We’ve all heard water works for weight loss. Recently a researcher at Virginia Tech decided to find out if water really does help people lose weight. She designed a study that involved 48 adults between age 55 and 75 and they were divided into two groups. One group drank two cups of water before meals and the other group didn’t. All of the people participating ate a low-calorie meal plan during the study.
After 12 weeks, water-drinking dieters lost a total of 15.5 pounds, while the non-water-drinking dieters lost a total of 11 pounds. That’s a 30% increase in weight loss, just from drinking more water.
Before beginning the study, the participants drank on average only 1 ½ cups total of water per day. So they upped their water intake considerably during the three months. According to the researcher, not only were those who drank water before meals more successful after the 12 weeks, but they also largely kept the weight off for a full year after the completion of the weight loss study.
Water works if you are trying to lose weight. It can help you feel fuller, but also improves many other functions your body performs each and every day.
Water Boosts Your Energy
If you’re feeling tired and tanked, try a pick-me-up with water. Dehydration can make you feel fatigued. The reason? Water helps your blood flow better to deliver oxygen and other vital nutrients to your body cells. If you’re nice and hydrated, your heart won’t have to work as hard to push blood throughout your body as when you are dehydrated.
Lower Stress with Water
Your brain tissue contains 70 to 80% water. If you’re dehydrated, your body and along with your mind will be taxed.
If you are thirsty, your hydration cues are already kicking in, which means your body has already perceived that its water tank needs filling.
Water Decreases Kidney Stones
Kidney stones in both children and adults are becoming increasingly common, and drinking water can help.
Water actually dilutes the salts and minerals in your urine that fuse to form the solid, painful crystals known as kidney stones.
Stay Regular, Drink Water
Water is essential to good digestion, right alongside fiber intake. Waste particles dissolve better with water, and can pass more smoothly through your digestive tract. When you are dehydrated, your body reabsorbs more of the water, leaving your colon drier which can make it harder to pass waste.
Trim and Tone Muscles with Water
Drinking water helps avert muscle cramping and helps to lubricate the joints in the body. As it turns out, when you stay hydrated, you can actually exercise longer and tougher without ‘hitting a wall’ of fatigue.
Nurture Your Skin
When you are dehydrated, fine lines, wrinkles and even puffiness can rear their ugly head. Water helps flush toxins out of skin, improves circulation, and ensures that your skin remains supple.
Skin cells drink water too, and they plump up a bit, which can help your skin look younger.
Are You Guzzling Enough?
In general, most nutritionists recommend an 8-8 rule, to drink 8 glasses filled with 8oz of water each day. It’s important to remember that if you sweat a lot or exercise heavily that you may need more, and if you drink other beverages during the day, you may need less than that.
