Your body is composed of 60 percent water, so it is a pretty big deal when it comes to your health. Many processes require water, and you do lose it daily. Replacing the water keeps those functions working properly. Water can also play a role in your goal to lose weight. Talk to your doctor about your fitness goals before beginning a diet and exercise program.
Weight Loss
Excess fat is like a bank account, and the food you eat is the cash you keep on hand. When you run out of cash, you must go to the bank. When you eat fewer calories than the body needs, it burns stored fat. Weight loss is the direct result of the body breaking down stored fat for energy. This is a biochemical process. Water is part of maintaining the body systems and may be a minor player in the chemicals needed for weight loss. However, you can lose weight without drinking more water. The role water plays is less about weight loss and more about your health. However, water can be a tool that helps you fulfill your part of the weight-loss bargain.
Water Takes Up Space
Water takes up space but does not add to your daily calorie count. There is a sensor in your stomach that signals when you are full. By drinking water before and during a meal, you trigger the sensor faster and eat less. If you are cutting portion sizes to reduce calories, drinking water will help satisfy your hunger even though you are putting less food in your stomach.
Being Hungry
Dr. Melina Jampolis, in an article for CNN Health, points out a fundamental flaw in the body's hunger sensor. When your body needs water, you may actually think you are hungry. Dr. Jampolis states this is because the body has difficulty telling the difference between hunger and thirst. Drinking the right amount of water each day may cut back on the hunger pains.
How to Make Water Work for You
A 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Department of Human Nutrition proves that drinking water before you eat does help you lose weight. As long as you eat healthy foods and lower calories, the pounds will come off. Water just helps control the hunger by filling up your stomach. The benefits of drinking water go way beyond weight loss. Water helps regulate your body temperature, lubricates tissue and aids in digestion. To be healthy, drink eight glasses of water a day. To lose weight, drink some of that water before and during a meal.
References
- CNN Health; Can Drinking Lots of Water Help You Lose Weight?; Dr. Melina Jampolis; 2009
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Water: Meeting Your Daily Fluid Needs; 2011
- Mayo Clinic: Nutrition and Healthy Eating; Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?; 2010
- Virginia Tech Department of Human Nutrition; Water Consumption Increases Weight Loss During a Hypocaloric Diet Intervention In Middle-Aged and Older Adults; E.A. Dennis , A.L. Dengo , D.L. Comber, K.D. Flack , J. Savla , K.P. Davy, B.M. Davy; 2009
Member Comments