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Is drinking water in the morning really beneficial?

Water bottle. Credit / Shutterstock
Water bottle. Credit / Shutterstock

Did you know that about 60% of our body is made up of water? That’s right – water is life! It’s the unsung hero behind many of our body’s most essential processes and it’s no wonder there’s a growing buzz around the idea of drinking water first thing in the morning.

Advocates claim it can transform your health, but how much of this is fact, and how much is simply hype?

If you’ve heard that drinking water first thing in the morning is a hydration game-changer, think again! While it’s commonly believed that swigging some H2O on an empty stomach rehydrates your body after a night’s rest, the science isn’t entirely on board.

In this article we’ll break down some of the myths floating around so you can make an informed decision on how you’ll stay hydrated.

Urine color

Many people assume they wake up dehydrated because their urine tends to be darker first thing in the morning. It’s a common belief that your body is crying out for water after hours without hydration during sleep.

But here’s the thing – it’s only partially true. While dark urine might suggest dehydration, it’s not always a reliable indicator of your overall hydration levels.

According to research, “[study participants] were not particularly well hydrated,” despite “having lighter-colored urine.”

“That’s because large intakes of water can dilute urine, causing it to be a lighter or more transparent color – even if dehydration exists.”

Starting your day with a glass of water can make you feel like you’re prioritizing hydration, but the timing of water consumption isn’t the key factor here.

Calorie control and weight loss

Drinking water before breakfast is often touted as a weight-loss trick, but how much truth is there to this?

Woman stretches out in bed. Credit / Shutterstock
Experts say that drinking water through the day supports overall health. Credit: Shutterstock

Water can increase feelings of fullness, which might help reduce calorie intake. There’s also evidence supporting water-induced thermogenesis – where drinking water boosts your body’s metabolic rate for about 60 minutes.

However, the timing of water consumption isn’t as significant as the overall habit of drinking enough water.

Medical News Today reports that one study showed drinking water before breakfast reduced calorie intake at the next meal by about 13%. Interestingly, another study found similar results when participants drank water 30 minutes before lunch. It seems that the key takeaway here is less about timing and more about staying hydrated to support healthy eating habits!

Mind and mood

Have you ever struggled to concentrate after a long day? Water doesn’t just fuel your body – it also powers your brain.

Several studies reveal that drinking water throughout the day – not just after waking – can help maintain clarity and productivity.

In fact, a 2016 study reveals that “drinking water improved memory and focused attention” and that “in the short-term, thirst was associated with poorer memory.”

Even mild dehydration can impair focus, memory, and decision-making.

And it can also elevate your mood.

Research published in the National Library of Medicine explains that people who increased their water intake experienced better moods and reduced fatigue.

The research also revealed that individuals who typically consumed high amounts experienced lower levels of contentment, and a noticeable decline in calmness and positive emotions when they reduced their water intake.

But it has nothing to do with the time of day, science only shows that hydration is key!

Radiant skin

If you’re chasing that dewy, glowing complexion, hydration is key, but there’s no drinking schedule to determine how radiant you look.

Skin is made of about 30% water and staying hydrated through the day helps keep it plump and resilient.

Drinking helps:

  • Improve elasticity.
  • Reduce dryness.
  • Maintain a healthy skin barrier.

But make manage your expectations, it’s not a fountain of youth.

While water is crucial for skin health, it won’t erase wrinkles or counteract sun damage. A combination of hydration, a good skincare routine, and sun protection is your best bet for long-term results.

Hydration needs

The ideal intake varies widely depending on factors like your age, gender, activity level, and overall health. While the popular “8×8” rule – eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day – provides a simple guideline, hydration needs are personal.

Also, be mindful that if you drink too much, water toxicity may occur.

From aiding digestion and weight loss to enhancing mood and brainpower, hydration is the foundation of well-being.

Please let us know if you have any tricks to staying hydrated and then share this story with your friends so we can hear from them!

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Do you wake up between the hours of 3 and 5am? The reason isn’t what you might think

Sleeping well for an entire night, without waking up once, seems to be a surprisingly rare thing, but it’s actually what’s required if you’re to be entirely productive – without feeling tired – the next day.

Many people think that simply going to bed at the right time guarantees them a good night’s sleep, only to then wake up – more often than not – between 3:00am and 5:00am. Sometimes this can cause problems, particularly when someone finds it difficult to return to sleep.

The fact that most people wake up during this window isn’t coincidence, however, nor is down to bad luck. It turns out, there’s a significance to the trend …

The hours between 3:00am and 5:00am are sometimes referred to as the hour of the wolf, after Swedish director Ingmar Bergman’s psychological horror[film of the same name.

”The hour between night and dawn … when most people die, sleep is deepest, nightmares are most real. It is the hour when the sleepless are haunted by their worst anguish, when ghosts and demons are most powerful. The hour of the wolf is also the hour when most babies are born,” Bergman explained.

According to Professor Birgitta Steene, the title is derived from Swedish folklore, wherein the “hour of the wolf” signifies the timeframe between 3:00am and 5:00am.

This period is believed to be associated with a higher occurrence of both deaths and births. It’s also precisely that time when the body often slips into its deepest rest, which is why the body’s functions can be so affected by it.

In folk traditions, the witching hour, also known as the devil’s hour, is a nocturnal period linked to supernatural occurrences. It is believed that during this time, witches, demons, and ghosts are thought to manifest and wield their greatest influence.

