Water is one of the necessities of life and good health. Drinking proper quantity of water is vital for getting rid of dreadful diseases. Find out more about how it helps you in your quest to lose weight.
Right from the time you were a child, you have always been told to drink enough water. Water comprises almost 75 percent of the human body and must be consumed in adequate amounts to satisfy your body's basic requirements. Water also plays an important role in facilitating weight loss. Almost all diet plans stress on consuming adequate amounts of water. Read on and know the benefits drinking water in your weight loss regime.
Relationship between water and weight loss
When you start a diet and exercise plan, the initial weight you lose is because of water loss from your body. Therefore, it becomes important to replenish the fluids lost otherwise you will become dehydrated.
- Water is an important component in the calorie-burning process. Dehydration reduces the amount of water available and thereby slows down your metabolism. This in turn decreases the number of fat molecules being burnt.
- Dehydration directly affects your exercise program. Lack of water equals reduced volume of blood in your body. This decreases the supply of oxygen and other nutrients to your muscles, causing you to feel tired quickly and unable to exercise properly.
- When you burn fat, some amount of toxins is also produced. An adequate supply of water is necessary to eliminate these toxins from the body.
- Water is the best internal lubricant for your joints and muscles. Sufficient lubrication can significantly reduce stiff joints and muscle soreness during your exercise routine.
Water also helps you stick to a diet plan. If you drink a glass of water while eating a meal, you can consume less food and still feel satisfied. The water makes you feel fuller and then sends a signal to your brain to stop eating.
Amount of water to consume
Every individual has different water needs. The amount of water your body requires depends on your weight and environmental factors like temperature and humidity. Your water requirements can also vary depending on your level of physical activity and your diet. If you play sports or your job requires you to travel, you will require more water than if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. Similarly, if your diet contains many water-rich foods, you need to drink less water.
Thirst is a good indicator of how much water you need to drink. When your body is running low on water, the thirst receptors will send signals to your brain to tell you to drink some water. The colour of your urine can also be an indicator of the water levels in your body. If you are getting enough water, your urine will be clear or pale yellow in colour. If your urine is dark yellow or brown and you are not taking any medication to cause this colour, it may be a sign of dehydration.
Water from food
If you eat foods high in water content, it goes a long way towards weight loss. These foods not only satisfy your hunger, but also do not add to the fat content of your body. On an average, food should provide around 20 percent of your body's water requirement if you are looking to lose weight. Vegetables like cabbage and broccoli and fruits like watermelon have a water content of more than 90 percent. Milk, juices, curd, etc. are composed of around 85 percent water. The balance content of these foods is vitamins and essential minerals along with a very small amount of fat.
Excessive water consumption
Generally, any excess water you consume is excreted out of your body. You will not feel any ill effects apart from having to urinate more often. Occasionally though, consuming too much water can result in a condition known as water intoxication. In this condition, the excessive water consumed dilutes the natural level of electrolytes like potassium and magnesium in your blood.
This reduced level of electrolytes in blood affects normal functioning of your body's organs like heart, brain, etc. In extreme cases, this can lead to death. Water intoxication is extremely rare though. On the other hand water therapy is also an illustrious option these days which helps to cope with many diseases
Water is the best drink you can give your body. If you drink enough water, you not only stay healthy but also speed up your weight loss.
How much water do you drink each day? Do you believe that drinking water is directly related to weight loss? What are the other advantages of drinking water? To share your tips, views, and experiences, click here.
