Getting older changes more than routines and preferences, and digestive comfort is often one of the first things people notice shifting. Gastroenterologists say the gut microbiome, the community of microorganisms living in the digestive tract, plays an important role in digestion, metabolism, and immune function. As those systems evolve with age, issues like sluggish digestion and constipation can become more common, along with broader health concerns that can be influenced by daily habits. That is why specialists are urging people over 50 to start the day with a small reset that takes almost no effort.
The habit is straightforward, drink water as soon as you wake up, before reaching for coffee. Gastroenterologist Dr. Jonathan D. Weinberger, speaking to Parade, explained that after a night of sleep the body can be mildly dehydrated. Coffee can act as a diuretic for some people, which may add to that fluid loss if it is the first thing you have. Starting with water is a gentler way to rehydrate and get the body moving before adding caffeine.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Leybelis Padilla also encourages people to grab a water bottle before a mug, pointing out that hydration supports digestion in several practical ways. Water helps the body absorb nutrients and can support more regular bowel movements, which many adults start paying closer attention to after 50. Padilla notes that water is important for a softer, well formed stool, partly because it supports mucus production along the digestive tract and can make passage easier. In everyday terms, it is one of the simplest ways to support comfort without changing an entire diet overnight.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Deepa Shah adds that gut health often shifts with age, and not always in a direction people love. That is why she frames hydration as a basic daily anchor, especially in the morning when the body is coming out of a long break from fluids. Shah suggests waiting about 30 minutes after drinking water before having coffee, giving the body time to catch up first. For anyone who wakes up and immediately craves that first sip of caffeine, it is a small delay that can still feel realistic.
If you want to try it, keep a glass or bottle of water by the bed or in the kitchen where you cannot miss it, then make coffee the second step instead of the first. Have you noticed a difference when you hydrate before caffeine, especially as you have gotten older? Share your experience in the comments.
