How to drink water daily

Just like there are rules to eat, there are rules to drink water too. Here are some you probably didn’t know----

According to Ayurveda (and naturopathy), when you drink water while standing, the water quickly moves down the colon, thereby preventing the nutrients in the water to be absorbed. This can lead to a host of health issues such as arthritis, kidney damage and gerd.

The reason why you should take sips instead of chugging it all down is because of some reaons - Firstly, our saliva is alkaline in nature and water should be given time to mix with saliva so it stabilises acid in our stomach. Secondly, sipping also soothes your digestive system. Thirdly, taking it in at one go can make your stomach upset.

When you sip water all through the day, you will feel more satisfied and will have fewer cravings. This will prevent you from over-eating. Many a times when you feel hungry, it is a sign of thirst. So always sip on some water to see if the hunger pangs persist.

It is best to have water at room temperature as it satisfies your thirst better than cold water. Cold water can shock your senses and kill your digestive juices. In fact, according to Ayurveda, having cold water with meals can turn out to be toxic for your digestion.

If you drink water right before your meal, you will end up filling your stomach with too much water. This will devoid your stomach of enough space to carry out digestive action. Ayurveda says, your stomach should be filled with 50 per cent food, 25 per cent water, and 25 per cent should be left empty for the digestive process (as well as juices).

Have two glasses of water as soon as you wake up.

Have a glass of water 20-30 minutes before your meal.

Drink a glass of water before your shower.

Drink a glass of water before bedtime.

Drink a glass of water before and after workouts.

Avoid drinking from a bottle.

Avoid drinking too much at a time.

Have more water when you are ill.