Have you ever noticed that your water tastes a lot more refreshing at night? You might keep a glass on the nightstand, or have a favorite bottle that you grab when it’s time to drink some. There’s a reason why this is the case, and it’s a fascinating one at that!
Where does this refreshing taste come from? Well, it depends on a few things. If you’re drinking out of a glass that just came out of the dishwasher, it may still have traces of food on it that impact the flavor. Also, as water passes through pipes it starts to collect whatever is clinging to or growing in it. This includes minerals like calcium and iron, which add a subtle flavor to the water. During the day these traces don’t get washed away as quickly, so they can build up and make the water taste a little better at night.
Another factor is that your mouth and throat are more acidic at night, so the water feels more refreshing. In fact, this is the same reason why water works so well after eating spicy foods. You can neutralize the stomach acids with a quick drink of water and feel your belly calm down.
It’s important to note that drinking too much water before sleep can lead to nocturia, which is an increased need to urinate during the night. This can disrupt your sleep cycle and have negative health effects, so you should try to avoid this if possible.
