Why a glass of water?

In the introduction section to the Seven Pillars of Willpower I ask you to start the habit of drinking a large glass of water every day.

Some of you have been asking why drink a glass of water every day in the morning before anything else!

Oh yes, AND I asked you drink it in three sips and sitting down!

Well the reason for the last two “requests” is because that is how the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, taught us to drink water!

In three sips because it quenches the thirst. As for the sitting down part I am not sure the Prophet actually gave a reason, but he was very insistent on it, the exception being zamzam water which can be drunk standing up.

Some of you may have figured a second benefit of the three sips sitting down routine and that is that it forces you to slow down and think and be aware of what you are doing, and you will realise more and more as you go through the course, developing self awareness is perhaps the most important thing you can do to build your willpower.

The three sips sitting down routine is also a good example of a random willpower exercise that I ask you to think of on day two. I feel sure that the objective of many of the practices that the Prophet Mohammed taught us are connected to developing willpower, awareness and self discipline.

The reason I ask you to start the day with water is simply because most of us don’t drink enough of it. It’s my own personal habit and this was spurred on by reading about Japanese water therapy.

According to an article all over the web Japanese traditional medicine recommends to drink water just after awakening because its natural health benefits and gives good results in treating many illnesses meningitis, diabetes, gastritis, headache, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, epilepsy, other pains in the body, heart problems, fat in the blood, kidney diseases and urinary pathways, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation bowel, haemorrhoids, eye disease, ears, nose and throat, uterus, cancer and menstrual disorder.

According to the Japanese water therapy, treatment with water needs to be conducted on regular basis: in the morning, before brushing teeth, it is recommended to drink 4 glasses of water (4x160ml) what means 640ml of it. After that, it is not recommended to eat or drink anything for 45 minutes. After this period, it is recommended to eat breakfast normally and than to stop with eating for the next 2 hours.

Now I have done a bit of research into this (I tend to be very cautious about what I read on the internet) and found little evidence that that there is any scientific basis for this, or even that it is actually part of Japanese tradition medicine. Some versions recommend drinking 1.5 laters, but watch out! Drinking too much water in one go can be extremely dangerous!

One thing for sure though water is important for us humans. 60% of our bodies is made up of water, and if we are not getting enough even low levels of dehydration can leave you feeling tiered and exhausted with a loss of strength and stamina.

Drinking water helps maintain the balance of body fluids who’s functions include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.

Through the posterior pituitary gland, your brain communicates with your kidneys and tells it how much water to excrete as urine or hold onto for reserves. When you're low on fluids, the brain triggers the body's thirst mechanism so you should listen to those cues and get yourself a drink.

Another reason is that drinking a large glass of water helps weight loss. For years, dieters have been drinking water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect on weight loss, drinking a large glass of water helps make you feel full, and its much better for weight loss than a higher calorie drink.

Water helps energise muscles. Cells that don't maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue.

When it comes to the brain the water content is higher. About 70% to 80% of your brain tissue is water. If you're dehydrated, your body and your mind are stressed, and as you will find out stress in one of the biggest willpower depleters.

Along with fiber, water is important for good digestion. Water helps dissolve waste particles and passes them smoothly through your digestive tract. If you're dehydrated, your body absorbs all the water, leaving your colon dry and making it more difficult to pass waste.

Here is a dua you can make when you drink water:
Alhamdhu Lillahilladhi sakaanaa Adbun Furaathan Birahmatheeka walam yajhalhu milhun wujaajun bidhunoobin.