Is Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach More Harmful Than Skipping Breakfast? A Doctor Tells You the Truth!

Is Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach More Harmful Than Skipping Breakfast? A Doctor Tells You the Truth!The first glass of water in the morning is a common habit for many people. Some insist on drinking cold water on an empty stomach, believing it brings a refreshing feeling; others argue that drinking water on an empty stomach is more harmful than beneficial, and may even be more detrimental than skipping breakfast

Is Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach More Harmful Than Skipping Breakfast? A Doctor Tells You the Truth!

The first glass of water in the morning is a common habit for many people. Some insist on drinking cold water on an empty stomach, believing it brings a refreshing feeling; others argue that drinking water on an empty stomach is more harmful than beneficial, and may even be more detrimental than skipping breakfast. So what is the truth? Let's delve into the reality of drinking water on an empty stomach in the morning, using Mr. Lin's example, and understand the best water consumption practices recommended by doctors.

Mr. Lin's Concerns: What are the Health Risks of Drinking Cold Water on an Empty Stomach?

Mr. Lin, 52, has always been known for his "good health." He attributed this to his daily habit of drinking several glasses of cold water on an empty stomach every morning. After doing this for over a year, Mr. Lin occasionally experienced abdominal pain and diarrhea, but he always considered these minor issues, believing the benefits of drinking water on an empty stomach far outweighed them.

However, an article titled "Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach More Harmful Than Skipping Breakfast!" completely shook Mr. Lin. The article described a case of a patient who developed intestinal spasms and was in danger due to long-term water consumption on an empty stomach. The symptoms experienced by the patient in the case mirrored Mr. Lin's own experiences.

Fear and anxiety gripped Mr. Lin, and he worried he had developed an incurable disease. He rushed to the hospital seeking help from a doctor.

Doctor's Explanation: Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach is Not a Monster, but It Needs to Be Handled with Caution

After learning about Mr. Lin's concerns, the doctor patiently explained, "Sir, you don't need to be overly anxious. Some statements in the article are exaggerated. Drinking cold water on an empty stomach like you do can indeed have some impact on your body, such as causing abdominal pain and diarrhea. This is because the cold water stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, but there's no clear scientific evidence to say it's more harmful than skipping breakfast."

To reassure Mr. Lin, the doctor performed a full physical examination, and the results showed everything was normal. Mr. Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief, but still had questions, "So, can I still drink water on an empty stomach in the morning? Is it harmful or harmless to drink water on an empty stomach?"

The doctor answered in detail, "Drinking water on an empty stomach in the morning itself isn't absolutely harmful, but it's important to note that not all water is suitable for consumption on an empty stomach, especially cold water, which can easily irritate the gastrointestinal tract."

I. The Dangers of Skipping Breakfast: An Invisible Health Killer

Many people know the importance of breakfast, but still choose to skip it. Common reasons include "not having time", "waking up too early and not being able to eat", or "believing skipping breakfast helps with weight loss." However, they don't realize that the dangers of skipping breakfast are far more severe than they imagine.

1. Increased Risk of Various Diseases

Skipping breakfast can lead to abnormal blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia and diabetes. After a night's sleep, the energy stored in the body is already depleted. When you wake up in the morning, your blood sugar levels are already low, and prolonged activity further depletes blood sugar, leading to hypoglycemia.

Being in a state of hypoglycemia for an extended period can affect the function of insulin, leading to insulin resistance or impaired insulin utilization, ultimately triggering chronic diseases like diabetes.

2. Increased Risk of Gastritis, Gastric Ulcers, and Other Gastrointestinal Diseases

The gastrointestinal tract secretes gastric acid and digestive enzymes during the process of digesting food. Even on an empty stomach, these secretions continue to exist. If food isn't replenished promptly, they will "digest" the gastrointestinal mucosa. Over time, this can cause damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa, leading to gastritis, gastric ulcers, and other diseases.

3. Impact on Women's Reproductive Health

Skipping breakfast can lead to hormonal imbalances in women, causing the blood vessels in the pelvic region to constrict, especially in cold weather. This can affect ovarian function, leading to menstrual irregularities, pelvic inflammatory disease, and other issues.

4. Increased Risk of Gallstones

Bile plays a crucial role in the digestion of food. When the body ingests food, the gallbladder secretes bile to aid in digestion. If you skip breakfast, bile accumulates and concentrates for a long time, which can easily lead to bile stasis and gallstones.

5. Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases

Studies have shown that people who skip breakfast irregularly have a 22% increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who eat breakfast regularly.

6. Bad Breath Issues

Skipping breakfast can increase the risk of bad breath, especially for those suffering from gastritis, gastric ulcers, and other diseases. Bad breath is more pronounced in these individuals.

II. Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach: Are You Doing It Right?

Drinking water on an empty stomach depends on whether you're doing it right. Drinking cold water can increase gastrointestinal motility, easily causing abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other discomfort. From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, drinking cold water on an empty stomach can "suppress fire and restrain yang", damaging bodily functions.

Some people feel thirsty upon waking up and immediately gulp down several glasses of water. This practice isn't scientifically sound either. Drinking water too quickly can lead to nasal congestion, coughing, and even exacerbate the burden on the heart and kidneys, causing dizziness, headache, increased blood pressure, electrolyte imbalance, and other problems. In severe cases, it can even lead to water intoxication.

The Right Approach: Drink a Cup of Warm Water After Waking Up

After waking up in the morning, it's recommended to drink a cup of warm water with a temperature around 30C-35C, which is close to body temperature. This won't irritate the gastrointestinal tract, effectively replenishes fluids, and promotes blood circulation.

III. These "3 Types of Water" Are Not Recommended for Consumption on an Empty Stomach

Besides cold water, here are "3 types of water" that should be avoided as much as possible when consuming on an empty stomach:

1. Salt Water

Many people believe that drinking diluted salt water on an empty stomach is beneficial to their health, but this claim lacks scientific evidence.

Drinking diluted salt water on an empty stomach increases blood concentration, leading to hypertonic dehydration, causing dry mouth, thirst, increased blood pressure, and other issues. For individuals with hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and other conditions, it's even more important to be cautious.

2. Beverages

While drinking cola, coffee, juice, milk, and other beverages on an empty stomach can provide a boost, these drinks contain citric acid, which can accelerate calcium excretion from the body, leading to calcium deficiency.

3. Stagnant Water

Stagnant water can easily breed bacteria and contain nitrites, which are harmful to the body.

IV. Conclusion: Which is More Harmful, Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach or Skipping Breakfast?

It's undeniable that drinking cold water on an empty stomach and skipping breakfast can both cause varying degrees of damage to the body. However, there's no clear scientific evidence to compare which is more harmful.

To avoid health risks, it's recommended to develop regular and healthy eating habits. Eat breakfast every day, drink warm water on an empty stomach in the morning, avoid drinking cold water, beverages, stagnant water, and salt water to ensure good health.

References

[1] Yan Sheng. Skipping Breakfast, Harming the Body [N]. Health Times, 2023-01-15.

[2] Lin Yi-Fei. 4 Amazing Benefits of Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach [J]. English Pictorial, 2023-03-01.

[3] Is Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach More Harmful Than Skipping Breakfast? Medical Science Popularization Network. 2023-05-01.

[4] Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach: Good or Bad? People's Daily. 2023-07-15.

Note: This article is for reference only. If you have any health concerns, please consult a professional doctor.