sugar, and rev up your metabolism, according to studies.
- Not a water fan? Try sipping low-sodium vegetable juice or tomato juice first thing in the morning. It starts your day with fiber and vitamins.
- Seltzer. Who says bubbles aren’t for mornings? Naturally-flavored sparkling water, seltzers or tonic water is a peppy way to kick off the day.
- Green tea. Get the antioxidant boost from this type of tea while you hydrate.
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