Being overweight or obese is a very embarrassing and worrisome concern. To keep body weight in control, most people indulge themselves in several physical activities such as walking, cycling, running, aerobic exercises, and others and may end up burning calories and even building their muscles. However, researchers have found that by just drinking plenty of water, an individual can burn a lot of their calories and successfully reduce their weight. It is believed that the number of calories burnt by jogging for 8 kilometers can be burnt by just increasing the intake of drinking water. [1]
Role of Drinking Water in our Body
Water makes up 60-70% of the human body. It is essential for anything from flushing out of body waste and toxins from the body in form of urine to regulating the body temperature. Every small to a large part of the human body is dependent upon water. Water keeps one alive by allowing one’s bodily systems such as the circulatory system and digestive system to function optimally. Another perk of staying hydrated is maintaining a healthy weight.
Coming up next is what you need to know about how drinking water may help with weight loss or maintenance. [2]
How does Science Explain the Relationship Between Hydration and Weight Loss?
Some scientific evidence support that drinking water is an effective tool for weight loss via various mechanisms. The researchers say that drinking water and weight loss are indirectly related to one another. It is not recommended to count drinking water as the sole solution for weight loss.
One small study conducted in 2018 has found that drinking water before meals can help naturally reduce the intake of calories due to decreased appetite, which further aid in supporting healthy weight management. Drinking water before meals may allow the hormonal signals of satiety to take effect and result in less hunger when eating food.
In addition, there has been a review of studies published in 2016 that upping the water intake may help speed metabolism by increasing lipolysis- the breakdown of fats and other lipids to release fatty acids by hydrolysis. [2]
Reasons why Drinking Water Aids in Weight Loss
Researchers are still not able to come up with definite reasons behind drinking more water can lower the number on the weighing scale. Below are some reasons backed by some studies showing a positive correlation between increased water consumption and weight loss.
1. Drinking water makes one avoid overeating.
Water is a natural appetite suppressant. It can fill the stomach and when the stomach senses being full, the brain is signaled to stop eating. The feeling of fullness can reduce one’s hunger.
In addition, people also get confused with hunger and thirst. They may think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty. Therefore, it’s always advised to drink a glass of water before finding something to eat to curb unnecessary snacking. By drinking water, people can reduce their body weight, body fat, and even body mass index.
2. Drinking water helps burn more calories and is necessary for burning fat.
Water has zero calories and it only helps in burning calories and fat, thereby making the body active. People who have plenty of cold or normal room temperature water experience an increase in energy expenditure (by heating water for digestion) which makes them burn more calories than usual after some time of drinking water. Intake of water may even elevate the resting energy expenditure of the body, meaning the number of calories burnt during rest.
In addition, in the absence of water, the body cannot properly metabolize stored carbohydrates or fat. This fat-metabolizing process is known as lipolysis. The first step of this process is called hydrolysis wherein water molecules interact with fat (triglycerides) to create glycerol (alcohol) and fatty acids. By drinking enough water, the fat from food and drink as well as stored fat can be burnt.
3. Drinking water helps drain the waste and toxins from the body.
Water helps the kidneys to filter waste and toxins and retain essential nutrients and electrolytes. Dehydration does not allow the body to pass the body’s waste and toxins in form of urine and feces, resulting in hardened stools or constipation. Water can even help provide relief from digestive issues like diarrhea and indigestion. When waste gets build-up in the body, people may feel bloated. Bloating can increase a few inches of one’s waist due to the addition of a few extra pounds.
4. Drinking water can reduce the overall intake of liquid calories.
When one replaces high-calorie drinks consumption with water or other no-calorie beverages like herbal tea, one can enjoy long-term weight loss benefits. The calorie-loaded drinks could be a soda, sweetened coffee or tea, and fruit juice.
5. Drinking water helps with workouts.
Every weight loss plan includes regular exercise. By keeping the body hydrated, the muscles, connective tissues, and joints of the body can correctly move. Also, the heart, lungs, and other body organs effectively work as they ramp up activity during workouts. If the body is well-hydrated, one would not experience muscle cramps and fatigue easily while exercising. Therefore, it’s recommended to keep your water bottle handy before, during, and after workouts, especially while exercising in hot and humid weather conditions. [1,3]
How much Water Should I Drink to Lose Weight?
There is no specific amount of water intake recommended for weight loss because the relationship between hydration and weight loss is not scientifically proven. There is a variety of factors on which the amount of water intake depends, including:
- Level of physical activity
- Age
- Gender
- Body size
- Health status
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Sun exposure.
Many health authorities suggest a range for daily water intake for average adult women and men. These recommendations to maintain hydration balance includes the water and fluids taken from food. [2,3]
ORDER NOW!
Still, seeking ways to lose weight naturally? Try out Vitapost dietary supplements that claim to support weight loss!
Vitapost KetoTrim and Vitapost Green Coffee Plus are two weight-loss-supporting natural supplements. KetoTrim is formulated with white kidney bean extract and is a great support for a low-carbohydrate lifestyle. It may reduce the enzymatic digestion and absorption of dietary starches by 66%, thereby assisting with weight management goals. Green Coffee Plus contains chlorogenic acid- an antioxidant that supports weight loss. [4,5]
References:
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/drinking-water-can-help-you-lose-weight-here-s-how-101652350456268.html
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/can-you-lose-weight-by-drinking-water/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322296
- https://www.ketotrim.co
- https://www.greencoffeeplus.co
