According to Ayurveda, drinking warm water has a lot of health benefits. Make it a habit, and you will see improved digestion, enhanced immunity, and an uplift in your general health. This article tells you why you should drink warm water and the health benefits it offers you.
At a glance: Benefits of drinking warm water
- improved digestion
- better hydration
- better elimination of toxins from the body
- enhanced immunity
- quick healing of body
Health benefits of drinking warm water
According to Ayurveda, drinking warm water is a very simple habit offering several benefits. Here are five amazing health benefits you can get from drinking warm water.
1. Improves digestion
According to Ayurveda, Agni (Digestive fire) is a vital aspect of living. It is said that a person is as old as his Agni; when it is extinguished, we die.
An impaired Agni causes an imbalance in the body which may manifest into diseases. Strengthening digestive fire will remove the imbalance in doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha).
Ayurveda suggests drinking warm water is hugely beneficial to awaken digestive fire, which aids better digestion.
- Upon waking, a cup of warm water will gently kindle your digestive fire from slumber.
- Further, drink a glass of hot water 10 minutes before a meal. This will cleanse and hydrate the digestive tissues and enhance digestive capacity, thus improving digestion greatly.
- Also, Ayurveda does not approve of taking cold water during or after a meal because the oil and fat in your food may solidify and not digested properly.
2. Better hydration
When you are thirsty, you may feel like drinking cold water. Many may also think cold water is a better way to hydrate your body. Well, that is not true!
Ayurveda advises drinking warm or room temperature water. Even when you are thirsty, drink warm or room temperature water. Thirst is your body’s way of letting you know that the body’s cells and tissues need hydration. Drinking cold water may seem to quench and satisfy your thirsty feeling, but it will not hydrate your body adequately.
3. Good detox – helps eliminate toxins
Ama or toxins are metabolic wastes removed from your body through various elimination processes such as sweating, urinating, and excreting.
When toxins are not removed effectively, there is an Ama buildup in the body giving rise to various problems.
Warm water is a great detoxifier. Starting your day with a cup of warm water helps in clearing your bowels completely. Some people are prone to constipation. If you are one, drink warm water regularly in the morning, throughout the day, and before bed. It will surely ease constipation.
Also, Ayurveda says that excess vata, pitta, or kapha is accumulated in the body as ama (toxin buildup). Drinking warm water helps flush out toxins and create a balance in three doshas.
4. Boosts immunity
Better digestion means better absorption of nutrients. And with good nourishment, naturally, your body’s defence mechanisms improve.
Further, gut health positively impacts the body’s immunity system. It is known that a better elimination of the body’s metabolic wastes through sweat, urine, and faeces enables good gut health and hence improved immunity.
So, start your day with a glass of warm water to keep infections out of your way. Add a spoonful of lemon juice and honey to your warm water for an even improved immune system! Because vitamin C in lemon and antioxidants in honey boosts immunity.
5. Heals your body
The warmth in warm water improves blood circulation and relaxes the central nervous system.
When your body is injured, the cells in and around the organ will be inflamed. This is your body’s primary response to healing the injury.
The injury may be external or internal. For example, a cut injury is external. And conditions such as arthritis and periodontitis are internal.
Be it internal or external, warm water can help reduce inflammation and pain by improving blood circulation.
Further, fat deposits can trigger several health issues, including insulin resistance. Regular drinking of warm water may help break down the fat and help your body heal and function normally.
Warm water drinking – Uses
The bottom line
Drinking warm water provides plenty of benefits, including improved digestion, better hydration, improved blood circulation, enhanced immunity, and a relaxed and well-functioning body. So what’s stopping you from making this simple Ayurveda advice a habit? Let your mornings begin with a cup of warm water, lemon juice, and honey. And don’t forget to end your day with warm water. Good health and happy days are yours!
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