Water Everyday Keeps the FAT AWAY!
Water…the Only True “Magic Potion” for Permanent Weight Loss
As simple as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important motivator in losing weight and keeping it off. Most of us take it for granted. We may or may not get in our required 8 glasses every day, but water may be the only true “magic potion” for permanent weight loss.
The Positive Effects of Water in Weight Loss
Water actually suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat quicker. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to actually increase, and an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. Don’t you want to know why?
The kidneys can’t function properly without enough water. When they don’t work to their capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into useable energy for your body. However, if the liver has to do some of the kidney’s work, it surely can’t operate at full throttle. Resulting in the liver metabolizing less fat, which means more fat remains in the body and weight loss stops.
Drinking enough water is actually the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside of the cells). This can show up as swollen hands, feet and legs. Diuretics offer a temporary solution and not a great one. They force out the stored water, along with essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives this as a threat and will quickly replace the lost water at the first opportunity, therefore the condition quickly returns. The best way to overcome the water retention problem is to give your body what it needs – plenty of water. Only then, will the stored water actually be released. If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt could be to blame. Your body tolerates sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat, the more water your body will retain to try and dilute it. Getting rid of excess salt is very easy – just drink more water. As it’s forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium.
Did you know that an overweight person actually needs more water than a thin one? Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we already know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it makes sense that the overweight person would need more water.
Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that can sometimes follow weight loss. Shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.
Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body tends to have a lot more waste to get rid of, all of the metabolized fat must be shed. Again, enough water will help flush the waste out of the body.
Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Resulting in uncomfortable constipation. However, usually as soon as a person drinks enough water, normal bowel functions will return.
As you can see water does some pretty remarkable things for our body, especially for weight loss.
So, how much water is enough?
On average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day. That is about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 excess pounds of weight. The amount of water you drink should also be increased if you exercise heavily or if the weather is hot and/or dry.
Water should preferably be cold. It’s absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. Some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. When the body gets enough water, that it needs, to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the “breakthrough point”. What is the breakthrough point? Endocrine-gland function improves. Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost. More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat. Natural thirst returns. There is a loss of hunger almost immediately.
If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To reverse the situation, you will have to go back and force another breakthrough. Drink your water people.
Source: Donald S. Robertson, M.D., M.Sc