Month: April 2025

  Kissing can be enjoyable or, at times, awkward. It’s best to ask for consent and pay attention to your partner’s body language to learn what they like.We all start somewhere Let’s get real: Kissing can be totally awesome or super cringeworthy. Without a doubt, a great kiss or make-out session can leave you feeling pretty darn amazing. Science even suggests kissing can actually be great for your health. A small 2009 study found that kissing can even reduce perceived stress. Of course, it must be admitted that some kisses just aren’t great. If you’ve had a few of those yourself, remembering them might make the idea of swapping spit with another human seem a little less than ideal. Wondering where you fall on the kissing spectrum? No need to worry — these 26 tips and tricks can help improve your lip game. Make sure you’re prepared before the moment comes We can’t always control when the mood for a kiss strikes, but a little preparation can go a long way. If you know that kissing might be on the agenda, for example, you might want to skip the garlic bread and onions at dinner.

First, we’d need to define what we mean by having small b.reasts and large br.easts, and how to rule out which ones are considered normal. In this assessment, the first thing to consider is the proportion of the breasts to the woman’s physical structure (height, shoulder width, weight, etc.); second, the current trend, whether small, proportionate, or large. As a general rule, we could say that a size under 85 is considered small, and a size over 100 is considered large. However, although it has always been assumed that the image of a woman with breasts above a size 100 is more aesthetically pleasing, the current trend is to seek naturalness: we can even say that small breasts are in fashion. So, do having very small breasts have their benefits? Let’s see. Advantages of having small breasts As we mentioned, naturalness is currently sought in beauty, so there are several advantages to having small breasts, beyond the aesthetic ones, that must be acknowledged immediately: First of all, we must mention something essential: over time, your breasts won’t sag, as larger breasts tend to lose firmness with age. Furthermore, you won’t have as many back problems, at the base of the neck and even in the shoulders, as those with a larger bra size do. Believe it or not, there are numerous cases of back problems associated with breast size. Another important advantage is that, when going for a breast check-up, it’s easier for the specialist to examine the area if the patient has smaller breasts. This will make breast cancer screening easier for women with smaller breasts.

You’ve been dating your partner for some time, and you’ve finally found the courage to say those three special words. Three words and eight letters may not seem like much, but saying “I love you” for the first time is a big deal. Not only can it be terrifying to put your feelings out there, but you’re also not guaranteed to hear those words in return. So, what do you do when you tell someone you love them and they don’t say it back? While it can feel like the worst thing in the world in that moment, experts say, you shouldn’t worry. “It’s really scary for a person to venture forward to say ‘I love you,’” clinical psychologist and author, Dr. Carla Marie Manly, tells Bustle. “In fact, many new couples play an unconscious game of ‘feeling it out’ when (and if) the other person is falling in love at the same pace.” If you feel ready to say “I love you” first, Dr. Manly recommends doing a few things. First, get to know what you’re really feeling. In the early stages of a relationship, Dr. Manly says, it’s easy to confuse love with infatuation, passion, or simply the joy of dating. When you mistake lust for love, your “I love you” won’t be coming from a genuine place. Instead, it’s most likely coming from a place of insecurity and your partner may not react to the situation in a positive way. But if you’re genuinely in love and you want to express that, go for it. And if you find yourself in a situation where you’re saying “I love you” and not hearing it back from your partner, here’s what experts say you can do. 1 Give Yourself A Break When you tell someone you love them and they don’t say it back, it’s easy to beat yourself up over it. But as licensed psychotherapist, Victoria Elf Raymond, PhD, tells Bustle, you’re only human. “Of course it feels much better for your partner to reciprocate, but just because you didn’t get the response you wanted, it doesn’t mean you were wrong for expressing yourself,” she says. Instead, be proud of yourself that you were finally able to say it, as not everyone can be as courageous as you. Plus, it’s better than having to think about all the “What ifs?” 2 Keep Calm If they don’t say “I love you” back, don’t react to their lack of response with anger, licensed therapist Ieshai Bailey, CMHC tells Bustle. Although it’s common to push the subject or question their response, that can put your partner on the defense. According to Bailey, it’s important to keep calm. Avoid reacting or jumping to conclusions. And remember, it’s not necessarily a red flag if they don’t reciprocate right away. Relationship and communication expert Chloe Ballatore says your partner may just not be prepared with an answer. “It is absolutely normal for one person to say ‘I love you’ first and not hear it back. In my practice, that’s what happens about 50% of the time.” 3 Give Your Partner Time To Process What You Said When you tell someone you love them and they don’t say it back, it’s important to let them process w… Brothers91/E+/Getty Images While it’s nice to hear “I love you” back, it should never be expected when you’re saying it to them for the very first time. As Dr. Raymond says, “We are all so different when it comes to how we show love, and when we show love.” It’s possible your partner is more cautious about falling in love due to past experiences, or they’re just more comfortable showing you how they feel. As relationship coach Courtney Boyer tells Bustle, “People who have been hurt by serious relationships may be more reluctant to allow themselves to experience love and acknowledge it verbally (i.e. saying I love you out loud),” she says. “If you grew up in a house where ‘I love you’ wasn’t said often or ever, you may be less likely to blurt it out when your partner does.” Regardless of what the reason is, give them time to process the situation. 