Friday, July 15, 2011

Weight Loss With Water


"Drink 8 glasses of water each day" is what we hear all the time but what weight loss benefits do we get from drinking water?

All functions within the body require the presence of water. A well hydrated body enables these functions to occur quickly and efficiently. All chemical processes involve energy metabolism and drinking plenty of water will make us feel more energetic and boost our metabolic rate.

Water is a vital component of our being alive. Like the oxygen we breathe in order to survive, water and it's effect on our bodies is essential for life. It helps with many tasks including temperature regulation, cardiovascular function, waste product removal and metabolism. Our bodies are made up of between 55% and 60% water in total with our blood being 94% water, our brain 85% water and most soft tissue around 75%.

Water makes your metabolism burn calories 3% faster.

Drinking water is important if you're trying to lose weight, some studies have shown that thirst and hunger sensations are triggered together. If there is a slight dehydration the thirst mechanism may be mistaken for hunger and one may eat when the body is actually craving fluid. As most food contains some water, if one doesn't drink much they may be subconsciously driven to eat more to gain the necessary water supply however, you also gain the undesired effects of increased calorie consumption. Drinking more water can help to prevent overeating and benefit weight loss.

Importance of drinking water in the modern diet

So many new food product created today not only contain high amounts of energy from added sugar and fats, they also contain very little water. Foods today need to be stored for longer periods and foods with a high water content tend to spoil much faster, think about milk, yogurt, eggs, fruits and vegetables. It may be great to think that we can stock our cupboards full of all these tasty foods that last for months, trouble is, it means less water consumption from foods.

We constantly rid ourselves of water through our kidneys during our visits to the bathroom, through perspiration and even through breathing. Just breathe on a mirror to see the moisture there to know that is true. So this water we lose needs constantly to be replaced for the body to remain hydrated. The most effective way to replace water that's been lost is simply to drink pure clear water. But we also replace lost water through the consumption of other liquids and through the foods we eat. Vegetable and fruit in particular have very high water content.

If a weight loss diet doesn't allow much food or if food consumption is mainly in the form of processed, TV dinners it may be necessary to drink even more water to help stop strong cravings for food.

It's not too difficult to replace caffeinated or sugary drinks with a glass or two of water on our breaks, yet the benefits of doing so are enormous. We should keep a water bottle on our desks and in our cars, to make drinking water that much more convenient.

How Much do I need to drink to benefit losing weight?

For the average person experts suggest getting at least 64 ounces of water daily or eight 8-ounce glasses. If you are on a diet to lose weight it is more important to consume more and keep drinking water throughout the day, unless you have any medical condition that doesn't allow much water intake. A good guide for daily intake is to drink 1 ounce of water for every 2 pounds of body weight. A 200 pound person should be drinking around 100 ounces (12.5 cups) of water in order the gain the benefits of increased energy and metabolism.

If exercising is part of a weight loss program a bit more water should be included to account for water loss from sweating. Drinking water before, during and after exercise will keep energy levels high and help recovery after training.

Without sufficient water for the kidneys to function properly, the liver gets called upon to do some of the work the kidneys should be doing alone. The liver can then not work as efficiently as it should to carry out one of its own functions of metabolising fat and so this results in more fat being stored in the body and thus increased weight.

Many people don't like drinking pure water. Gaining water from eating fruit high in water content is a great way to boost water consumption without drinking it directly. Fruit will also help fill up the stomach with low calories and gain tons of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to increase vitality. In fact any food with high water content can boost water consumption, most foods high in water are naturally occurring, healthy foods, another reason to eat a healthy diet! Water when taken in its proper proportion, makes the body function well, makes us feel and look healthier and has a beneficial impact on our weight.

Water Tip: On feeling hungry drink some water 15 minutes before eating.




Contact Nick Vincent-Brown at Water Splash Ltd http://www.water-splash.co.uk for further information on water and your health.

Point Of Use (plumbed in) water fountains and Gym Water Coolers are designed to provide FRESH FILTERED CHILLED WATER, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, at the lowest possible cost!



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