Water is the main component in the human body. It helps flush toxins out of the body, transports oxygen and nutrients to cells and cushions the joints. Drinking eight to nine 8 oz. cups of water each day can help hydrate your body and also help fill you up and prevent you from overeating. Drinking very cold water can also boost your metabolism, as your body must work to heat up the water for maximum absorption, according to Fitz Koehler and Rachel Laferriere, authors of "365 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism."
Step 1
Drink a tall glass of water before meals and snacks to help curb your appetite.
Step 2
Keep bottled water at home, work and in your car. Place a bottle of water on your nightstand so that if you wake up during the night it's handy.
Step 3
Take a sip of water every time you pass the water fountain at work. A swallow here and there can add up over the course of the day.
Step 4
Drink water during and after exercise to replace the water you lose through perspiration. Take a bottle with you to the gym, on walks and when bicycling. Try to drink 20 to 40 ounces of water for each hour you exercise, depending on how much you sweat, says Patrick Hafner, author of "The Ounces Countdown Weight Loss Approach."
Step 5
Toss the soda out of your fridge and replace it with mineral water or cans of seltzer or carbonated water.
Step 6
Incorporate homemade soup into your diet. Water obtained from foods hydrates your body just as much as the water you drink. "Soup is an excellent way to increase your fluid intake and obtain additional nutrients," says Norene Gilletz, author of "Healthy Helpings." Eating healthy, low-fat soups filled with plenty of fresh vegetables also can fill you up and keep cravings at bay.
Step 7
Consume foods that contain high amounts of water, including fruit, which contains 70 percent to 95 percent water, as well as fish, which contains approximately 75 percent water, according to Gilletz.
Tips and Warnings
- Decrease or eliminate your intake of salty foods, caffeine and alcohol, which can have a dehydrating effect.
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