Water constitutes about 70 percent of your body weight, and every cell, muscle, organ and system in your body relies on it. While it might seem counter-intuitive to drink a lot of any beverage if you want to lose weight, sufficient water intake can increase your metabolism and curb your appetite, both of which can promote weight loss. Invest in a quality filtration system for your faucet, or a pitcher with a filter, so that you'll get all the benefits of water in its purest form.
Step 1
Drink a cup of water every hour or two, for a total of eight to 12 cups. Brenda Watson and Leonard Smith, authors of "The Fiber35 Diet," suggest drinking half your weight in ounces. For example, if you weight 160 lbs., drink 80 oz. of water per day (approximately 10 cups); if you weight 120, drink 60 oz. daily (a little more than 7 cups).
Step 2
Keep water bottles at home, work and in your car. As soon as your bottle is empty, fill it up with water. Use aluminum bottles rather than plastic ones, which have the potential to leach a chemical called BPA into beverages, according to "U.S. News and World Report."
Step 3
Drink decaffeinated green tea, which can boost your metabolism and keep your appetite at bay. After brewing, squeeze the tea bag into the tea to release almost twice the tea's flavonoids, antioxidants that can reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers, according to Dr. Steven Pratt and Kathy Matthews, authors of "SuperFoods RX."
Step 4
Make batches of homemade soup. The water content in the broth, along with the high amounts of water in vegetables, can help fill you up and prevent you from overindulging on unhealthier foods. Salt has a diuretic effect on the body, so use low- or no-sodium broth when preparing your soup.
Step 5
Substitute seltzer, mineral water or sparkling water for soda. A typical 12-oz. can of cola contains 10 to 12 tsp. of sugar and up to 200 calories. Excessive caffeine consumption also can deplete your body of water.
Step 6
Drink a glass of water before every meal to help fill you up and curb your appetite. Add plenty of ice, as your body must work to heat up the water to properly absorb it, which results in a boost in your metabolism, according to Cynthia Phillips, Shana Priwer and Pierre Manfroy, authors of "100 Ways to Supercharge Your Metabolism."
References
- "The Fiber35 Diet"; Brenda Watson and Leonard Smith; 2008
- "U.S. News and World Report": Study of Chemical in Plastic Bottles Raises Alarm
- "Green Tea --- Its Hidden Benefits"; William E. Muirhead; 2008
- "SuperFoods RX"; Dr. Steven Pratt and Kathy Matthews; 2004
- University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension Nutrition Education Program: Think What You Drink
- "100 Ways to Supercharge Your Metabolism"; Cynthia Phillips, Shana Priwer and Pierre Manfroy; 2009
Member Comments