Why Drink Water After Massage? 7 Awesome Reasons

So, why drink water after massage? The real reason is simple: massage releases waste from your muscles, and water helps flush it all out. It also keeps you from feeling tired or even foggy later in the day. When you drink water after a massage, you’re helping your body recover faster.

There’s more.

We’re breaking down interesting details, including the real benefits and what kind of water to drink. Stay tuned.

Key Points

• Massage releases waste like lactic acid, and water helps flush it out.
• If you skip water, you might feel sore or get a headache later.
• Water helps rehydrate muscles and tissues after they’ve been worked.
• Your lymphatic system needs water to remove waste properly.
• Drinking water keeps circulation benefits going long after the massage ends.
• Room temp or warm water is better than cold right after a session.
• You should drink 2 to 3 glasses of water within an hour or two.

Why drink water after a massage? (7 Top Reasons)

Drinking water after a massage helps your body flush out built-up waste and stay hydrated. When your muscles are worked, they release toxins into your system (which are not good for you). Water helps remove those toxins and supports your kidneys and lymphatic system. If you skip drinking water after the massage, you may feel tired or get a headache later.

Here are all the reasons why you should drink water after massage:

Washes out toxins	Clears away waste your muscles release.
Rehydrates you	Replaces fluids your body loses during massage.
Eases soreness	Lessens stiffness and achy muscles afterward.
Boosts circulation	Keeps blood moving smoothly through your body.
Helps digestion	Keeps things running well after deep relaxation.
Keeps energy up	Stops you from feeling drained or dizzy.
Speeds recovery	Helps muscles heal and bounce back faster.

Flush out metabolic waste

During a massage, your muscles get squeezed. That pressure pushes out waste your body has stored up, like lactic acid. Once that waste gets into your bloodstream, your body needs help clearing it out. Drinking water gives your kidneys and lymphatic system what they need to get rid of it.

You might not feel it right away, but if you don’t drink water, that waste can hang around in your system. It can make you feel sluggish or foggy. We’ve been there. One time, after a deep tissue massage, we skipped water completely. By the evening, our heads felt heavy, and our energy was off.

Rehydrate muscles and tissues

When you get a massage, blood flow to your muscles increases, which sounds great, but it also pulls some fluid out of your muscle tissue. That’s why you might feel a bit tired or sore later.

Drinking water helps bring that fluid back, so your muscles recover.

We learned this after a sports massage that left us feeling sore the next morning. Once we started drinking water right after every session, that soreness went away almost completely.

Support lymphatic drainage

Your lymphatic system is in charge of clearing out waste and keeping your body clean on the inside. It doesn’t work on its own. It needs movement, and it needs fluid. Massage gives it movement. Water gives it the fluid it needs to keep going after the massage ends.

You may have heard your massage therapist talk about “lymph drainage.” That’s not just a buzzword. When your body releases waste into the lymph system, water helps it move through and out. Without enough water, that process slows down.

Reduce soreness

You should drink water after massage to reduce muscle soreness. That soreness happens because your muscles were worked deeply (It’s part of the healing process). But if your body is dehydrated, that soreness can feel a lot worse than it needs to be.

Water keeps your muscles soft and elastic. When they’re hydrated, they move better and hurt less. That’s what we found when we made water part of our post-massage routine. The soreness used to linger. Now, it barely shows up.

Boost circulation benefits

One of the biggest benefits of massage is improved blood flow. Water makes sure that blood keeps moving the way it should. Without it, your circulation can slow back down.

We used to think massage alone was enough. But after a few sessions where we skipped water, we noticed our energy didn’t last. We felt good for a couple of hours, then we hit a slump.

Once we started drinking water after every massage, that energy stuck around longer.

Prevent headaches

Some people feel a headache coming on after a massage. It’s more common than you’d think. If your body has released tension and toxins, but you’re not hydrated, that can lead to a dull, lingering ache in your head.

This happened to us more than once. We’d walk out of a great session feeling light and relaxed. Then a few hours later, a headache would show up. Our therapist asked if we were drinking water after each session. We weren’t. As soon as we started, the headaches stopped.

Your body goes through real changes during a massage. Muscles loosen. Blood flow shifts. Toxins move out. All of that needs water to keep things balanced. If you often get headaches after a massage, try drinking water right away. It could be the simple fix that makes a big difference.

Aid relaxation

The calming feeling you get after a massage doesn’t have to end when the session ends. Drinking a warm glass of water or tea helps carry that calm into the rest of your day. It tells your body and your brain that it’s okay to stay in that peaceful state a little longer.

We started doing this after a massage therapist gave us herbal tea right after a session. That small moment of sitting, sipping, and breathing made the whole experience feel more complete. Now we do the same thing at home, even if it’s just warm water.

Your nervous system needs a little time to adjust after a massage. Water helps with that transition. It’s more than hydration. It’s part of how you care for yourself after doing something good for your body. Give yourself that moment, and you’ll feel the benefits even more.

