Gastroenterologist Maria Lopatina debunked the common belief in the benefits of a glass of water on an empty stomach, calling this morning habit a meaningless ritual.
The doctor explained that many people drink water immediately after waking up, hoping to 'kickstart' the work of the stomach and intestines. However, from the perspective of evidence-based medicine, such an effect is impossible: according to Lopatina, the gastrointestinal tract does not have a special mechanism activated by water — the intestines do not 'sleep' at night and do not need any signal to start working.
Lopatina also emphasized that drinking water on an empty stomach does not contribute to improving the process of bowel emptying. The stability of defecation, as the specialist noted, depends on the total daily volume of liquid consumed, and the timing of its intake is not fundamentally important.
If there are difficulties with bowel function in the morning, the reason is likely not the absence of a glass of water after waking up. More often, other factors influence this: dietary habits, a decrease in natural morning urges, insufficient food intake, stress, lifestyle, or the use of medications.
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