4 Keep Moving Forward Sometimes words just come out without you intending it to. “If you find that in a moment of passion or under some other situation that you tell your partner, ‘I love you!” and your partner does not tell you that they love you back, just move on,” relationship expert and spiritual counselor Davida Rappaport, tells Bustle. If it makes you feel a little better, you can even pretend you never said anything at all. “By ignoring it, you already let them know how you feel,” Rappaport says. “The seed has been planted.” And they will respond back in time. 5 Leave The Issue Alone For A While When you tell someone you love them and they don’t say it back, it’s important to remember that everyone is different. “People rarely experience the same intensity of emotions simultaneously,” Boyer says “It’s likely that one person will fall in love faster than the other.” This doesn’t mean that your partner doesn’t have feelings for you, or that you’ll always be a little more invested in the relationship than they’ll be. That’s why it’s important to just feel things out first. As New York–based relationship expert and author, April Maccario, tells Bustle, “Understand that you’ve overplayed your hand and decide what to do next.” Whatever you do, don’t try to force an answer out of your partner or make any passive-aggressive jokes about the situation. 6 Don’t Let This Discourage You Don’t let saying “I love you” and not hearing it back put you off from expressing yourself in the future. “Love has varied connotations, meaning some people have it on the tip of their tongue and some reserve it for rare occasions,” Ballatore says. “The important thing is how you feel with the other person and their readiness to make and … Read more

By Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch A graphic of a woman plugging her ears. Next to both of her ears, bells are ringing and emitting larger sound waves That recurring sound that you hear but nobody else does? It’s not all in your head. Well, not exactly. You may be one of the estimated 50 million-plus people who suffer from tinnitus. The mysterious condition causes a sound in the head with no external source. For many it’s a high-pitched ringing, while for others it’s whistling, whooshing, buzzing, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring, or even shrieking. The sound may seem to come from one ear or both, from inside the head, or from a distance. It may be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating. One approach to managing this condition is different forms of sound therapy intended to help people tune out the internal soundtrack of tinnitus. What causes tinnitus? There are many possible causes of tinnitus. Long-term exposure to loud noises is often blamed. But other sources include middle ear problems like an infection, a tumor or cyst pinching nerves in the ear, or something as simple as earwax buildup. Tinnitus also can be a symptom of Meniere’s disease, a disorder of the balance mechanism in the inner ear.Even old-fashioned aging can lead to tinnitus, which is common in people older than age 55. As people get older, the auditory nerve connecting the ear to the brain starts to fray, diminishing normal sounds. “Neurons (nerve cells) in areas of the brain that process sound make up for this loss of input by increasing their sensitivity,” says Daniel Polley, director of the Lauer Tinnitus Research Center at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear. “The sensitivity knobs are turned up so high that neurons begin to respond to the activity of other nearby neurons. This creates the perception of a sound that does not exist in the physical environment. It’s a classic example of a feedback loop, similar to the squeal of a microphone when it is too close to a speaker.” At times, everyone experiences the perception of a phantom sound. If it only lasts for a few seconds or minutes, it’s nothing to worry about. However, if it pulsates in sync with your heart rate, it’s definitely something to get checked out by a physician, says Polley. If it’s a relatively continuous sound, you should see an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ears, nose, throat specialist). Can sound therapy help tune out tinnitus? There is no cure for tinnitus, but it can become less noticeable over time. Still, there are ways to ease symptoms and help tune out the noise and minimize its impact. Treatments are a trial-and-error approach, as they work for some people but not others. One often-suggested strategy is sound therapy. It uses external noise to alter your perception of or reaction to tinnitus. Research suggests sound therapy can effectively suppress tinnitus in some people. Two common types of sound therapy are masking and habituation. Masking. This exposes a person to background noise, like white noise, nature sounds, or ambient sounds, to mask tinnitus noise or distract attention away from it. Listening to sound machines or music through headphones or other devices can offer temporary breaks from the perception of tinnitus. Household items like electric fans, radios, and TVs also can help. Many people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids can be used to mask tinnitus by turning up the volume on outside noises. This works especially well when hearing loss and tinnitus occur within the same frequency range, according to the American Tinnitus Association. Habituation. Also known as tinnitus retraining therapy, this process trains your brain to become more accustomed to tinnitus. Here, you listen to noise similar to your tinnitus sound for long periods. Eventually your brain ignores the tone, along with the tinnitus sound. It’s similar to how you eventually don’t think about how glasses