If you want to start your day on the right foot — without too much time straining in the bathroom, taking a big gulp of a GI doctor's favorite drink may be the trick.
Most of us “would love to wake up in the morning, have a bowel movement and be done with it,” Dr. Felice Schnoll-Sussman, a gastroenterologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, told TODAY.com previously. But that often just doesn't happen .
That's why gastroenterologists recommend taking a good look at your morning routine. And, if your body needs a little extra encouragement, start your morning with this drink.
Expert Tip of the Day: Start Your Day With Water for Better Gut Health
Dr. Adrienna Jirik, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic, recommends starting every morning with a glass of water.
And, she told TODAY.com previously, "Drink a full eight ounces of water before you eat."
Consider water "an appetizer before every meal," Jirik said, "but a hydration boost first thing in the morning is a must after overnight hours."
The same is true for Dr. Stephanie L. Gold, a gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and an instructor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
“I always try to hydrate (first thing in the morning) because I don’t know how busy my day is going to be,” Gold told TODAY.com previously.
Why It Matters
If you want to support your gut health and stay regular, hydration should be one of your first priorities .
Being dehydrated, even mildly so, can affect many systems in the body, causing fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps and constipation.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer for how much water everyone should drink every day. But a good general rule is that women should drink about 9 cups of fluid, including water, per day, while men should drink 13 cups daily. If you're working out or have certain medical conditions , you should drink even more.
But if you feel like you have trouble meeting those goals, starting your day with a big glass of water can set you up on the right path. And having a glass of water with every meal also goes a long way.
How to Make Hydration a Habit
Think of drinking water as just part of a healthy morning routine that encourages a bowel movement.
Other parts of your gut-healthy morning routine could include:
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Waking up at about the same time every day.
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Drinking warm liquids, like lemon water, tea or coffee.
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Gentle movement, such as yoga, stretching or a walk.
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A breakfast rich in fiber found in berries and steel-cut oatmeal , for instance.
Finally, relax and take your time in the bathroom. But, at the same time, you don't want to stay in there for too long. A healthy bowel movement shouldn't take you more than five minutes, but if you're stressed or straining, that may not happen.
Resist the urge to bring your phone or tablet into the bathroom with you, which might tempt you stay on the toilet for too long without any progress, experts said.
Ultimately, “If the magic is not happening within five minutes, it’s not going to happen,” Dr. Trisha Pasricha, director of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Institute for Gut-Brain Research, told NBC News recently.
“Take a breather and try again later,” Pasricha added.
TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
