Water -- nature's leading zero-calorie beverage -- is found everywhere on Earth, as well as throughout the human body. No universal or set recommendation for daily water intake exists, however, but there is no denying the many advantages of drinking an adequate amount. While some individuals need more than others, people trying to lose weight should make drinking water a frequent habit.
Significance of Water
The body of the average human is about 60 percent water, explains MayoClinic.com. This high percentage makes water a significant part of your body and an important factor in how well it functions. Water contributes to various crucial processes in your body, such as providing moisture where needed, removing toxins from organs, flushing out waste and transporting nutrients to cells. Dehydration occurs when your body does not have all of the water it needs. Typically a result of not drinking enough water, the state causes you to lose energy and your body to become unable to function properly.
Water and Weight Loss
Drinking an appropriate amount of water can not only help you to lose weight, but also maintains your lower weight after you succeed in reaching your goal. Water contributes to weight loss because it helps you feel full, which reduces your likelihood of consuming too much food. Drinking plenty of the fluid discourages your kidneys from retaining water, as well, a situation that occurs when the kidneys try to conserve water in order to avoid dehydration. This can cause water retention and increased weight.
Recommended Amount
Health care professionals often advise adults to drink no less than eight standard glasses of water every day. One glass contains about 8 oz. of water, and some health care providers recommend drinking as much as 10 glasses daily. An added benefit of drinking water occurs when you replace other beverages with the fluid. Since pure water contains no calories, it is an excellent substitute for higher-calorie drinks, particularly when you are attempting to slim down. If drinking regular water is not satisfying for you, consuming carbonated seltzer water or adding a slice of lemon or lime can improve the attractiveness of water to some people. Both provide an extra kick without increasing the calorie count by much or at all.
Support for Drinking Water to Lose Weight
Consuming two standard glasses of water before every meal helps some dieters lose as much as 5 lb. more than people who do not drink the same amount of water before meals, explains Discovery News. In addition, the habit of drinking 16 oz. of water before meals can help keep that weight off one year later compared to dieters who do not drink as much water before meals. These results occurred when dieters ages 55 to 75 followed a meal plan supplying 1,200 to 1,500 calories daily. Although further research is necessary, they support the beneficial nature of water for people who want to lose weight.
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