feel on your nose. The therapy is done with guidance from a specialist and the time frame varies per person, usually anywhere from 12 to 24 months. Additional approaches may help with tinnitus Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor also may recommend addressing issues that could contribute to your tinnitus. Musculoskeletal factors. Jaw clenching, tooth grinding, prior injury, or muscle tension in the neck can sometimes make tinnitus more noticeable. If tight muscles are part of the problem, massage therapy may help relieve it. Underlying health conditions. You may be able to reduce the impact of tinnitus by treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Negative thinking. Adopting cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis to redirect negative thoughts and emotions linked to tinnitus may also help ease symptoms. Medication. Tinnitus can be a side effect of many medications, especially when taken at higher doses, like aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and certain antidepressants. The problem often goes away when the drug is reduced or discontinued. Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Strokes are a medical emergency that require immediate attention, but did you know that your body often sends warning signs weeks before one occurs? Recognizing these symptoms early could mean the difference between life and death. In this article, we’ll break down what a stroke is, its different types, and the 10 crucial warning signs you should never ignore. What Is a Stroke? A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, cutting off oxygen supply to brain cells. This can cause permanent damage, disability, or even death. There are three main types of strokes: Ischemic Stroke: The most common type, caused by a blocked artery due to a blood clot or cholesterol buildup. Hemorrhagic Stroke: Caused by bleeding in the brain due to a ruptured blood vessel, aneurysm, or head injury. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Often called a “mini-stroke,” it’s a temporary blockage that resolves itself, but it serves as a major warning sign of a future stroke. The symptoms of a stroke depend on which part of the brain is affected, but some warning signs can appear weeks or even months before a full stroke occurs. Let’s explore these crucial symptoms. 10 Warning Signs of a Stroke You Shouldn’t Ignore 1. Sudden Exhaustion Feeling unusually tired or experiencing extreme fatigue without explanation? This could be a sign that your brain is struggling with reduced blood flow. If exhaustion persists despite rest, it’s time to consult a doctor. 2. Visual, Auditory, or Olfactory Hallucinations eeing flashes of light, hearing strange sounds, or smelling things that aren’t there could indicate a neurological issue. If these symptoms appear suddenly and without reason, they may be a precursor to a stroke. 3. Facial Paralysis or Numbness One of the most recognizable signs of an impending stroke is sudden numbness or paralysis, usually on one side of the face. If you notice an uneven smile or a drooping eyelid, seek medical attention immediately. 4. Tunnel Vision or Sudden Vision Loss Losing peripheral vision or experiencing blurred sight can signal reduced blood flow to the brain. If your vision suddenly changes in one or both eyes, don’t ignore it—it could be an early warning sign of a stroke. 5. Loss of Coordination and Balance Are you suddenly stumbling, feeling dizzy, or struggling to maintain your balance? If these issues persist, it could indicate a problem with blood circulation in the brain. 6. Speech Difficulties Slurred speech, trouble finding words, or difficulty understanding others can be an early symptom of an impending stroke. If communication becomes challenging, don’t wait—seek medical advice immediately.  Unexplained Severe Headaches Frequent headaches that feel different from your usual migraines—especially if they are sudden and intense—may indicate a stroke in progress. If pain medication doesn’t help, this is a red flag. 8. Sudden Mood Swings or Memory Loss Uncharacteristic irritability, confusion, or forgetfulness can be signs that the brain isn’t functioning properly. Small memory lapses may seem harmless, but they could be early indicators of an impending stroke. 9. Shortness of Breath or Chest Pain A stroke doesn’t just affect the brain—it can also impact the heart. If you experience sudden shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or an irregular heartbeat, this may suggest an increased risk of stroke. 10. Unexplained High Blood Pressure Spikes Frequent and sudden increases in blood pressure can damage arteries, leading to a stroke. If your blood pressure is significantly higher than normal, consult a doctor to manage the risk. How to Reduce Your Risk of Stroke Now that you know the warning signs, here are a few proactive steps to lower your stroke risk: Adopt a Healthy Diet: Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while reducing salt and unhealthy fats. Exercise Regularly: Even 30 minutes of moderate physical activity can significantly reduce your risk. Monitor Your Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is a leading cause of strokes. Keep it under control with lifestyle changes and medication if necessary. Limit Alcohol and Avoid Smoking: Excessive drinking and smoking damage blood vessels, increasing your stroke risk. Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can thicken the blood, making clot formation more likely. Manage Stress: Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure and heart issues. Practice mindfulness, deep breathing, or meditation.     Conclusion: Early Detection Saves Lives A stroke can strike suddenly, but your body often provides warning signs well in advance. Recognizing symptoms like extreme fatigue, facial paralysis, speech difficulties, or high blood pressure spikes can be life-saving. If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, don’t hesitate—seek medical help immediately. Prevention is key, so take proactive steps to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk.

