Trying to Lose a Few Pounds? Drink More Water!
From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, it’s hard for people to stay on their normal eating schedule. Let’s face it—with all of the socializing that accompanies the end of every December; it’s pretty easy to gain a pound or two. There’s a reason you see so many new people at any gym in the first few weeks of January!
Is there anything you can do to help ward off the sluggish, run-down feeling that seems to grip a lot of us during this “eat, drink, and be merry” time of year? There is, actually—drink lots of water! Most health experts recommend drinking eight 8-oz. (about 2 liters) a day.
We’ve outlined four ways drinking water can help you control your weight. Check it out! 👇👇👇
Curbing Your Appetite 😋
Drinking water before a meal can reduce your appetite, which leads to less calorie intake and an eventual weight loss. Drinking water makes you feel fuller, and it reduces the amount you eat. We also highly suggest drinking water with meals for children and young adults. Too many kids are drinking sodas and energy drinks with their meals, increasing their sugar intake and adding far too many calories to their meal. Drinking a glass of water before reaching for something to eat can help to curb unnecessary snacking as well.
Burning Those Calories 🔥
Research indicates that drinking water can help burn more calories. A 2014 research study showed that 12 people who drank 500 mL of cold and room temperature water experienced an increase in energy expenditure. They burned between two and three percent more calories than usual in the 90 minutes after drinking the water. Water may also temporarily increase the body’s resting energy expenditure, or the number of calories burned while resting.
– – And All of the Ice, Please! ❄️
Drinking ice-cold water is better for burning calories as well; it helps boost your metabolism as your body works harder to warm the water up!
Flushing Those Toxins 🌊
Water helps the kidneys to filter toxins and waste while the organ retains essential nutrients and electrolytes. When the body is dehydrated, the kidneys retain fluid, and you are unable to remove waste as urine or feces. When waste builds up in the body, people may feel bloated, swollen, and tired. Bloating can add inches to a person’s waist. Staying hydrated is a good way to avoid retaining waste, which may add a few extra pounds.
Reducing Liquid Calorie Intake 💧
Sweetened coffee, juice, soda, tea, sports drinks, alcoholic beverages— many of the drinks people consume throughout the day are loaded with calories. We’re not suggesting you need to wipe all of those drinks from your diet, but adding three glasses of water a day to replace some of those high-calorie drinks will go a long way toward helping you lose weight.