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We all know the importance of staying hydrated throughout the day. And many are now learning how that road to optimal hydration can be eased, by drinking water stored in a copper water vessel, and reaping its numerous health benefits.

But did you know that ancient yogic gurus have another simple rule for drinking water healthfully?

According to Ayurveda, drinking water while standing has many health risks which may seem a bit surprising when you hear it for the first time. Indian grandparents who practice Ayurveda, are often suggesting to their grandkids to sit while drinking water, but the science of Ayurveda has gotten a bit rusty amidst this digital world, making this scientific fact nothing more than a superstition.

However, the advice to always sit while you drink water is as much scientific as the proven science behind the antimicrobial benefits of copper vessels.  We have listed 3 reasons why you should grab a chair when your thirst urges you to grab that blissful glass of water.

1. Stomach Wall Can Get Damaged Over Time

It sounds impossible, doesn’t it? But it is undoubtedly true. If you have noticed, it's always easier to drink water fast, gulp by gulp, while you are standing. However, while you're sitting comfortably on the couch, you don’t tend to gulp your beverage, you drink it more slowly. That’s the natural way. When you hydrate your body while standing, it is involuntarily a fast action. This fast action causes the water to hit the stomach walls harshly while travelling to your gut. This is an unexpected shock to the stomach wall and the gastrointestinal tract. Not immediately, but eventually over time, this habit can make the lining of your stomach sensitive and increase digestion issues.

2. Fluids Accumulate In The Joints

This is by far the most talked about side effect of not resting while drinking water. While you are enhancing your overall health by choosing a copper vessel to quench your thirst, try taking it a bit further by sitting while you hydrate yourself.  Standing causes your nerves to remain in a state of tension, activating the sympathetic system, or the fight system. Having your body in "fight" mode, can disturb the balance of fluids in your body, leading to fluid accumulation in the joints, which can trigger various joint damage in the future, such as arthritis.

3. Acid Levels Remain Undiluted Resulting In Heartburn

According to Ayurvedic scriptures, water has to be consumed at a slow pace to be fully effective as a diluter of acids. Our liver and stomach produce acidic juices which need water for its dilution. This is extremely important for blocking the burning sensation that these highly acidic liquids can impart. However, drinking water while standing, can be involuntarily rapid which can disrupt the smooth transport of water through the body. Instead, it ends up strongly splashing on the lower half of the esophagus which could disturb the sphincter that connects it to the stomach. This results in the backflow of acid that generates burning heartburns.

Although these health risks could take a while to take a toll, there is no harm in following these beneficial 'old school' habits.

So the next time you grab some water, make sure to grab a seat first.

Happy hydrating!