1 liter of water first thing in the morning to detoxify???

***WARNING--THIS POST TALKS ABOUT BOWEL MOVEMENTS***

I saw a documentary called "Food Matters", it's about eating healthier, and the kinds of toxins that get into our bodes, stuff like that. They mention a sort of water detox at about 46 mins into it. Now, the guy who's talking suggests to start your day with water. He said to drink a liter of water before eating or drinking anything else. The point of this is to expel toxins as quickly as possible through our bowels instead of allowing them to go through our skin through sweat. He also claimed his cousin, who lost 150lbs, did this and actually lost 15lbs in one day, having 12 bowel movements a day. I know, that sounds excessive, lol. Well, I drank 1 liter of water this morning before eating my oatmeal or drinking my morning coffee, and my stomach instantly began to hurt. I felt terrible, nauseous, then my stomach began to cramp really bad. It subsided after a few minutes, so I ate my oatmeal, never did get to my coffee though because after eating my oatmeal I had to go straight to the bathroom. After two bowel movements, spread apart by maybe 30 mins or so, I now feel so much better. I literally felt like I had the stomach flu or something. I wasn't prepared for the "sick" feeling that I got from just drinking water. I usually drink about 80-90 oz of water a day, but I have never drank it first thing in the morning, and it's usually only 1 pint at a time. I know water is good for you, but I never knew it could be used in this capacity to detoxify your body. Anyone else doing this? Any thoughts about this?
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Replies

  • Strength2Succeed
    Strength2Succeed Posts: 126 Member
    Wow im curious to know the thoughts too. Never heard of this before.
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Unless you switched your late night snack for rat poison, you have no "toxins" in your body that you need to get rid of....
    Drinking a liter of water first thing in the morning will probably give you a tummy ache and might make you sick...
    Your body gets rid of whatever "toxins" it accumulates all on its own - you are equipped with everything you need for that...

    And having 12 bowel movements in one day might actually land you in hospital with dehidration issues - not sure what he ate to expell 15lbs in a day.....
  • DiannaDC
    DiannaDC Posts: 48 Member
    When I remember to do it before coffee, yes I do. Like you I had to go to the bathroom shortly after. I started doing it because I heard it jump starts your body and that's what I wanted. I am going to try to remember to do it tomorrow. I try to sleep with the water bottle full of water next to my bed to drink it in the morning, however, in the middle of the night I get thirsty....LOL
  • ktied
    ktied Posts: 137 Member
    I like to drink water first thing in the morning, but usually only 8-16 oz. I find im a little dehyrated every morning so thats why I do it
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    I've never heard this in particular, but I've heard of having a pint of warm lemon water in the morning for the same purpose. I will often drink a pint of cold water along with my coffee, which is "detox" enough.

    I'm not sure about the whole "detox" thing. It seems the term is tossed around without much meaning attached to it. The liver and kidneys are busy detoxifying 24/7; that's their job.
  • sunnyside1213
    sunnyside1213 Posts: 1,205 Member
    I drink 56 oz of water or green tea a day. I drink about a 1/3 of it in the morning and the rest though out the day. I have heard drinking water cuts you appetite.
  • LeggyAmericanGirl
    LeggyAmericanGirl Posts: 285 Member
    if it sounds CRAZY it usually is CRAZY
  • I think I'll try this tomorrow.
  • lunglady
    lunglady Posts: 526 Member
    Pure unadulterated bull****.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I'm all for drinking water but I don't believe you are "detoxifying" and I am not aware of any advantage there is in turbo-pooping.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Additionally, I would generally caution people against trusting information in documentaries as "fact".
  • BlackTimber
    BlackTimber Posts: 230 Member
    Drink when you're thirsty.
  • victoriannsays
    victoriannsays Posts: 568 Member
    This sounds a bit ridiculous.

    The only thing your going to get from pooping 15 times is a sore *kitten*
  • DaBossLady24
    DaBossLady24 Posts: 556 Member
    My coworker started this over the last couple of weeks after watching the same documentary... she hates it and wants instant results. Like others have said, drink when you're thirsty. If it happens to be in the morning, so be it.

    But like I told her, if you're not seeing results you want and feeling sick, that may not be the best plan for ya.

    Good luck! :drinker:
  • tommygirl15
    tommygirl15 Posts: 1,012 Member
    I get the same results from drinking my 1-3 cups of coffee in the morning, does wonders for moving things along!
  • 1- 8oz cup of hot water with a half of fresh squeezed lemon first thing in the morning is another method of cleansing toxins from the body. I do not know if water first thing in the morning will help you to loose as much weight as you heard, but lemon water in the morning and cleansing vegetables through the day will expedite weight loss.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    Food Matters. Yeah, another Netflix one-sided "documentary"/entertainment. A lot of those food documentaries have all kinds of weird stuff in them and extremist views. Like his brother having 12 bowel movements in one day. That's when I'd be hitting the "up" button on my ROKU.

    I drink 24 ounces of water first thing in the morning. Whats a liter? 32 ounces or thereabouts? I just do it because I haven't had any for 12-14 hours and I'm thirsty.
  • verdancyhime
    verdancyhime Posts: 237 Member
    I know nothing about "toxins" but I've heard that drinking a glass of water before you go to bed helps keep your skin clear.
    I always wake up thirsty from not drinking anything while sleeping so I drink water. I feel less groggy afterwards. I think the idea behind "toxins" is that drinking enough water helps your kidneys and such work well? But I wouldn't worry about them too much. Staying hydrated is good. If drinking water when you get up helps you feel better, do it. I don't think a full liter is necessary, though.
  • This made me lol side steel Love your responses I agree
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    Sounds like quackery.