What toxins are released after massage?

During a massage, one of the main things released is lactic acid, which can build up in muscles after exercise or tension. When it’s not cleared out, it can make your muscles feel sore or tired.

Massage also supports your lymphatic system, which is your body’s natural way of removing waste. As your therapist works on your body, this system is activated and helps release metabolic waste. These aren’t “toxins” in the scary sense. They’re just byproducts your body normally filters out.

You also release cortisol, your stress hormone. After a massage, cortisol drops, and that release can make you feel relaxed but also a little foggy if you don’t hydrate.

What happens if you don’t drink water after a massage?

If you don’t drink water after a massage, your body may struggle to flush out the waste that was released during the session. That can leave you feeling sluggish, tired, or even a bit foggy mentally. In some cases, you might feel sore for longer, or you could end up with a mild headache by the end of the day.

Here’s why. Massage gets things moving inside your body. It increases circulation and activates the lymphatic system. This helps release things like lactic acid, stress hormones, and other byproducts. But once those are in your system, they need to be removed. Water helps carry them out through your kidneys and urine. If you don’t hydrate, your body has to work harder to clear everything out.

We’ve skipped water after a few massages in the past, and the difference was clear. We felt a little “off” later. Not sick, but not fully relaxed either. It’s like the massage started something good, but our body couldn’t finish it without water.

How Much Water Should You Drink After a Massage?

You should drink 2 to 3 glasses of water after a massage to help your body flush out waste and rehydrate your muscles and tissues. The exact amount can vary based on:

• Your body size
• How intense the massage was
• How hydrated you were before it.

A good rule is to drink at least 500 to 750 ml (about 2-3 cups) of water within one to two hours after your session. That way, you help your kidneys and lymphatic system move out the byproducts your body released during the massage. It also helps prevent post-massage symptoms like fatigue, soreness, or headaches.

If you have a deep tissue or sports massage, aim for 3 glasses at least. Those types of massages work your body more deeply and release more muscle waste. After one of those, we usually drink a full bottle of water and then another glass before dinner.

You don’t need to chug it all at once. It’s better to sip slowly and let your body absorb it.

Also, try to drink more water than usual for the rest of the day. Your body is in healing mode after a massage, and staying hydrated gives it what it needs to recover properly.

What Type of Water Is Best After a Massage?

Drinking water after a massage is essential, but the type and temperature of the water you choose can affect how your body responds. Room temperature or warm water is usually the best choice. It’s gentle on your stomach and helps support lymph flow and digestion. Cold water can sometimes slow things down and may feel too shocking to your system, especially after a relaxing session.

Can I drink cold water after a massage?

Yes, you can drink cold water after a massage, but it’s not always the best option. Cold water won’t harm you, but it might not support your body’s recovery as well as room temperature or warm water.

After a massage, your body is in a deeply relaxed state. Blood flow is up and your lymphatic system is activated. Note that drinking cold water can slow down digestion and even cause your blood vessels to tighten up a bit. That’s the opposite of what your body needs after being relaxed and opened up during the massage.

That said, if cold water is all you have or if you just really prefer it, it’s still better than not hydrating at all.

But if you want to get the full benefit of your massage, go for room temp or warm water.

Can I drink water before a massage?

Yes, you can and should drink water before a massage. Being hydrated before your session helps your muscles respond better to the treatment. When your body is properly hydrated, your tissues are soft and flexible. That means your massage therapist can work more effectively on your muscles without causing too much discomfort.

However, don’t drink too much too close to your appointment. The last thing you want is to interrupt your massage with a bathroom break.

Drinking water before the massage also helps your lymphatic system function better right from the start. That means your body will already be ready to flush out waste during and after the session.

So yes, drink water before your massage.

What is best to drink after a massage?

After a massage, the best things to drink are fluids that help with hydration and relaxation. These are the top choices:

Drink Option	Why It’s Good After a Massage
Water	Rehydrates the body and helps flush out toxins.
Coconut Water	Restores electrolytes lost through sweating.
Herbal Tea	Calms the nervous system
Vitamin D Lemonade	Great for muscles
Green Tea	Provides antioxidants and gentle hydration.
Lemon Water	Aids in digestion and detoxification.
Homemade Manjaro drink	Makes hydration enjoyable while adding vitamins.
Jamba Juice	Replenishes minerals and provides comfort.
Fresh Vegetable Juice	Boosts nutrients and supports recovery.

So, Drinking Water After Massage: Myth or Reality?

Drinking water after a massage is 100 percent real and not just a popular saying. It’s one of the most helpful things you can do for your body after a session. If you don’t hydrate afterward, your body can feel heavy or even a little dizzy. We’ve felt that ourselves on days we didn’t drink enough. It’s not dangerous, but it definitely takes away from the calm, refreshed feeling you’re supposed to have after a massage.

Here’s what we suggest: Just sip a couple of glasses over the next hour or two.

You’ll get more out of your session, and your body will thank you for it every time.