Chances are you’re not drinking enough water. Since childhood, we were advised to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. But let’s be honest. How many of you do that? I can bet, only a handful of people actually do that.
What if I told you to start drinking more water if you are looking to shed some weight? Yes, you read it right. Many studies link drinking more water to be a crucial part of a weight loss regime. Well, drinking water has a lot of other benefits as well which are important incentives to increase its consumption.
5 Reasons Why Drinking More Water Can Help You Lose Weight.
- It Helps You Eat Less
Many people claim that drinking water before meals can help you reduce appetite. Research published in European Journal of Nutrition shows that people who drink 2 glasses of water before their meal eat 22% less than those who don’t drink water at all.
There is scientific evidence to support this claim. When the stomach senses that it is full, it sends a signal to brain to prevent the body from overeating. Water consumed before meals takes up the space which leads to feeling of fullness and reduces appetite.
In most cases, people who feel hungry are actually thirsty. Drinking a glass of water, in that case, prevents snack munching and curbs the extra calorie intake.
- Water Reduces Liquid Calories
Sweetened beverages such as tea, coffee, sodas, sports drinks are loaded with calories. Most people ignore the number of calories they consume in alcoholic beverages such as beer.
A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that the women who drank 250ml of water after their lunch lost 13.6% more weight than women who consumed the same amount of diet beverage after their lunch.
While it might be impossible for some of you to eliminate them from your diet, but adding just 3 glasses a day to replace some of those high-calorie liquids will go a long way in your weight loss journey.
- Water Burns More Calories
Research indicates that consuming more water helps burn more calories. A 2014 study published in Acta Physiologica measured the metabolic responses to drinking 500ml of tap water at cold and room temperature in 12 humans.
The results showed that people burned 2-3% more calories than usual within 90 minutes of consuming the water. The research also studied water temperature to ascertain its effect on cardiovascular and metabolic responses.
It is impressive to notice that drinking cold water improved the ability to burn more calories as the body works to heat the water during the digestion process. Plus, ice cold water is much more refreshing than the water held at room temperature.
- Water Flushes Out Toxins
Water can be regarded as the river on which our good health flows. Water carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, improves digestion and keeps the body hydrated.
Water helps the kidneys to filter out waste, thereby eliminating all the toxins in the form of urine. When the body is dehydrated the kidneys retain fluid while leads to digestive problems such as indigestion and constipation. Over a period of time, the waste can build up in the body often leaving the person feeling bloated and tired.
Needless to say, staying hydrated is a good way to flush out waste from the body, which otherwise would have increased the weight. However, it is important to ensure you’re drinking only safe water which is free from contaminants. Water filtered from a reverse osmosis system filters out 99.9% of contaminants from the water supply making it one of the best water filters.
- Water Aids Workout
An important component of any weight loss program is exercise. While exercising regularly helps burning fat quickly, it is essential to stay hydrated. You must consume more water than normal if engaged in vigorous physical activity. Water helps in the proper functioning of muscles and acts as lubrication for the joints.
One of the best ways to consume more water is to infuse your water with the flavor of fresh fruits, vegetables or herbs. More popularly known as “Detox Water”, infusing it with flavors reducing the calorie intake.
