If you have ever tried to lose weight or are still struggling with weight issues, you probably have heard about water and weight loss.
But does drinking water for weight loss really help. Read on to find out as we take a deeper look into this interesting topic.
Thirsty or Hungry? How Water Curbs Appetite
For starters, water helps to keep you hydrated, and studies suggest that hydration curbs appetite. The thing is, thirst most often masquerades as hunger, when you are dehydrated, your body craves for water to satisfy the thirst, but most often we mistake the thirsty feeling for hunger and just go ahead to grab a snack or some food to eat.
So when next you feel that hunger pang, try drinking water first, you may be surprised to find out that the hunger will vanish as you get hydrated.
Drinking water before a meal also helps you feel satiated faster, so you end up eating less. Research shows that people who drink water before meal eat an average of 75 calories less than those who didn’t.
[Also Read: 9 Appetite Suppressing Foods That Can Crush Your Hunger]
How Water Boosts Metabolism
Water also helps to boost metabolism, in fact studies show that water increases metabolism by up to 3%.
This means that having enough of it in your system will help increase the rate at which your body burns calories – a big plus for someone looking to shed some pounds.
On a side note, Khloe Kardashian recently revealed that the secret to her weight loss is not only portion control, but also drinking a lot of water (she drinks 5 liters a day).
Water Benefits the Digestive System
Water also aids in the removal of toxins and other impurities from your body. These impurities can slow down the normal functioning of your body system including metabolism. Worse still, if left in your system for long, toxins can lead to serious diseases and ailments.
Water helps to prevent constipation, thereby helping you to have regular bowel movement. It also helps your kidney to function optimally.
Inadequate water in your system causes calcium to other minerals to accumulate in your urine, making it difficult for you to get rid of them. As these minerals continue to build up, they form crystals which are called kidney stones.
What about Water Fast for Weight Loss?
Water fasting may help you lose weight, but most often that weight is quickly gained back when you start eating food again. It can also affect your health negatively as you will be depriving your body of the vital nutrients it needs to function properly.
If you really want to use water fasting to jump start your weight loss (as a detox/cleansing regimen) make sure that you are well prepared mentally and physically.
You should also keep it at 1-3 days at most as the negative side effects of long water fasting can pretty well outweigh the benefits.
Not only do you lose muscle tissues when you abstain from food for a long period of time, but it also affects your heart negatively.
Losing weight is important but your overall well-being is far more important.
[Read This: 6 Detox Tips for Cleansing Your Body]
How Much Water to Drink For Weight Loss
The minimum recommended water intake for weight loss is, 7-8 glasses of water a day to help fire up your metabolism and help your digestive system function properly.
However, some experts suggest basing it on your body weight, activity level and weather/climate. They advise that you should drink about 1/2 – 1 ounce of water per pound of your weight a day. For instance, if you weigh 130 lb, you should be drinking 65-130 oz of water per day.
If you live in a warmer climate and are exercising you should lean towards the higher end of the range, but if you live in a much cooler climate and do not exercise, then you should lean towards the lower end of the spectrum.
How to Know if You Have Enough Fluid in Your System
Simply look at your urine, if it is yellow in color (the darker the color the more dehydrated you are), then you are dehydrated and need to drink water immediately.
Your pee should normally be clear in color. According to Jillian Michaels (a popular fitness trainer) you should drink water until your pee looks like lemonade.
How to Ensure that You Get Enough Water Throughout the Day
- Carry a water bottle if you are on the go (refill it as soon as it gets empty)
- Switch a bottle of soda or cup of coffee for a glass of water
- Drink small amounts (1 glass at a time) throughout the day – drinking too much water at once can make some people feel nausea
- You can flavor it with some lemon juice
Conclusion
So let’s answer your question plainly, is drinking water good for weight loss? The answer YES, and you can see it all from the discuss above.
However, we always advocate a holistic approach in your weight loss journey – you will always get better results if you combine any preferred method/strategy with exercise and healthy diet.
We would love to hear your story, opinion, suggestions or questions. So feel free to use the comments form below or get touch using the contact form.
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