How to Drink Water to Lose Weight: 4 Scientific Reasons it Works

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Today we’re going to be talking about how to drink water to lose weight, the scientific benefits of drinking more water, and how much you should be drinking.

BPA FREE water bottle (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3uAnZf9

The human body on average can survive 3 weeks without food but only 3 days without water.

http://www.livescience.com/32320-how-long-can-a-person-survive-without-water.html

Here’s exactly why drinking water helps us lose weight.

#1. It Increases Resting Calorie Expenditure

In a study of overweight women, increasing one’s daily water intake over a 12 month period helped them lose an average of 4.4 pounds.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18787524

This was impressive because these women made no other alterations to their lives other than increasing their water.

In fact, people’s resting energy expenditure has been shown to increase by 24–30% within 10 minutes of drinking water.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14671205
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17519319

So drinking water naturally increases resting calorie burn.

#2. People naturally eat less when they drink water.

In one study, 2 groups of dieters were separated. One group drinking water before meals and one not drinking water before meals.

The ones who drank water before they ate lost 44% more weight than the group who did not.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19661958

Another study also showed that drinking water before breakfast reduced the number of calories consumed during the meal by 13%.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18589036

#3. Water Replaces Calorie Filled Drinks

Since water is free of calories, it is generally linked with reduced calorie intake.

Studies have shown that people who drink mostly water in their day consume 200 fewer calories per day than those who do not.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16421349
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20796216

#4. Water is Muscle Fuel

Your muscles are about 80% water and not surprisingly, optimal hydration is key for lean muscle growth.

Seeing as the more lean muscle you have on your body, the higher your resting metabolism will be, this is another way water helps you lose weight.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3661116/

There are also other health benefits of proper water intake.

Mental Alertness – One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is mental exhaustion. Proper hydration has been shown to improve brain performance.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15210289
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167876001001428

Improved Digestion – High water intake ensures the, uh, bowels move smoothly.

http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v61/n5/abs/1602573a.html

Pain Prevention – Cartilage, the rubbery material coating our bones, is 85% water, and staying properly hydrated makes sure our joints move smoothly.

So getting in the right amount of water is key for being healthy as well as losing weight.

The best times to drink water for weight loss

#1. Right when you wake up – A warm glass of lemon water in the morning helps to build a healthy habit and boost the metabolism.

#2. 30 minutes before meals.

This will help you naturally eat fewer calories and consume the proper amount of food.

#3. When you are getting hungry.

Our brain often confuses being hungry for being thirsty. So next time those midday cravings hit, try a glass of water before eating a snack. You’ll be surprised how often you’re not actually hungry and the brain is simply bored.

How much to drink per day?

You’ve probably heard the saying of drink 8 cups of water a day,
However, this number is completely random. It’s a good place to start, but water requirements depend entirely on the individual.
http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/ajpregu/early/2002/08/08/ajpregu.00365.2002.full.pdf

A quick check to see how hydrated you are is to look at your urine as it should be mostly clear with a tinge of yellow and no real smell.

A strong yellow color indicates you’re not hydrated enough and need more.
Also, be aware that drinking liquids like tea do count to your daily total.

Let’s finish with a few strategies to get in more water!

Buy a big BPA Free Water Bottle - This is the easier way to keep track, and I will link a good brand in the description.

Rubber Bands - Wrap a rubber band around your bottle every time you drink a cup of water to keep track

Add some fruit – Water can get boring for some people, and adding cucumber or other fruits helps to add some flavor to your water.

Finally, if you’re still forgetting, set a reminder on your smartphone. You can do this yourself or use an app to keep track of your daily intake.