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Should You Drink Water Before Bed?

First added 11th June 2021

By Lewis Ridley

3 min read

We all know that drinking an adequate amount of water every day is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. According to Healthline, experts recommend drinking roughly 2 litres of water a day. But should you still be drinking water before bed? While a glass of water at night can help you avoid waking up dehydrated, it could also cause a detrimental effect on your sleep pattern. We look at the advantages and disadvantages of drinking water before bed and when to have your last glass of the day.

The Benefits of Drinking Water Before Bed

We all know that drinking water comes with a range of health benefits, including better skin, an increase in physical performance, improved brain function, and so on. But how does a glass of water before bed affect your body and your sleep pattern? The benefits of a nightly glass of water include:

The Disadvantages of Drinking Water Before Bed

While there are many benefits to drinking water before bed, there’s one main disadvantage - disrupted sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends getting around 7‐9 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. Drinking a glass of water before you hit the sheets obviously increases the chances of you waking up needing the toilet. This is referred to as "nocturia", which is the increased need to urinate at night.

Should I Drink Water Before Bed?

To sum up, drinking water before bed comes with a range of benefits. However, the risk of nocturia and the consequential health concerns should also be factored in. In general, you should consider how easily you can drift off to sleep. If you’re usually lucky enough to get straight back to sleep, then a glass of water before bed shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you’re likely to struggle to snooze after waking up, you might want to reconsider. A good rule of thumb to follow if in doubt is to not drink water too late at night.

What time should you stop drinking water before bed?

To avoid the risks of nocturia but to also get the benefits of hydration, aim to have your last glass of water roughly 2 hours before bed. This way your body can detox any waste from the day without disrupting your sleep. Also, ensure you’re staying hydrated as much as possible throughout the day. Aim to drink water with every meal and ensure to drink before and after exercise to replace essential hydration.

 

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