Is Drinking Water First Thing in the Morning Beneficial?

It boosts mental performance.

Similarly, it can help maximize your mental acuity and productivity throughout the day. According to Dr. Kelley, dehydration is also linked to brain fog and headaches—so having a glass of water is a great way to boost mental performance first thing, she shares.

“Even mild dehydration is linked with some short-term memory loss and concentration, so if you want to stay on top of your game, drink that glass of water,” she says.

It stimulates your metabolism.

No matter the time of day, drinking water can get your metabolism going. Specifically, “cold water triggers your body to turn on a mechanism called cold-activated thermogenesis,” says Dr. Li. “This means your body warms the water by turning on your metabolism, by as much as 30 percent, for about an hour.”

But since cold-induced thermogenesis isn’t time-specific, you don’t necessarily need to do it before eating in the morning—though it’s certainly an option if you want to kickstart your metabolism as soon as you wake up.

It promotes digestion.

According to Dr. Kelley, drinking water is critical for healthy digestion. For example, staying hydrated is helpful for easing constipation, a common side effect of dehydration. “Warm water [in particular] has the potential to break down the food you’ve eaten at a faster rate than cool water,” she says.

Therefore, if you’re prone to constipation, drinking water when you wake up can kick-start the rehydration process and get things moving ASAP.

It curbs hunger pangs.

If you’re not one for a big breakfast, if you don’t have time to eat, or if you find you’re still hungry for junk after eating breakfast, sipping on the water first in the morning on an empty stomach can help.

As a 2018 study notes, drinking water throughout the morning can quell the sensation of hunger, potentially easing a grumbling stomach until you’re able to eat (of course, if you need to eat, eat!).

“It’s very common to confuse the feeling of thirst with the feeling of hunger, so staying hydrated can reduce your urge to snack or overeat [when you aren’t actually hungry],” Dr. Kelley says.