Drink water to lose weight
Drinking sufficient water is one of the best habits to form to lose weight. The calorie free elixir keeps several illnesses at bay.
Not getting enough hydration can cause fatigue, constipation, headaches, impose extra work on kidneys for excreting toxic by-products, cause heartburn, stomach pain, depression etc.
There is no recommendation for drinking water for a healthy human being, but for the smooth functioning of the bodily functions, the rule of the thumb is 8 x 8. That is, 8 cups of fluids (water based) with each cup being of 8 ounce measure.
Athletes, people at altitudes higher than 2500 metres or in humid hot environment including heated indoors, pregnant and lactating women need higher intake of fluids. Also, anyone exercising or spending time out under the sun will need to drink more fluids.
Water and weight loss
What about those who need to lose weight? Water and water based low calorie fluids can curb hunger or delay the feeling of hunger. Therefore, following a diet or exercise plan to lose weight should include drinking plenty of fluids. Those who are well hydrated eat lesser calories. Research done in 2003, in Germany, shows that those who drink about 17 ounce of water, increase their metabolic rate by 30 %.
How to increase water in your diet
The appetite suppressing magic is water so the more you drink in the better your chance of reducing weight.
Water or such fluids should be had half an hour before the meal. Water, coconut water, clear soups, cinnamon tea, green tea, cranberry juice, fresh water melon juice, lemon and mint juice, cucumber juice, are all effective hunger stoppers and almost calorie free.
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Apart from the water we drink we get water from juicy fruits, vegetables and curries. Vegetables like tomato, carrots, spinach, cabbage, celery – in ½ cup quantity – made into thin bland soups, unstrained also helps in a big way and gives only about 25 calories.
If your meal is dry, then keep drinking water between morsels. Avoid dry foods like fried foods, cookies, and such that are devoid of water – one more reason to avoid these.
Children who have a weight issue should be nurtured to develop a taste for such fluids when thirsty and not reach for sugary soft drinks or sugared juices.
After an outdoor activity, be it sports or shopping, one must drink liquids first to quench the thirst and not reach for solids. This way overeating can be avoided.
Start your meals whether eaten at home or outside with a big glass of tepid water.
If you are not too fond of drinking plain water, then flavour it with traditional herbs or even essences.
After you have eaten your portion of food, wash down the taste with another glass of water. This way you may not wish to go for a second helping.
A glass before your meal and a glass after your meal – a healthy habit to follow!
Parvathy R Krishnan
The author is a trained Nutrition & Dietetics expert with over 20 years’ of experience in hospitals like Vijaya Hospital in Chennai and the Armed Forces Hospital and New Mowasat Hospitals in Kuwait. She is presently a member of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India. Parvathy blogs at http://premadiet.blogspot.in/
More by this author:
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Tags: diet, Drinking water, Parvathy Radhakrishnan, Sify Health, Weight loss
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Most people suggest not to have water immediately after the meals to prevent big stomach!You seem to suggest otherwise?whats is right?
I have read article and it was quite good – except that it was recommended to drink water before and during/after the meals. This is very bad as drinking water before or after the meals would dilute the digestive acids in our body, resulting in poor digestion and hence cause severe acidic problems. I myself has experienced this problem and when I realized this mistake, I just take a fine sip of water during my meals and not more. In fact I have suggested this to many of my friends who had suffered from acidic problems – especially after a meal and they never experienced this problem again.
However, water or any fluids could be taken 1 hour before and 1 hour after meals. I also found drinking fruit juices and Colas – during and after meals to cause acidity. These are much more worst than drinking water. However, these problems are not seen in young people. But if they make it a habit then they are also likely to suffer as they get older.
Mathew
Even the great lord, had stated that the ‘thoyam’ referring to plain pure water, is a wonderfully accepted alternative, besides the other like ‘pushpam’, ‘phalam’ & patram.
The statement, ‘A glass before your meal and a glass after your meal – a healthy habit to follow!’, is in fact such an excellent adage, to reduce body weight.
When we really cannot lug any extra weight from one end of platform to the fartherest compartment, allowing our body to potentially carry the inbuilt mass, is also quite painful.
So water as alternative means to reduce, even by common man on the street is really a wonderful suggestion & tip. Once care has to be that the water has to be clean and potable!
Thanks for a useful article.