Scientists surveyed 173 pre-menopausal, overweight women, and found that increased water intake caused significant weight loss independent of other factors. That means, no matter what other diets they were on, or their level of physical activity, the simple act of drinking water made a difference. On average, those who drank more than 1 liter of water a day lost 5 pounds over a year. (Obesity, Nov. 2008)
Another study examined the data of 4,755 people from 1999 to 2001, and found that people who reported drinking water regularly also consumed 194 fewer calories than those who didn’t. (Obesity, Dec. 2005)
That’s great news. With all the effort that goes into beginning a new diet, it’s nice to know that a small change can make a difference.
But what if you don’t like plain water? Well, there are many flavored waters on the market. Just be sure to check the labels for sweeteners. Also, remember that sparkling water can be substituted for cola if you crave that effervescence. But if you want to save some dough…
Here’s some tips and ideas to try at home:
- Keep in mind that many “bottled” waters are just filtered tap water. There are many options available now, from filters that hook up to the faucet, to special pitchers. Often these are a lot more inexpensive in the long run, versus buying gallon after gallon at the grocers. (For example, I bought a Brita pitcher for only 15$, the filters are good for 2 months at 2 gallons per day, and I don’t taste that chlorine from my tap anymore: )
- Cucumber Spa Water: Per one pitcher of water- add one washed, peeled cucumber cut into 1/4 inch slices and one clean lemon, also cut into 1/4 inch slices, but with seeds removed. The longer you allow the ingredients to soak, the more flavor the water will have.
- Try adding a fresh squeeze of lime or lemon, or use a splash of pure bottled lemon or lime juice.
- Make your own Naturally-Flavored Fruit Water: Add thin slices of fresh strawberries or crush a handful blueberries, blackberries, (any berry you like), add to pitcher, chill for 1-2 hours, and then strain.
- Try fresh herbs. Add a few basil leaves and a splash of lemon to a pitcher of water, or boil some ginger then chill for a very zingy drink.
- Try chilled unsweetened herbal teas. For example: Brew a pitcher of green tea and before setting it in the fridge to cool, add a few bags of peppermint tea. Remove the bags once its chilled (unless you like it super-minty). The combination is not only slightly sweet sans sugar, but also very refreshing. Rose hibiscus is also a naturally sweet tea and is caffeine free.
Download Sports Drinks Vs Water Free Report
Sources:
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Nov;16(11):2481-8. Epub 2008 Sep 11
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18787524
http://ourohio.org/index.php?page=drink-water-to-lose-weight
Tomorrow we look at processed foods: What are processed foods?
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Yikes! I cannot allow my wife to read this. She is constantly telling me to drink water.
I am doomed if she finds out.
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What if you don’t like water? Then maybe you just want to die. Seriously, water is life right? I’m a little bit disappointed in scientists for these. We’ve been here developing everything and making things better and preferable. And we’ve come to flavoring water. Pity. Can’t we just drink that fresh cool water and be grateful for this basic and most important raw ingredient to life?
I do enjoy a tall glass of cool refreshing water everyday.
It’s good to see these studies done on water and weight loss and showed good results. It’s good to know this as many people mistake hunger for thirst. In other words, when you’re thisrty, you can feel hungry as well. So drinking plenty of good water will reduce this false hunger. And drink a quality water such as mineral water as well as it tastes so much better and is better for you (tap water with high chorine can cause irritability and headaches if you’re sensitive), and besides, hydration is good for the skin to reduce wrinkles and signs of skin agian. So if you use a good anti aging cream with good lifestyle choices, your results are much better.
Increased water consumption can help you control weight. Water will also keep your body systems, including metabolism and digestion, working properly and give you the energy necessary for exercise.