All functions within the body require the presence of water, and in order for these functions to occur efficiently, the body needs to be hydrated. All chemical processes involve energy metabolism and drinking plenty of water will make us feel more energetic and boost your metabolic rate. “Drink 8 glasses of water each day” is what we hear all the time but what weight loss benefits do we get from drinking water?
Drinking water is important if you’re trying to lose weight, some studies have shown that thirst and hunger sensations are triggered together. If there is a slight dehydration your body may mistake thirst for hunger which will result in more food been eaten when what actually is needed is fluid. Most food products do contain some water, but eating more food to sustain your bodies need for fluid has the negative effect of gaining more weight as opposed to losing it.
So many new food products created today not only contain high amounts of energy from added sugar and fats, they also contain very little water. In order for manufacturers to adhere to the ever popular need for food to be stored for longer periods, the water content is being replaced. Food with high water content tends to soil much faster. Stocking our cupboards full of food that lasts longer may seem great in principle, but the trouble is that this means less water consumption from food.
We constantly rid ourselves of water through our kidneys during our visits to the bathroom, through perspiration and even through breathing. Therefore, the water we lose needs constantly to be replaced for the body to remain hydrated. The most effective way to replace water that’s been lost is simply to drink more water.
It’s not too difficult to replace caffeinated or sugary drinks with a glass or two of water, yet the benefits of doing so are enormous. We should keep a water bottle on our desks and in our cars, to make drinking water that much more convenient. A water cooler in an office or at home can also aid the desire to drink more water.
For the average person experts suggest getting at least 1.8 litres of water daily or eight 8 glasses. If you are on a diet to lose weight it is more important to consume more and keep drinking water throughout the day, unless you have any medical condition that doesn’t allow much water intake. A good guide for daily intake is to drink 30 millilitres of water for every1 kilogram of body weight. A 90 kilogram person should be drinking around 2 litres (12.5 cups) of water in order the gain the benefits of increased energy and metabolism.
If exercising is part of a weight loss program a bit more water should be included to account for water loss from sweating. Drinking water before, during and after exercise will keep energy levels high and help recovery after training. It is highly recommend that during exercise you carry with you a bottle of water and to keep drinking during your workout.
One of the functions of the liver is the metabolising of fat however without sufficient water for the kidneys to function properly; the liver gets called upon to do some of the work the kidneys should be doing alone. The liver can then not work as efficiently as it should and so the results in more fat being stored in the body and thus increased weight.
