March 24, 2026, 3:00 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Many people start their day with coffee. Only then do they feel awake and alert. But there is also a simple alternative. Chronobiologist Satchin Panda revealed in an interview with FITBOOK another other morning drink that has a wake-up effect: water, under one condition.
Drinking a glass of water in the morning, with or even before coffee, is already a good idea. However, water can do more than just quench the thirst that develops overnight. According to Satchin Panda, a professor at the Salk Institute in California, the beverage can also wake you up—if it’s consumed warm.
Warm Water in the Morning
“It actually works. It helps warm up the body, which is a prerequisite for waking up. Additionally, a glass of warm water stimulates bowel movement,” the scientist explained in a conversation with FITBOOK. Panda considers warm water a good coffee alternative. People who don’t like coffee or want to reduce their consumption could achieve a similar effect by starting the day with this water tip.
The researcher himself also enjoys coffee but consciously tries to abstain at times: “I personally reduce my coffee consumption, for example, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and sometimes I abstain completely for a week. I notice the difference very clearly. Without coffee, I get tired around 9 p.m. and sleep deeply and restfully for seven to eight hours. For the rest of the year, I often think coffee has no effect, but in fact, I sleep less and more shallowly with coffee.”
Warm Tap Water Not Recommended
If you want to try Panda’s tip with warm water in the morning, you should keep one thing in mind. The German Environment Agency advises on its website against using warm tap water for cooking and drinking.1 To warm it, it must circulate longer in the water system than cold water, remaining in the pipes longer. This can cause substances from the pipes to dissolve, which can be harmful to health. Especially if you are unsure whether there are still lead pipes in the building or whether the hot water system has been tested for Legionella, you should use cold water for safety and heat it otherwise if needed.