It’s Official! Drinking Water Helps With Weight Loss

Hurrah! No more potions, gruelling exercise, or all turnip diets.

In what could fairly be called a watershed moment, scientists have confirmed that drinking copious amounts of water before a meal helps shed the pounds.

Yup, it’s that simple. In clinical trials scientists found that drinking two half pint glasses of water before a meal leads to weight loss.

Lead author Brenda Davy said: “We found in earlier studies that middle aged and older people who drank two cups of water right before eating a meal ate between 75 and 90 fewer calories during that meal. In this recent study, we found that over the course of 12 weeks, dieters who drank water before meals, three times per day, lost about 5 pounds more than dieters who did not increase their water intake.”

“People should drink more water and less sugary, high-calorie drinks. It’s a simple way to facilitate weight management,” she added.

While drinking water to lose weight is very much common sense, Dr Davy said that there has been little scientific information on this topic. Previous studies did suggest that drinking water before meals reduces calorie intake, but according to Dr Davy this was the first randomized controlled intervention trial demonstrating that increased water consumption is an effective weight loss strategy.

The study followed 48 adults aged 55 to 75, divided into two groups. One group drank 2 cups of water prior to meals and the other did not. All of the subjects ate a low-calorie diet during the study. Over the course of 12 weeks, water drinkers lost about 15.5 pounds, while the non-water drinkers lost about 11 pounds.

Dr Davy said water may be so effective simply because it fills up the stomach and has no calories. People feel full, and eat less during the meal.

Diet colas and other artificially sweetened drinks can also help reduce calorie intake and help weight loss, Dr Davy added.

Water: Your Most Vital Nutrient (Video)

Most of us don’t drink nearly enough water, but it is so freely available that there is really no excuse for not doing so. Presently, the recommendation is to drink eight glasses of water a day – and more, if you live in a hot country. If you drink only when you are thirsty, then the chances are that your body will already be dehydrated. Not drinking enough water can bring symptoms like headaches and a lessening of your mental ability. It can make you feel tired and listless and dries out your skin and your joints. It can also be a major cause of constipation.

Hunger often gets confused with thirst, so if you are hungry have a glass of water instead of having something to eat. Your body also retains more water if you drink often and in small measures. It retains less if you drink it with tea or coffee, or sugary drinks.

Here are some ideas to help you increase your water intake:

• Start each morning with a glass of fresh water when you get up.

• During exercise, drink some water at 10 to15 minute intervals.

• Always drink water when you are drinking alcohol.

• If you are still drinking tea and coffee in cafés, ask for a glass of water to go with it.

• Have a glass of water with each meal.

• Whenever you leave the house, always carry a bottle filled with filtered water.

These are just a few ways to take some more water in your diet. I am sure that you will have your own ideas, so if it can help us with our water intake, please let us know.

Below is a short video on the benefits of your water intake.