Drinking Water Before Bed – Is It A Good Idea?

Introduction

Many people enjoy a glass of water before going to bed. If you’re one of them, there’s great news! 

Your body loses water even while you sleep. How? First, your body is still working: it burns calories overnight, and that process uses up water. Secondly, you are constantly losing water through breathing and sometimes sweating (especially if your room is warm). Both of these slowly reduce your water reserves. If you have a fever or a condition like diabetes, your body loses fluids even faster than normal during the night¹. All of these can cause dehydration while sleeping.  

And how can you prevent that? Start your sleep with good hydration! Drinking water before you sleep actually has many good things going for it. Want to learn about the benefits? Keep reading! 

Benefits of Drinking Water Before Bed

1. It keeps your body hydrated

When you sleep for 6 to 8 hours, your body stops getting water, in fact it loses water as mentioned above. These can lead to dehydration, causing you to wake up feeling really dry and thirsty. To avoid this, just drink a glass or two of water right before you go to bed². This helps keep your body hydrated until morning, which in turn has the following advantages: 

• Body temperature regulation: Drinking water before bed is a great way to ensure that your body temperature stays well regulated. Drinking water before bed benefits you by not only ensuring that you remain well hydrated while you sleep but also maintaining optimal body temperature. This helps ensure that your sleep remains undisturbed and comfortable³.
• Glowing skin: Dehydration causes your skin to lose all its hydration and natural oils. An adequate daily intake of water is essential for maintaining clear skin, as it helps prevent the occurrence of blemishes, wrinkles, and acne. Drinking water before bed ensures that you remain hydrated throughout your sleep, providing moisture to your skin and keeping it soft and supple⁴.

It is worth noting that drinking water at bedtime might lead to frequent urination at night. This can interrupt your sleep. So, in my experience, it is better that the water intake is met before the bedtime. Drinking small amounts of water throughout the day is a good idea¹¹! 

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

2. It keeps you in a good mood

When people are well-hydrated at night, experiments suggest they are more relaxed and have more energy when they wake up, compared to those who skip the water⁵.

3. It helps your body detoxify

Drinking enough water before sleep will improve your blood circulation⁶. This means, your body will cleanse. It works by delivering important nutrients to your cells and getting rid of toxins. This helps clean and refresh your entire body while you sleep. Drinking water before bed will also help to reduce stomach pain or cramps⁷. And if you also add some lemon to it, it will help with your cough and cold⁸. 

Though drinking water can clean your body, flush out all toxins, and keep you hydrated, it is a good idea to drink water two hours before you go to sleep¹⁰. 

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

What to Keep in Mind?

While consuming water before sleep is beneficial, a crucial precaution must be observed. Drinking water immediately prior to bedtime is not advisable⁹. 

It is recommended to cease fluid intake at least two hours before your intended sleep time. The reason for this necessity is the potential risk of nocturia, a condition defined by the increased urge to urinate and the resulting need to awaken multiple times during the night. 

When sleep is frequently interrupted over an extended duration, it can significantly compromise health, elevating the risk of serious medical conditions such as cardiac issues, diabetes, obesity, and depression. Therefore, strategic timing of fluid consumption is essential to preserve the integrity of your sleep cycle.  

Conclusion

While the consumption of water prior to sleep offers considerable health benefits, it is crucial to time this practice correctly to achieve maximum efficacy. To gain the greatest advantage, one objective should be to consume water at least 1.5 hours before the planned time of rest. Adhering to this specific timeframe will ensure that the body reaps the full benefits of this practice. 

Also Read: 6 Health Benefits of Drinking Water in The Morning  

References

1. Khil J, Chen QY, Lee DH, Hong KW, Keum N. Water intake and obesity: By amount, timing, and perceived temperature of drinking water: PLoS ONE. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2024 Apr 25;19(4):1–15. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11045127/ 

2. Rosinger AY, Chang AM, Buxton OM, Li J, Wu S, Gao X. Short sleep duration is associated with inadequate hydration: cross-cultural evidence from US and Chinese adults. Sleep [Internet]. 2018 Nov 5;42(2). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30395316/ 

3. Hydration: Why is Water So Important? – VA News [Internet]. news.va.gov. 2019. Available from: https://news.va.gov/63689/hydration-water-important/ 

4. Palma L, Tavares L, Bujan J, Rodrigues LM. Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics. Clin, Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:413-421. PMCID: PMC4529263. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4529263/
5. Pross N, Demazières A, Girard N, Barnouin R, Metzger D, Klein A, et al. Effects of changes in water intake on mood of high and low drinkers. PloS one [Internet]. 2014;9(4):e94754. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24728141 
6. Water: An Important Part of a Healthy Winter Diet : USDA ARS [Internet]. Usda.gov. 2023. Available from: https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/gfnd/gfhnrc/docs/news-articles/2012/water-an-important-part-of-a-healthy-winter-diet/ 
7. Vieux F, Maillot M, Rehm CD, Barrios P, Drewnowski A. The Timing of Water and Beverage Consumption During the Day Among Children and Adults in the United States: Analyses of NHANES 2011–2016 Data. Nutrients. 2019 Nov 8;11(11):2707. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6893716/
8. Prajapati SK, Malaiya A, Mishra G, Jain D, Kesharwani P, Mody N, et al. An exhaustive comprehension of the role of herbal medicines in Pre- and Post-COVID manifestations. Journal of Ethnopharmacology [Internet]. 2022 Oct 5 [cited 2022 Sep 23];296:115420. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9150915/ 
9. Leslie SW, D’Andrea V, Sajjad H, Singh S. Nocturia [Internet]. Nih.gov. StatPearls Publishing; 2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK518987/ 
10. Cleveland Clinic. Is It Healthy To Drink Water Before Bed? [Internet]. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Clinic; [cited 2025 Oct 7]. Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/drink-water-before-bed
11. MedlinePlus. Sodium, serum [Internet]. U.S. National Library of Medicine; [cited 2025 Oct 7]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003141.htm

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