It is not only the amount that counts, but when and how you drink. A drinking rhythm that fits your day, and the question of whether cold, warm or room temperature is better.
In short
- One big glass after getting up makes up for the overnight loss.
- A glass before every meal helps digestion and the feeling of fullness.
- Room temperature is the easiest to drink in quantity, ice cold refreshes, warm soothes.
- A visible carafe, fixed anchors, a tracker: routines beat resolutions.
The rhythm through the day
The body cannot store water. Most of what you drink all at once is soon excreted again. Many small portions therefore make sense: a big glass after getting up, a glass with every meal, a glass at your desk in between, one in the afternoon and a small one in the evening. That adds up to 1.5 litres without it feeling like a duty.
Before, with or after eating?
A glass of water about 20 minutes before a meal dampens hunger and prepares the stomach. The idea that drinking with a meal “dilutes the stomach acid” is a myth; the stomach regulates that itself. If you like to drink after eating, simply do so. All that matters is that you drink at all.
Cold, warm or room temperature?
Ice-cold water refreshes and noticeably cools you in the heat, but it is absorbed more slowly and is unpleasant for a sensitive stomach. Room-temperature water is the easiest to drink in larger amounts. Warm water with lemon or ginger soothes and is a good alternative to a third coffee in winter. From a health point of view all three are equal. Drink the temperature at which you drink the most.
Drinking in the evening and overnight
If you often get up at night, you can move the last big glass to the early evening and after that only sip. You should not leave it out completely: overnight the body loses water through breath and skin, and a glass by the bed helps if you wake up with a dry mouth.
Routines that work
- Visibility: A carafe on the desk gets emptied, a bottle in your bag gets forgotten.
- Anchors: Every time you get up, make tea or send an email, take a few sips.
- Counting: The Drink tracker counts glasses and shows you your progress through the day.
- Taste: If you do not like plain water, the article Water that tastes good has ideas without sugar.
Try it out
Drink trackerTap the glass, see your progress through the day, keep your streak. Everything stays in your browser.Water intake calculatorWeight, age, weather, activity: your personal guideline in litres and glasses.Frequently asked questions
Is it bad if I only drink when I am thirsty?
Not for healthy adults. However, thirst only comes when one to two per cent of your fluid is already missing. If you need to concentrate, a routine is better.
Does warm water help with losing weight?
Not directly. Water before a meal fills you up a little, warm or cold. The temperature of water cannot measurably “boost” your metabolism.
Share
