How Starting Your Day With Coffee or Water May Be Affecting How Your Body Feels.
Waking up with a stiff, achy back that continues throughout the day is something many people deal with and find not enjoyable.
With so many factors to consider regarding why you feel that way, from the position you sleep in, the type of pillow you have, and the current mattress you are lying on. What if it could be as simple as the first thing you are consuming in the morning?
Here are some things to consider about how your body feels right when you wake up and why starting off your day with the right fluids could make a difference:
💧 Throughout the night, you naturally become dehydrated.
On average, we lose about 20-30 ounces of water a night just through breathing, sweating, and going to the restroom, which is about the size of a large water bottle. We know that mild dehydration can contribute to your body feeling fatigued, muscles feeling tight, and experiencing more cramps.
You are also lying in one position for hours, which causes your joints, muscles, and other structures to feel like they are stiff. This may be why it takes about 15-30 minutes of moving around first thing in the morning to loosen up.
☕ So how does drinking water or coffee play a role in this?
If the first thing you consume in the morning is coffee, you may actually be delaying your body’s hydration needs and might even be dehydrating your body in some cases.
Although coffee is about 99% water, the caffeine in it is considered a mild diuretic. This means it tells your body to produce more urine, which can slightly increase fluid loss, making you more dehydrated after a night of sleep where you have already lost some fluids naturally.
This does not mean coffee is bad because I would not be able to live without it. We just need to coordinate your body’s hydration needs a little better.
⏰ Here is a schedule that you can try to see if you notice a difference in how your body feels in the morning:
💧 Consume about 8-16 oz of water right when you wake up in the morning.
🚶 Take 5-10 minutes to do some walking or a light stretching routine.
☕ Enjoy your first cup of coffee about an hour after you wake up.
Will this magically cure your back pain? Probably not.
But will small, simple habits like these that are done on a daily basis help your body feel better as you start your day? Absolutely!