.: Weight Loss Wars - Is Drinking Enough Water the Secret Weapon?


Could drinking water be your key to weight loss? Water is a basic building block of life. We can't live without it, yet many of us go through the day without drinking enough of it, leaving us partially dehydrated. But drinking water is great for your body and can be a key weapon in the war to lose weight
Water: It's Everywhere
Water is part of every cell in the body and over half your body is made up of it. Cells depend on it to more nutrients in and out of the bloodstream, the blood depends on it for volume and our kidneys use it to filter out toxins from the body. Without water, the body will begin to shut down. A person can survive for weeks without food, living off the fat stores, but without water, your body goes haywire in just a few days.
Water: Can Help You Lose Weight
A lack of water in our bodies is called dehydration. If you wait until you are thirsty to drink, you've waited to long. Not drinking enough water can cause you to feel lightheaded or nauseous. Sometimes we even mistake hunger for thirst, eating something - usually something bad for us, when a simple drink of water would have had us feeling much better.
By keeping you body optimally hydrated, you can prevent these feelings of hunger. If you drink enough water, your mind will be able to differentiate between signs of fake hunger and real hunger. Filling yourself up with water will also help prevent overeating, since some of your "empty" space will be filled with calorie free water. Your brain and stomach will be able to work better together, communicating about when you're really full, so you won't stumble into the trap of overeating - and gaining needless weight.
How Much Water is Needed?
What is the proper amount of water to drink? The old guideline used to be eight glasses of water a day for the average person. However if you are larger than the average person, or if you are more active, you may need more water than this. The average female should shoot for 10 glasses of water a day, though most of us can drink even more. A good rule of thumb is to focus on replacing what you've lost from urinating or sweating. Replace cup for cup to meet your basic needs but drink even more to get the weight loss benefits of water. Sparkling water or adding a squeeze of lemon can also make plain water more interesting.
Can drinking water help you lose weight? Absolutely. Just focus on drinking plenty of it to help hydrate your body and control food cravings. Water truly does your body good.
Andrea Stein is the founder of HotMamaSecrets.com, a beauty, health and wellness resource for moms. Discover how to unleash your Inner HotMama today.