If vitamins, minerals, protein, fats, water, and carbohydrates are essential for survival, so is water. It not just keeps us hydrated, but ensures that our body functions properly. No wonder that health experts advise us to drink at least eight to ten glasses of water every single day. 

When it comes to drinking water, the ample quantity is not enough to take care of. You should also know the right way to drink water for better health. Most of us make common mistakes such as drinking water while standing, and these kinds of mistakes can put us in trouble. 

Here are five mistakes that you can make while drinking water, but you should avoid:

1. Do not drink water while standing

Aren’t we all just used to sipping on water while standing? Although you might have never thought about whether this is the right way to drink water or not, you may have been reminded by your elders at least once that water must be consumed when you are in a sitting position. 

Dr Pritam Moon, consultant physician, Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road, tells HealthShots, “One’s nerves get tensed while drinking water when standing. It can disturb the fluid balance, and cause indigestion.” In fact, Ayurveda also refuses to stand and drink water. Because by doing so water goes to the lower part of the stomach, and we will not get nutrients. 

2. Avoiding gulping water quickly

Whenever we are in a hurry, we try to drink water in one breath as much as we can. But it’s harmful. “If you are in a hurry, just do not gulp the water as the impurities in the kidney and the bladder can accumulate below. Just have small sips of water to aid digestion,” says Dr Moon. Therefore, it is advisable to have water slowly as it has various benefits. 

3. Avoid drinking water just before the meal

Ayurveda says that your stomach should be filled with 50 percent food, 25 percent water, and 25 percent should be left empty for the digestive process. That’s why drinking water just before eating a meal is not a great idea. “Doing so can make you feel fuller, and then you will not be able to eat enough food. You will not be able to get the right amount of nutrition and this can even disrupt digestion. Then, you may also get problems like nausea and constipation,” says Dr Moon.

4. Adding artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners may contain zero calories but studies have shown that may promote weight gain and risk of certain health conditions. Not just that, sugar increases your body’s water needs due to the amount of water required to metabolize sugar. So, while sugary drinks may taste refreshing at first, they can actually be dehydrating.

Dr Moon says, “If you are one of them who tends to add any artificial flavors or sweeteners to the water, stop doing that right away. Try to avoid anything with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, or sucralose. Instead of that, you can opt for lemon, mint, or herbs.”

Now that you know, don’t repeat these mistakes now!