As if keeping you alive is not enough, water can also help when you're on a diet, websites Mayo Clinic and Science Daily say. If plain water is just too plain for you, squeeze in a pinch of lemon. You can also opt for flavored water, as long as it is sugar-free, as sugar does a diet more harm than good.
Appetite
Water not only quenches your thirst, but it also fills your stomach, Science Daily says. Drinking water fills you up and makes your body think you are full. Because your body has a tough time telling the difference between hunger and thirst, water can be enough to stave off food cravings. To check if your hunger is valid, wait about half an hour after drinking water to determine if you still want food. Water is an ideal diet choice over any snack.
Calories
Drinking water is a zero-calorie alternative to your usual can of soda, Science Daily says. Grabbing for a glass of water rather than soda can therefore knock hundreds of calories off of your daily intake. Water even beats out diet soda, notes Mayo Clinic. Although diet soda has no calories, it usually contains plenty of chemicals. A daily dose of two or more sodas of any type puts you at a higher risk of health problems such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, as some research suggests diet sodas lead to sugar cravings.
Caffeine
Water has no caffeine, another major plus pointed out by Science Daily. A big cup of water instead of your mug of coffee or tea cuts out the caffeine, as well as knocks off any calories from sugar, milk, heavy cream or other high-calorie additives common in coffee shops. While Mayo Clinic points out that caffeine may temporarily suppress your appetite, make you urinate more and boost your metabolism a bit, it's not enough to count as a significant weight loss factor. It can also make you jittery and lead to dehydration.
Recommended Dose
Your recommended daily water dosage comes from a few different methods noted by Science Daily and Mayo Clinic. One method is to calculate your weight in pounds and divide it in half. The results give you the number of ounces of water you need. The replacement approach replaces the approximately 67 ounces of water you lose through sweating, breathing, urination and other bathroom breaks. You can also stick to the non-scientific, but long-touted eight glasses of water a day, which gives you 64 oz. of water. One more option is using the Institute of Medicine's advice that puts the daily dose of water for men at 101 oz. and about 74 oz. for women.
Function
Your body is about 60 percent water, which is a vital component for it to function properly. Mayo Clinic and Science Daily point out some of its prime functions, such as getting rid of waste and toxins, keeping your body temperature stable; keeping the ears, nose and throat moist; transporting nutrients; and staving off energy-zapping and potentially fatal dehydration. Water also helps dissipate bloating and constipation.
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