You probably recognize it: after a rough night you wake up the next morning and your body screams: ‘Thirst!’ Luckily you were smart enough to put a glass of water on your bedside table last night. But you still feel a little crazy drinking this water: it tastes strange and has been sitting there for a few hours. Isn’t it dangerous to drink from that glass of ‘old’ water the next day?
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Unwise?
Various websites previously wrote that drinking a glass of ‘old’ water would not be good for your health, because the water can change its chemical composition during the night. The water would therefore have a bad effect on your body, because it has been exposed to the air for too long. After one night, the water is already full of bacteria and toxins due to the stagnant water. The taste of the water also changes and the websites say that this is dangerous for your health. But is water that you have left overnight really that dangerous?
Carbon dioxide
According to Discovery News, “old” water does change in taste, but it is not dangerous to drink. The carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in the water, creating carbon dioxide. The water has been exposed to the air for a long time and is therefore somewhat more sour in taste than water that comes straight from the tap. This is not dangerous, because carbon dioxide is also found in other drinks, such as sparkling soft drinks.
Bacteria
However, there are a number of bacteria that grow in that glass of ‘old’ water. These are not dangerous and certainly not pathogenic, this also applies to saliva bacteria that develop in the glass. You cannot contaminate yourself with your own bacteria. Hallelujah! So you can still drink that glass of water you put down last night.
