Did you know that something as simple and easy as staying hydrated can help you lose weight? It’s true! Whether you’re trying to lose some weight or not, drinking water is a crucial part of your health. Water is the foundation of life on Earth and you can’t survive more than a few days without it. Keep reading to learn more about why water is important for weight loss specifically.
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How can water help me lose weight?
Appetite suppressant
Drinking water helps your stomach feel full which tells your brain you don’t need to eat as much. Ergo, if you drink more water, you shouldn’t feel as hungry throughout the day. This varies from person to person, but studies have shown that people often mistake thirst for hunger. Naturally, eating less and drinking more water can put you on the fast track to losing unwanted weight.
Increased Calorie Burning
A well-hydrated body may burn more calories, according to various studies. A calorie is just a unit of energy, and people in a 2014 study published by PubMed who drank 500 mL of water experienced an increase in energy expenditure compared to a control group. The more calories you burn, the likelier you are to create a calorie deficit which is the ultimate key to losing weight.
Waste Removal
When you’re dehydrated, you can’t properly remove waste from your body. In layman’s terms, water helps you poop and pee. But it does even more than that, too. Water helps your kidneys filter toxins and waste and helps other organs retain nutrients and electrolytes. All of this combines to keep your body running smoothly and removes additional hurdles in your weight loss journey.
Fat Burning
A dehydrated body cannot properly metabolize stored fat or carbs. If you don’t drink enough water, your metabolism will slow down. As you may know, your metabolism is your body’s natural way of burning calories and it does so by targeting stored energy. Without a properly functioning metabolism, weight loss goes from difficult to nearly impossible.
Maximizes Workouts
Exercise is essential in any weight loss plan, and staying hydrated helps to maximize your workout. Water helps muscles, connective tissues, and joints to move correctly. It also helps the lungs, heart, and other organs to work effectively as they ramp up activity during exercise. You should always hydrate before, during, and after your workout to replenish your body with the fluids lost through sweat.