The hour of the wolf

For those who are able to sleep as normal, the hour of the wolf represents the period wherein sleep is at its deepest. For those who wake up, however, it supposedly represents the time when feelings of anxiety are at their most potent.

The body’s circadian rhythm (the 24 hour cycle of physiological processes) tends to follow the sun’s rise and fall, meaning that things such as body temperature, blood pressure and metabolism go down during the night.

At around 4:00am they are at their lowest, since this is when the body has entered its natural rest stage. If you suffer from anxiety, however, it’s during this period when feelings can be exacerbated, hence why you find yourself waking up.

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Animal lover finds squirrel with giant tooth, brings him home and gives him a new opportunity – thank you

Living on a ranch in rural Alberta, Canada, Jannet Talbott may be far away from people but is never alone as she is always surrounded by animals.

The animal lover is used to the many animals, both domestic and wild, who live on her ranch and looks out for them all.

One day she was watching a squirrel enjoying a snack from her bird feeder when she noticed something unusual on his face.

“I could see there was something on the side of his face,” Talbott told The Dodo. “I got closer and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a massive tooth growing out of his mouth.’”

Squirrels have four front teeth that never stop growing but their constant gnawing on nuts and seeds ensure most squirrels’ teeth are kept short. Somehow this had not happened with this squirrel and Jannet knew he was in danger.

The tooth was growing toward the squirrel’s eye and Jannet suspected he was living on powdered bird food as he couldn’t chew on anything.

Now she had the difficult task of trying to catch Bucky, as she named him, so she could give him the help he needed.

“One day, I saw him in the feeder. It was like divine intervention. I just had to reach in and grab him,” she said. “Once I had him in my hand, I just kept telling him, ‘I’m going to help you, Bucky. You’re going to be OK.’”

When Jannet had the canine challenged squirrel in her hands she saw that it wasn’t just one tooth that was an issue.

“His mouth was an absolute mess. His upper incisors were curled around and growing inside his mouth,” she said. “When he ate, his teeth were rubbing on his face. He was so horrific.”

She worried that if she took Bucky to a vet they may not be able to do anything for him and the journey would stress him out too much so she grabbed her cuticle trimmers and attempted the job herself.

After watching some instructional videos on YouTube, Jannet swaddled Bucky and covered his eyes; he instantly became calm which was lucky for this talented rancher as the job took ten minutes.

Squirrels have no feeling in their teeth and even after she had finished trimming, the squirrel was in “no hurry to get away,” Jannet said, as per CBC Canada.

“I took him outside, and he ran to a branch and started rubbing his little cheeks. It was like he couldn’t believe those teeth were gone. He just kept rubbing his face,” she said.

“The next day, I saw him back in the feeder — and he had the most amazing little squirrel smile on his face. He was just so happy.”

Now Jannet hopes to inspire others to help a needy animal.

“I really feel a deep connection to animals, and they always seem to come to me when they need help,” she added.

“I’m always happy to help them, and I think if we all did a little, it would end up being a lot.”


I cannot imagine how nervous Jannet must have been attempting dentistry on this creature in distress but thank goodness she did as he may have starved to death had she not been brave that day.

Help us thank this animal hero by sharing this story.

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Jane Fonda ‘calls out Donald Trump’ during SAG award speech

Jane Fonda's speech. Credit / Getty Images
Jane Fonda’s speech. Credit / Getty Images

Jane Fonda’s hardly been a stranger to political controversy over the course of her long and storied career. Once dubbed “Hanoi Jane” after being photographed sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun in 1972, it’s fair to say she’s had her fair share of public chastisement.

The actress was also an opinion-splitting figure as far back as the 1960s, when she actively supported the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Panthers to the chagrin of certain sections of society.

This past weekend, Fonda was awarded the Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG) Life Achievement Award, and used part of her speech to throw shade in the direction of President Donald Trump.

With the current political climate in the US testy to say the least, it’s hardly a wonder that many of the country’s biggest celebrities are making their voices heard.

For 87-year-old Fonda, Sunday’s SAG Awards provided the perfect platform to make a statement.

“Thank you SAG AFTRA. Your enthusiasm makes this seem less like a late twilight of my life, and more like a go girl, kick a**. Which is good because I’m not done.” Fonda said.

Though she didn’t directly namedrop President Trump, Fonda referenced Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of him in 2024’s The Apprentice.

Jane Fonda’s speech

“Though you may hate the behavior of your character, you have to understand and empathize with the traumatized person you’re playing,” she said.

The actress proceeded to then defend ‘wokeness’, stating: “Empathy is not weak or ‘woke.’ And, by the way, ‘woke’ just means you give a damn about other people.

“A whole lot of people are going to be hurt by what’s happening, by what’s coming our way,” she continued.”‘We are going to need a big tent to resist what’s coming at us.”

“And even if they are of a different political persuasion, we need to call upon our empathy and not judge, but listen from our hearts, and welcome them into our tent. Because we are gonna need a big tent to resist successfully what’s coming at us.”

Fonda’s comments come in the wake of some turbulent weeks in US politics. Many had anticipated that Trump’s second term in office would mean chaos, but few could have predicted just how fast the apple cart might be tipped upside down.

Amid a slew of executive orders and typically boisterous claims – many of which have questionable ties to reality – Trump has wasted no time at all in trying to enforce large-scale changes, for better or for worse.

His newly-founded Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, has come in for particular criticism in recent days, while Trump’s apparent siding with despot Vladimir Putin in an attempt to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine has caused concern on the international stage.

What did you make of Jane Fonda’s statement? Let us know in the comments.

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