  New relationships are just so powerful and full of pleasurable emotions. Every glance, every smile, and every touch is imbued with new energy and infatuation. That being said, it’s incredibly easy in those early days of infatuation to be anxious about when to say the L-word if you’re not actually, personally ready to say I love you. While there is no right or wrong time to say I love you (it all depends on what feels right for you), it’s easy to get caught up in wondering how and when to say those three words. A solution for dealing with the too-soon “I love you” is to have few go-to things to say instead of “I love you” that you can bust out when you feel like you’re on the verge of letting those three little words spill out of your mouth before you’re ready. But how do you know when you’re ready? As Trina Leckie, a relationship expert and host of the Breakup BOOST Podcast, previously explained to Elite Daily, the way to know if the time is right is to just trust your own instincts. “I think the best thing to do when it comes to this is not to overthink it,” said Leckie. “If you feel like you want to scream it from the rooftops, that’s a good indication of a good time to say it because it shows how excited you are to tell that person [and everyone else] how you feel about them.” FG Trade Latin/E+/Getty Images Dr. Gary Brown, a prominent couple’s therapist in Los Angeles, agreed that when you’re deciding whether or not the time is right, it’s not about relationship milestones, it’s about what your heart and mind are telling you. “The key milestone is when you genuinely realize you love the other person. That’s the best milestone there is,” Dr. Brown previously explained to Elite Daily. What if you’re not quite there but you still want to let someone know how deeply you care about them? There are plenty of ways to express what’s in your heart without saying anything loaded. These sayings are also really handy to keep in your pocket even after you use the L-word for the first time to convey your love in new and creative ways. So, if you find yourself wondering how to say “I love you” without saying “I love you,” give these little sweet nothings a try instead. Tell Them How You Feel About Them Tell your new partner ‘I love you’ without saying it directly. Shutterstock 1. “You mean more to me every single day.” 2. “I really care so much about you.” 3. “I really love how you [insert a character trait or action].” 4. “I never get tired of looking at you.” 5. “There is no one I would rather be with right now than you.” 6. “I love your body.” 7. “Nothing makes me happier than when you’re happy.” Tell Them How Being With Them Makes You Feel things to say instead of “I love you” Zorica Nastasic/E+/Getty Images 8. “I can’t get enough of you.” 9. “I am so glad I met you.” 10. “I love spending time with you.” 11. “You are really special to me.” 12. “You make me so happy.” 13. “My life is so much better with you in it.” 14. “Being with you just feels right to me.” 15. “No one makes me feel the way you do.”

Ethan “ModBoy” Bramble isn’t your average father. At just 24 years old, his body tells a story of radical self-expression—over 200 tattoos, stretched ears, a split tongue, and even a removed belly button. But beneath the ink lies a man who’s made a life-changing decision: to remove his facial tattoos for the sake of his young daughter. Ethan’s journey into body modification began at age 11 with stretched ears, sparking a passion for pushing boundaries. Over the years, he invested roughly $39,000 in tattoos, turning his body into a canvas of bold statements. Yet, as he grew older, some regrets surfaced—not about who he was, but about how the world perceived him. In a heartfelt interview, Ethan shared his concerns about judgment, especially when taking his daughter to school. “I wish I hadn’t gone as far with my face tattoos,” he admitted. The anxiety of stares and whispers led him to laser treatments, a painful process he’s endured for over a year. “I’m clearing the canvas,” he said, embracing the change while staying true to himself. Ethan’s story isn’t just about erasing ink—it’s about prioritizing family over appearance. His courage to redefine his future while honoring his past is a powerful reminder that growth often comes from the people we love most.

