We are all aware of the unpleasant effects of being dehydrated. Moreover, we are all equally familiar with the great relief experienced when you finally get a drink. Water is the most vital substance on the planet for human life, bar none. And it does a lot more to the human body than many realize. Hydrated people experience a range of benefits from having more supple joints to an elevated mood, and from performing sport and exercise better to sleeping more soundly at night. Truly, water does so much for us.
One of the other benefits which staying hydrated offers is helping with weight loss. Many people are aware of this benefit, but it is actually pretty ill-understood precisely how hydration achieves this. For example, water may “flush out” toxins in the body through sweating, bowel movements, and urination, but it’s not actually possible to “flush out” fat in the same way. So, how does hydration aid weight loss?
Perhaps the confusion surrounding hydration and its role in weight loss stems from the fact that it does not aid weight loss in one specific way. In fact, it does several things. Synergy Science, a company specializing in top hydration products such as hydrogen water, say that the more optimal your hydration scheme, the more likely you are to lose weight – if indeed this what you are trying to do.
Optimize Your Hydration
Nevertheless, before we get on to the many ways in which staying hydrated can help with weight loss, a word on the best way to go about staying hydrated might be worthwhile because it can be a little tricky. We all know the “eight glasses a day” rule, but this can be a little difficult to follow simply because it is actually pretty hard to remember to do this – and to keep count throughout a whole busy day.
Accordingly, the best way to stay hydrated throughout the day is to try to be continually sipping small amounts of water, perhaps by always keeping a water bottle on you. Another method is to know what the signs of dehydration are. Going to the restroom is hardly difficult to do (you have a natural alarm for that), so every time you do pay attention to the color of your urine. If its anything darker than a pale straw color, it is time to drink up.
How Hydration Helps You Lose Weight
So, with all of that out of the way, here follows the several things water does to potentially help you lose weight:
It Suppresses Appetite
It does not do this in any extreme way, but the natural appetite suppressing effects of drinking water can help you avoid eating between mealtimes.
It Increases Calorie Burning
For this benefit to work, you of course need to be exercising. However, if you stay hydrated while you do, you can expect that exercise to be much more efficient at burning through those calories.
It Removes Waste
When you are dehydrated, the body cannot “flush out” waste products as efficiently. Furthermore, when these hang around in your system for too long it can cause bloating – which can add the inches.
Water Replaces High Calorie Drinks
A glass of water – or flavored water if that’s a bit bland – can effectively replace the drinks that pile on the calories. Feeling thirsty? Reach for the water not the Coke.
Such are the impressive effects of water consumption on weight loss. By combining it with other techniques and plenty of exercise, good old H2O can be a powerful ally in the weight loss struggle.
