Water and Weight Loss

From the Atkins diet to raw food veganism, all diets have one thing in common: drink lots of water. Composing 60 to 70 percent of our bodies, water is one of the most crucial elements to good health and well being.

What is the Link Between Water and Weight Loss?

While the relationship between sufficient water intake and weight loss is debatable, there is no argument that being properly hydrated is beneficial to your health. In addition to many other vital organs, water is essential to two main body parts: the kidneys and the liver.

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and excess water from nutrients. If your body is not receiving adequate amounts of H2O, your kidneys have to work much harder at retrieving nutrients for your body.

Your liver performs a variety of functions, one of which is to convert fat to energy. Without water, your liver cannot metabolize fat as efficiently, causing you to store fat easier and foiling your plans for a bikini-ready body.

A recent study conducted by the Franz-Volhard Clinical Research Center in Berlin found that men and women increased their metabolism by 30 percent within ten minutes of water consumption. They claimed that by drinking 1.5 liters of water every day, a person could lose about 5 pounds in a year.

How Much Water Do I Need?

Every body is unique and has an individual set of needs, however, most nutritionists recommend drinking 64 ounces of water a day - or 8 8-ounce glasses. If you live in a warm climate, exercise frequently or are overweight, then you should aim to drink more than the recommended 64 ounces.

A good rule of thumb is to never let your body get thirsty. If you feel thirst, then your body is already dehydrated. It is best to drink a glass or two at a time, instead of trying to drink the recommended daily serving in one sitting.

Some nutritionists suggest drinking cold water to increase fat burning.

Other Health Benefits of Adequate Water

In addition to increasing your fat burning potential, healthy H2O consumption can provide some other benefits.

As your body flushes away toxins and impurities, your skin will become clearer and more youthful-looking. It will also decrease your appetite and improve your muscle tone, as hydrated muscles contract more efficiently.

Too Much Tinkle

As you begin to drink sufficient amounts of water, you might note you're "making water" just as much as you are drinking it! Give yourself a week or two to adjust to your new, healthy habit.

Depending on your previous water habits, your body may have stored excess water in survival mode. Allow your body time to recognize that it is being hydrated properly, and soon you will regain normal bathroom habits.

Water is an essential key to our health and well being. If you find it difficult to meet your daily requirements, slowly add a glass a day until you are at the recommended value. For extra flavor, add a slice of lemon or drink tea. All are great options to make sure your health - and yourself - properly cared for.

Resources:
Appleby, Maia (2009). Why Drinking Water Helps with Weight Loss. Retrieved on January 21, 2009, from the Ideal Fitness, Inc. Web site.
Boyles, Salynn (2004). Drinking Water May Speed Weight Loss. Retrieved on January 21, 2009, from the WebMD Web site.
National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse (2007). Your Kidneys and How They Work. Retrieved on January 21, 2009, from the National Institute of Health Web site.