If you’ve been dealing with unsightly moles, skin tags, or stubborn plantar warts, nature might have the answer you’ve been looking for—garlic. This kitchen staple is not only known for its powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties, but it has also gained popularity in traditional remedies for treating various skin growths. While modern medicine offers surgical or chemical solutions, garlic offers a more natural and inexpensive alternative. To try this home remedy, all you need is fresh garlic cloves and a few simple tools. Start by thoroughly cleaning the area where the mole or skin tag is located. Crush a garlic clove to release its potent juices and apply it directly onto the spot. Cover it with a bandage or medical tape to keep it in place overnight. The sulfur compounds in garlic are believed to break down skin growths by drying them out and triggering their natural removal process. Repeat this nightly until you notice results, usually within a week. Garlic has been used for centuries for its healing properties, and many people swear by its effectiveness. However, this method might cause irritation or a burning sensation for those with sensitive skin. It’s important to do a patch test before full application and to monitor your skin’s reaction closely. If you experience redness, swelling, or discomfort, discontinue use immediately. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before attempting any home remedies, especially on skin growths that change in color, shape, or size, as these could be signs of more serious conditions such as skin cancer. Never attempt to self-remove growths without a proper medical evaluation.

Try curbing carbs instead of fats. When Johns Hopkins researchers compared the effects on the heart of losing weight through a low-carbohydrate diet versus a low-fat diet for six months—each containing the same amount of calories—those on a low-carb diet lost an average of 10 pounds more than those on a low-fat diet—28.9 pounds versus 18.7 pounds. An extra benefit of the low-carb diet is that it produced a higher quality of weight loss. With weight loss, fat is reduced, but there is also often a loss of lean tissue (muscle), which is not desirable. On both diets, there was a loss of about 2 to 3 pounds of good lean tissue along with the fat, which means that the fat loss percentage was much higher on the low-carb diet.Think eating plan, not diet. Ultimately, you need to pick a healthy eating plan you can stick to, Stewart says. The benefit of a low-carb approach is that it simply involves learning better food choices—no calorie-counting is necessary. In general, a low-carb way of eating shifts your intake away from problem foods—those high in carbs and sugar and without much fiber, like bread, bagels and sodas—and toward high-fiber or high-protein choices, like vegetables, beans and healthy meats.Keep moving. Physical activity helps burn abdominal fat. One of the biggest benefits of exercise is that you get a lot of bang for your buck on body composition. Exercise seems to work off belly fat in particular because it reduces circulating levels of insulin —which would otherwise signal the body to hang on to fat—and causes the liver to use up fatty acids, especially those nearby visceral fat deposits, he says. The amount of exercise you need for weight loss depends on your goals. For most people, this can mean 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise nearly every day. Lift weights. Adding even moderate strength training to aerobic exercise helps build lean muscle mass, which causes you to burn more calories throughout the entire day, both at rest and during exercise.Become a label reader. Compare and contrast brands. Some yogurts, for example, boast that they’re low in fat, but they’re higher in carbs and added sugars than others. Foods like gravy, mayonnaise, sauces and salad dressings often contain high amounts of fat and lots of calories. Move away from processed foods. The ingredients in packaged goods and snack foods are often heavy on trans fats, added sugar and added salt or sodium—three things that make it difficult to lose weight. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. As you add muscle mass and lose fat, the reading on your bathroom scale may not change much, but your pants will be looser. That’s a better mark of progress. Measured around, your waistline should be less than 35 inches if you’re a woman or less than 40 inches if you’re a man to reduce heart and diabetes risks. Hang out with health-focused friends. Research shows that you’re more apt to eat better and exercise more if your friends and family are doing the same. Definitions Insulin (in-suh-lin): A hormone made by the cells in your pancreas. Insulin helps your body store the glucose (sugar) from your meals. If you have diabetes and your pancreas is unable to make enough of this hormone, you may be prescribed medicines to help your liver make more or make your muscles more sensitive to the available insulin. If these medicines are not enough, you may be prescribed insulin shots. Blood vessels (veh-suls): The system of flexible tubes—arteries, capillaries and veins—that carries blood through the body. Oxygen and nutrients are delivered by arteries to tiny, thin-walled capillaries that feed them to cells and pick up waste material, including carbon dioxide. Capillaries pass the waste to veins, which take the blood back to the heart and lungs, where carbon dioxide is let out through your breath as you exhale. Arteries (are-te-rease): The blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from your heart for delivery to every part of your body. Arteries look like thin tubes or hoses. The walls are made of a tough outer layer, a middle layer of muscle and a smooth inner wall that helps blood flow easily. The muscle layer expands and contracts to help blood move.