    I drink a 12oz glass of water first thing in the morning because I am thirsty. Just think: you have been evaporating water for 8 hours. You wouldn't go 8 straight hours without drinking any water at all during the day, right? So drink some water first thing in the morning. But do it to satisfy your thirst, not for some pseudoscientific reasons.

    Also, one liter is too much for most people. Your stomach can hold about 1.5 liters comfortably. If you down that much water in one gulp, you'll make yourself sick.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    ***WARNING--THIS POST TALKS ABOUT BOWEL MOVEMENTS***

    I saw a documentary called "Food Matters", it's about eating healthier, and the kinds of toxins that get into our bodes, stuff like that. They mention a sort of water detox at about 46 mins into it. Now, the guy who's talking suggests to start your day with water. He said to drink a liter of water before eating or drinking anything else. The point of this is to expel toxins as quickly as possible through our bowels instead of allowing them to go through our skin through sweat. He also claimed his cousin, who lost 150lbs, did this and actually lost 15lbs in one day, having 12 bowel movements a day. I know, that sounds excessive, lol. Well, I drank 1 liter of water this morning before eating my oatmeal or drinking my morning coffee, and my stomach instantly began to hurt. I felt terrible, nauseous, then my stomach began to cramp really bad. It subsided after a few minutes, so I ate my oatmeal, never did get to my coffee though because after eating my oatmeal I had to go straight to the bathroom. After two bowel movements, spread apart by maybe 30 mins or so, I now feel so much better. I literally felt like I had the stomach flu or something. I wasn't prepared for the "sick" feeling that I got from just drinking water. I usually drink about 80-90 oz of water a day, but I have never drank it first thing in the morning, and it's usually only 1 pint at a time. I know water is good for you, but I never knew it could be used in this capacity to detoxify your body. Anyone else doing this? Any thoughts about this?

    I don't even know where to begin.

    1) No need to emphasize the discussion of bowel movements as it's generally assumed that everyone on this site is 18 and therefore able to handle such topics.

    2) Toxins do get into our bodies however are liver is more than capable than dealing with them.

    3) If you're stomach is hurting and you feel like vomiting that is a sure fire sign that what you're doing is unhealthy for you.

    4) The fact that somebody lost 15 pounds in one day is irrelevant as it's impossible to lose that much fat in one day.

    5) His cousin may have lost 150 pounds but attributing that to drinking an incredible amount of water in a short period of time is misinformative.
  • JasonSwetland
    JasonSwetland Posts: 235 Member
    Drinking water will not hurt you so drink up. The body 'has everything it needs to detoxify itself' is true however it replenishes what it uses in that process with the water you drink and the food you eat. One of the things it needs most to detoxify is water, so drinking a liter in the morning will get it started faster. If you have 12 BMs in a day chances are you had a lot of dehydrated impacted feces in you. After that poop is gone, you wont have quite the same reaction anymore.

    Dont listen to the haters. It cant hurt you to try it once and if you get diahrea just make sure you take in a glass of water each time you have a bought to replace the water you lost. Over the course of a day or two things will settle down.
  • Topher1978
    Topher1978 Posts: 975 Member
    The toxins that store in your body, generally store in fat. So, losing weight will help you detoxify your body. I drink a liter of water when I get up usually. Not to detox, but because it is good to stay hydrated, and morning time is the worst time for hydration. I drink a ton of water though.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    if it sounds CRAZY it usually is CRAZY

    QFT

    Just drink a normal amount of water when you are thirsty.
  • Zumaria1
    Zumaria1 Posts: 225 Member
    Never seen the documentary or heard of having to drink a liter, but I've heard its good to drink some water 1st thing in the morning before eating, but with lemon or lime juice squeezed in it. The lemon is a natural astringent that helps your liver and lymphatic system to expel toxins.

    But your skin, and the act of sweating, also expels toxins from the body, so when you are exercising and sweating, this is expelling toxins as well.

    As you eat healthier, and sweat, and drink water, all these acts are expelling toxins you may have, and your liver will thank you :)
  • jigglewiggles
    jigglewiggles Posts: 173 Member
    Thank you all for your thoughts about this. I know that everyone has different opinions regarding toxins, and detoxifying and I appreciate all of your input. I have NEVER drunk water upon first waking up, especially not a full liter. After reading all of your responses, I do agree with those who mentioned drinking (some) water upon waking. I am going to make that a part of my daily habit, maybe not an entire liter, but at least a pint. I know I mentioned the guy who supposedly lost 15 lbs in one day with this, but I want to be clear that losing weight at that extreme rate is not my goal. I was looking into this because I really just want to get has healthy as I can. I am changing my eating habits little by little everyday. I'm eating way more fruits, veggies, and whole grains than I ever have before in my life. I know that's what most of us are here for, is our health. So, good luck to you all on whatever your health goals may be!!
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    It would have come out eventually anyway. Instead, it sounds like the water forced our a bowel movement and made you feel sick and horrible.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    15 pounds in one day?! That poor guy's colon must have been stuffed! The most I've lost while doing the prep for a colonoscopy was (I think) 6 pounds, which I thought was an awful lot to be in my colon at one time.
  • cleotherio
    cleotherio Posts: 712 Member
    I work out first thing in the morning. I usually drink about a liter of water during, and then a little more afterward before I eat anything. I've never noticed a difference in bowel movements between workout days and off days.
  • bearwith
    bearwith Posts: 525 Member
    I drink two cups in the morning and then have a glass before every meal. I set the oven timer to 30 mins to remind me to go and drink if I am at home.

    try a squirt of lemon juice, it clears your colon of the hard pXX that sticks over time, feacal debris they call it