Don't Leave a Glass of Water Near Your Bed

 You’ve heard it for as long as you can remember:“Drink lots of water!” So, to make it easier on yourself, you keepa glass right by your bed to drink from in the evening and morning. But, uh-oh, looks like that could be a bigmistake! And here’s my list of why it’s bad… #1. Open to invaders. Unless you’re drinking from a bottle (ora sippy cup), that glass of water is exposed to anything that decides to drop in (or accidentallydoes!). In short, it’s unsanitary. It could be dust, debris, or even a fly ormosquito that makes its way into your nightly source of hydration. And in your zombified half-asleep state, Ibet you won’t even notice that thing floating in there when you take a gulp in the morning! Ew! #2. It’s a breeding ground. Ok, maybe a little dust and insect proteinwon’t do THAT much harm (although, they do carry some nasty diseases). What can present a real threat is bacteria! Sitting water can become a breeding groundfor germs. That, or the bacteria could be coming from…you! Each time you take a sip, you leave a littlebackwash in the glass. Well, your mouth is full of bacteria, andif they sit in that glass all night, they have all the time in the world to multiply. When you take another drink in the morning,it’s anything but refreshing and healthy for you! #3. A big “healthy” glass of…acid?! Water that’s exposed to air will go throughsome chemical changes. When you leave it out and open overnight,carbon dioxide (you know, the stuff you produce each time you breathe out) makes its way intothe glass. It then reacts with the water and lowers itspH level, making it more acidic. No, it won’t be as if you’re drinkinga glass of straight-up acid. But water with a low pH is more corrosive,even to metal pipes! You sure you want that going down your gullet? Hey I’m sure you’ve heard this one:Johnny was a chemist’s son But Johnny is no moreFor what he thought was H2O, Was H2SO4. (If you knew that’s the chemical name forsulfuric acid, you get 10 points.) #4. A funky taste… If you have tap water in that glass, the chlorineadded into it for disinfection will evaporate overnight. That process actually changes the flavor! So, when you drink it the next morning, don’tbe surprised if it tastes a little…off. And, hey, without that chlorine on patrol,it’s that much easier for bacteria to multiply! #5. It could disrupt your sleep. With a glassful of water right next to you,you might be tempted to grab it anytime in the night. Of course, if you’ve got liquid going in,then it’s going to need to come out. In other words, more bathroom trips throughoutthe night and…disrupted sleep. The immediate result is that you won’t feelwell-rested in the morning or alert throughout the day. But there are serious long-term consequencesof poor sleep! #6. The dangers of the container. If it just so happens that you keep your bedsidewater not in a glass but in some plastic bottle or cup, it could contain the chemical bisphenol-Aor another similar substance used in plastics. Research has shown that exposure to chemicalslike BPA can affect the heart and brain! #7. But BPA-free bottles aren’t the end-allsolution. Finding a BPA-free bottle for your bedsidewater does eliminate the issue of plastic chemicals…but not the bacteria. Bottled water can ward off bacteria for afew days only. And if you’re using a metal bottle thatwarms up quickly, germs can multiply that much more. #8. A potential fire hazard?! Most bedside nightstands are in front of ornear an electric socket. Because, you know, there’s probably a smalllamp and your phone charger plugged into it. You know that electricity plus water doesnot equal a good situation. If you happen to swing your arm out or pushyour pillow into that glass, causing it to spill, all the electronics nearby can sparkout. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying youshould give up your diligent water-drinking routine. If you have one, that is. Do you make sure to drink enough water? Let me know down below! In the comments? Yeah. Anyway, just have a fresh glass in the evening,and do it at least 2 hours before bed. That way, it won’t disrupt your sleep. As for the morning, simply make yourself afresh new glass! As you’re getting your recommended dailyhydration, it’s also good to decide on… – Cold or warm water? Warm water leads to improved blood circulation. Then again, German scientists found that drinkingcold water can raise your metabolism. The idea is that your body must warm up tobring the temperature of the water up . That process of warming up also burns calories. Pick whichever one is more important to you,or change it up and do both! – Too much or too little? If you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated– that’s the first sign. Dehydration becomes life-threatening if youlose more than 10% of your body water. And don’t forget, 60% of your body is water! You lose hydration all day and night, evenwhen you’re sleeping and breathing! That’s why your body needs constant replenishmentin the form of 8 glasses a day. Then again, if you go beyond the amount ofhydration your body needs, you risk getting water intoxication, which can also be life-threatening! Indeed, staying hydrated is a delicate balance. But when you get the right amount, it doeswonders for your body: – A good thorough cleansingWithout you knowing it and with almost no effort except drinking water, your intakewill cleanse your body of unwanted toxins. Water works to flush out all that nasty stuffvia your kidneys. – A better complexionDon’t forget that your skin is also an organ – your body’s biggest, in fact! That detoxification process through waterwill also clean your skin. So, that means fewer blemishes and skin inflammation. Not to mention, hydrated skin looks more youthful. If you drink enough water, your complexionwill look more radiant and you’ll see fewer fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles. – Weight lossMore often than not, people mistake thirst for hunger. They might feel like they need to grab a biteto eat when, really, their body is craving hydration. Secondly, drinking a glass of water, especiallybefore a meal, can help you eat less. Your stomach will feel full after that H2O,so it’ll send a message to your brain that it can’t fit much food. You take in fewer calories, and the numberon the scale will show it! – Fresher breathWater helps wash away leftover food particles and bacteria in your mouth. Those two things are what cause bad breath. Your teeth will be happy about that as well. Without those food particles and bacteriasticking to your enamel, cavities won’t be such a threat! – Pain reliefDehydration can cause muscle cramps. The answer? Well, it’s obvious by now. If you often get Charley horses or musclespasms, your body is crying out for some water. But besides muscle health, water also helpsrelieve joint pain. It is a form of inflammation, after all. – A better moodA 2014 study found that drinking water affects your mood. When those with low intake increased theirwater consumption, the increase in positive emotion and calmness was evident. – Nutrient absorptionYou can have the best diet in the world. You get all your nutrients and minerals, andyou’re diligent about hitting those daily recommended values. But without water, your body will struggleto absorb that good stuff. – Brain healthHydration is a basic need for our brain to function. In fact, research shows that dehydration maylead to impaired thinking and reasoning. Once dehydrated, your brain swells, and thisimpacts even the most ordinary daily tasks. Remember, 75% of your brain mass is water– it needs constant replenishment. – Improved digestive healthYou ever heard that your body needs fiber to maintain healthy digestion and regularity? Again, without water, that won’t do youmuch good. Water mixes with that fiber to carry solidwaste out of your system. And don’t forget that your saliva is madeup of water, along with enzymes. Saliva is the first stage of the digestiveprocess. With a dry mouth (and a dry system in general),the rest of your body will struggle to break food down. – Your kidneysIf there’s one system that’s going to benefit a lot from drinking plenty of water,it’s got to be your kidneys and urinary tract. Your kidneys help carry waste out of yourbody – we’ve already established that. If they don’t get enough water flushingthrough them, kidney stones can develop. Besides that, if you urinate often (whichdrinking water will cause you to do), then it washes bacteria out of your urinary tract,a place that’s prone to infections for many people. Bottom Line: Here’s the formula: H2O times8 ounces equals P P. Hey I didn’t say it was a math formula. You know what? If you learned something new today, then givethe video a like and share it with a friend! And here are some other cool videos I thinkyou'll enjoy. Just click to the left or right, and stayon the Bright Side of life!