Fight Fat by Drinking Water
For years, doctors have been advising us to drink eight
eight-ounce glasses of water every day.
Our environment sucks water from us daily. Homes and offices
have radiant or forced-air heating in the winter and low-humidity
air conditioning in the summer. All the time we’re sitting and
working in these rooms, we usually drink less water than we
lose.
It takes very little fluid loss - only 1 to 2 percent of our
body’s total water content - to cause dehydration. Each day we lose
at least two cups of water through just breathing. Two more cups of
water are lost through perspiration and six more cups through
urination and elimination processes. That’s ten cups a day!
There are other things that contribute to water loss. Drinking
coffee and other beverages that contain caffeine can contribute
since these beverages act as diuretics. Additional moisture
evaporates as we sweat when exercising or doing housework.
We do take in some liquid in our food; sometimes quite a
substantial amount. You will usually get about 3 1/2 cups of fluid
from what you eat during the day. Your body also generates about 1/2
a cup of fluid as part of your metabolic processes.
Since we lose ten cups of water a day and only get four cups from
food and metabolism, it is obvious that we need to drink at least
six cups per day just to equal it out. You’re better off if you can
drink the recommended eight glasses of water.
All of the liquid that you drink doesn’t have to be in the form
of water. You can drink skim milk, unsweetened juices or other
non-caffeinated beverages.
Heat, exercise and diet can all make a difference as to how much
liquid your body actually needs. You’ll need to take in more fluids
if you eat potato chips for a snack rather than an orange.
Getting your full quota of liquids does more than conserve the
energy your body uses. It also burns fat. Added benefits are the
increased ability for your body to fight tension and fatigue.
Sometimes we think we are hungry when we are really thirsty.
That’s when we are more likely to eat high-fat snacks. A good way to
tell whether you are hungry or thirsty is to drink a glass of
ice-cold water when you feel hungry. Wait a few minutes to see if
your “hunger pangs” have been satisfied.
Drinking water has been shown to eliminate food cravings and
reduce appetite. When you drink plenty of liquids throughout the
day, it takes up space in your stomach, helps you feel full and
reduces your desire to eat.
Some studies indicate that increased water intake may help reduce
fat deposits by flushing them out of your system. It may also help
to drink colder beverages rather than hot because your body needs
more heat energy to warm it to body temperature.
Your body needs water for more than just burning fat. It also
flushes other impurities from your body and keeps your brain
hydrated for better concentration.
You can tell if your body is dehydrated. Take a breath in through
your nose and see if you feel a slight tightness of your nasal
passages. If you do, grab that water bottle and take in some water.
Add some lemon juice, orange juice or peppermint flavoring to give
yourself some variety.
Using sweeteners and sugar may stimulate your appetite rather
than depressing it. And drinking colas with caffeine and sugar can
really hurt your diet.
Your body needs water so give it all it needs - and more. Hydrate
your body to burn excess fat and you’ll be on your way to weight
loss success. |