Almost 60 percent of your body is made up of water. The essential nutrient aids in the body's digestion process, removes impurities from your system, and replenishes electrolytes lost during exercise. While water doesn't directly affect metabolism, it does have an indirect impact on it. Water consumption keeps cells properly hydrated allowing them to work more efficiently, which affects daily energy production, and therefore speeds up metabolism.
Vasopressin
The hormone vasopressin regulates the body's retention of water and is released when the body is dehydrated, causing the kidneys to conserve water. A study published in the "International Journal of Obesity" in 2008 showed that rats devoid of a vasopressin were found to be much leaner than other rats. These rats drank and urinated water continuously; their leanness an indication of fast metabolism effected through hydration.
Water and Cell Function
Research suggests that cell function is affected through hydration. Properly hydrated cells work better to help the body digest foods, transport nutrients and remove waste. These actions are all part of the metabolic process.
Effects on Thermogenesis
In 2007, scientists from University Medicine Berlin found that drinking 500 ml of water increased energy expenditure by 24 percent during the 60 minutes following consumption. Hydrated cells work better and utilize more energy, which creates more heat in the body.
Daily Water Recommendations
People's water requirements vary on a number of factors. Athletes or active individuals require more water based on their activity level. Certain medications may cause dehydration, prompting the user to need more water than normal. MayoClinic.com suggests drinking enough fluid so as not to feel thirsty. It also notes that clear or slightly yellow urine is an indication of good hydration.
References
- "International Journal of Obesity"; Selective reduction in body fat mass; M L Mathai, et al; August 2008
- "American Journal of Physiology"; Regulation of cell function by the cellular hydration state; D. Haussinger, et al; 1994
- "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism", Water Drinking Induces Thermogenesis through Osmosensitive Mechanisms; Michael Boschmann, et al; August 2007
- Mayo Clinic; Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?
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