Why This Urologist Wants You To Reconsider Keeping Water By Your Bed

Ever notice that urine color tends to be darker in the morning than it is later in the day? While that amber hue is generally a sign of suboptimal hydration, overcorrecting by guzzling water close to bedtime or keeping a cup on your nightstand for pre-snooze sipping may not be the best option. 

"In my opinion, it's not the total hours you're in bed. It's how much deep sleep and how much REM sleep you're getting," board-certified family medicine doctor Robert Rountree, M.D., once said during an episode of the mindbodygreen podcast. In other words, even if you're getting a full eight hours, waking up in the middle of the night to urinate can disrupt your sleep cycle, leaving you feeling tired the next day.

Depending on a person's age, health status, and physical or sexual activities, the best time to stop drinking water will vary. In general, though, urologist Vannita Simma-Chiang, M.D., recommends taking your last sip of the day three to four hours before bed. (At least, that's what she does as part of her own pee health routine.) 

While the exact time to take magnesium will vary, we recommend taking sleep support+ about one to two hours before bed.* And if you're worried about that being a couple of hours past Simma-Chiang's recommendation for when to stop drinking water, don't worry, we reckon those few extra gulps won't make much of an impact.

Of course, "Any time you feel thirsty or your throat is dry, it's a good idea to drink water," Simma-Chiang adds. Just try to go to the bathroom right after to avoid waking again later. And if you want to support your snoozing even further, consider taking a high-quality sleep supplement, like mbg's sleep support+.*