Losing weight so you can look and feel better is a form of self-love that you can practice to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Your weight can be a reflection of your health, but losing weight in a healthy manner can be a struggle. However, multiple studies have shown that drinking water can benefit your health and your weight loss journey tremendously. That is why 30–59% of US adults who try to lose weight increase their water intake!
Water can be part of a weight-loss journey that energizes you and makes you feel proud of yourself. Here are 3 interesting reasons why drinking water is the most important way to lose weight.
1. Water is a zero-calorie substance:
Since water is naturally calorie-free, it is often considered to be an integral component of a weight loss journey. A health and examination survey conducted in the US showed that people who drink mostly water have up to a 9% lower calorie intake!
Moreover, those who are trying to lose weight should also substitute high-calorie beverages with water. By drinking water instead of those sugary beverages or soft drinks, you can decrease your calorie consumption by a significant amount. Drinking water as a substitute for sugar-added beverages also reduces the level of glucose in your blood, which can provide long term benefits for your health such as reducing the chance of diabetes, heart disease and weakened immune system. Plus, drinking water before a meal can also suppress appetite and prevent overconsumption.
Given these benefits, children should also strongly be encouraged to drink a lot of water and develop a water drinking habit in order to lower their chance of obesity. A study conducted in Germany has shown that, only by installing drinking fountains and providing education on water consumption, the risk of obesity is reduced by a whopping 31%!
2. Drinking water benefits your workout routine:
Not only does it help substitute high calories beverages, water can also improve your workout routine. Generally, working out and going to the gym is recommended for those who are looking to improve their health and physique. It is also advised by physicians that people who practice energy-consuming activities should have good hydration. It should also be noted that water can help your body function better by providing water to cool the body during a workout, allow you to work out for a longer period of time, helps the body burn calories better, and prevent symptoms of dehydration.
When working out, your body releases a lot of water to prevent symptoms of heat exhaustion such as heat cramps and heatstroke. However, this process depletes your water supply and can lead to dehydration. This is why getting enough water before, during, and after exercising can prevent dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, and more. This is why it is usually believed that a body that is properly hydrated can perform at its best.
3. Drinking water helps your body burn fat:
Water is also an integral ingredient in metabolism – a process in which the body turns food into energy. Even more, drinking water helps reduce the percentage of body fat by increasing the rate at which body fat is burned in a process called lipolysis. That is why maintaining proper hydration on a daily will help you burn both old and new body fat. Without the presence of H20, the process of metabolism and burning down fat simply cannot occur! Even more so, getting enough water also helps your body eliminate waste through the urinary and digestive tract.
As evidenced by the benefits pointed out above, water can significantly improve your weight loss journey. A proper amount of water intake will help you achieve a healthy weight loss that will make you feel good about both your body and your health. After all, losing weight should be directed towards looking good for yourself and being happy with who you are. The next time you think losing weight might just be the hardest thing to do, start by grabbing a bottle or a glass of water!