X-Ray Image adapted from Royal Photographic Society Imagine not drinking any fluids for the next 8 hours. It would be pretty impossible, right? Well, this is exactly what your body does while it’s asleep. So in the morning, it’s pretty important that we focus on one thing only – drinking a glass of water (16 ounces to be exact!). While you sleep, your body becomes dehydrated, because it needs fluids to operate. While you sleep, this is also a time when your body is detoxing and filtering out waste products you accumulated during the day. In Japan, drinking water immediately upon waking up is a popular ritual. They believe that it can help heal and manage epilepsy, bronchitis, asthma, diarrhea, vomiting, urine & kidney diseases, menstrual disorders, diabetes, meningitis, arthritis, headache, eye diseases, and can even help you manage a healthy weight. Although drinking water in the morning isn’t the most enjoyable thing to do (most people prefer tea or coffee), it can benefit the body in more ways than one. Drinking Water on An Empty Stomach in The Morning As I mentioned above, the body filters toxins you’ve accumulated throughout the day while you’re asleep. Not much water is left in the body to clear away all this waste by the time you wake up, so replenishing the body with fluids (water being the best) as soon as you wake up, will give your kidneys the fluid they need to eliminate toxins that are clogging up your system (1).You’ll also be revving your metabolism by drinking water first thing in the morning. Drinking a large, cool glass of water (if you want specifics – 500mL) after you wake up has actually been shown to fire up the metabolism by 30% for an hour (2)!Not to mention, your brain is 75% water. When you’re not properly hydrated, your brain operates on less fuel, and you can feel incredibly drained, or experience fatigue or mood fluctuations (3). Drinking water will also help you eat less, and improve digestion (especially if drank 20 minutes before a meal). It can prevent unnecessary snacking, and will allow you to feel fuller longer. Drinking water in the morning will also replenish the fact that you are likely dehydrated, even though you might not feel it right away. When we’re dehydrated, we don’t think as clearly, and our mental clarity and alertness significantly declines. “Dehydration kills by bringing blood pressure down to fatal levels. The more energy you expend, the more likely you are to lose water,” says Randall Packer, an expert from George Washington University. “You lose a little bit of water every time you exhale. You lose water when you sweat. You do make a little water when you metabolize food…but the balance is such that you always need some sort of water intake (4).” Morning Dehydration Morning dehydration is just like any other form of dehydration. It occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don’t replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated. Symptoms of dehydration include (4): • Increased thirst • Dry mouth and swollen tongue • Weakness • Dizziness • Palpitations (feeling that the heart is jumping or pounding) • Confusion • Sluggishness • Fainting • Inability to sweat • Decreased urine output If you wake up in the morning and experience any of the above, it’s a sign that your body needs more water. Also, take notice of the colour of your urine when you first get up to go to the bathroom. If it is bright yellow, then your body desperately needs more water. In fact, looking at the colour of your pee throughout the day is a great way to gauge if you’re getting enough water – you can read more about that here. How Much Water In The Morning? The best way I’ve found to drink my 1 litre of water in the morning is by leaving a glass next to my bed so that I can drink it as soon as I get up. It’s an easy reminder to drink water, especially when you might be feeling a little sluggish and still bouncing between dream world and reality. Aiming to drink 1 litre of water, at least 45 minutes before your first meal is what’s recommended. Aim for the same amount before each meal (for me, I drink 1 litre before breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then later in the night I drink half a litre to a litre or so – for a total of 3.5-4 litres a day). If you’re having trouble drinking this much water first thing in the morning, start with one glass and slowly increase the amount of water you drink every day. So if you drank 1 cup the first morning, drink 2 cups the next, and so forth until you hit 4 cups. Be sure to listen to your body too. It is often the case that we forget to drink water, and instead just eat food – more often than not, we are more thirsty than hungry, so make sure you drink some water before you have your next meal!