I’m partial to a wellness trend if I think it might actually be good for me, so when I read that drinking a glass of warm water could be beneficial, I decided to put it to the test.
Celebs like Jennifer Aniston make hot or warm water a go-to ritual first thing in the morning. Granted, Aniston prefers to squeeze fresh lemon into her water, but for this experiment, I needed to stick to basic water without any frills.
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This isn’t my first rodeo at Tom’s Guide; I’ve been known to drink lemon water, apple cider vinegar shots and even olive oil. Given how much gut health is trending up right now, I thought: Why not?
Here’s what happened when I drank a glass of warm water every day for 14 days. Grab one of the best water bottles to boost your hydration, and read on for what I learned.
What are the benefits of drinking hot water?
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Whether it’s a warm, comforting mug of chai, a peppy latte, or a soothing cocoa, we know that hot drinks make us feel cosy and safe. Drinking warm or hot water isn’t just soothing, though; it can boost hydration when you first wake up, help you feel warm and even improve feelings of calm and mindfulness.
Plus, it’s a ritual, which can feel grounding and help build routine and good habits, and is both affordable and accessible. There’s little harm in giving this morning hack a go, as long as you cool the water enough that it doesn’t burn your mouth, of course.
It’s thought the practice can boost digestion and improve gut motility. In terms of the research, though, it’s mixed. The idea is that warm water relaxes the gastrointestinal tract, stimulates peristalsis and aids in increasing blood flow to the gut. That said, large-scale studies are limited, and there is a call for more robust evidence in favor.
So while it might feel like a kickstart to the system in the morning, you’ll want to continue drinking water during the day to focus on proper hydration as a priority, regardless of temperature.
For this experiment, I boiled water in a kettle, then allowed it to cool enough that I could drink comfortably. I opted for one glass, which I drank plain so that I couldn’t wrongly credit anything else with any potential reported benefits.
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I drank warm water every day for 14 days — here’s what happened
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It does feel soothing and has helped me drink more water when I first wake up, but I’ll be real: I don’t feel any benefits yet. I’m pretty good with hydration anyway (my Stanley Cup keeps me accountable to that), but this wellness challenge hasn’t had a noticeable impact on my gut motility or digestion.
I have kept my morning coffee in place — it is a non-negotiable (flat white, cinnamon dusting) — but with the addition of hot water beforehand, I haven’t felt more energized or boosted in any way.
I can see why this would be appealing in the winter, but as we formally enter spring? I’m probably reaching for a cool, refreshing glass of filtered water first. That said, it has helped me build more ritual into my otherwise chaotic mornings.
When I can often be found sprinting around my apartment looking for my phone and trying to wrangle a harness onto my dog, instead, I found myself padding into the kitchen to fill the kettle and prepare for my morning cup of warm water. That moment of standing still, looking out the window and taking a moment for myself was like a huge exhale.
Overall, it didn’t change my appetite, digestive system, or motility, but it did have a positive impact on my mood, so that’s something. I had fun experimenting with it, but I’ll stick to my morning coffee for now.
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