Reasons to consume more water
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Most of us don’t drink enough water but what a lot of people don’t know is that being dehydrated can actually slow weight loss and cause a decrease in essential organs’ ability to function properly. Some people don’t enjoy drinking water. Some people say that they don’t like that it makes them visit the bathroom so often However, the reasons to drink more water most certainly outweigh any excuses that these people can come up with.
- There has been some evidence that drinking cold water actually helps to increase your metabolism. This is because your body must work to heat the water to a temperature that it is able to metabolize.
- Being hydrated can help to maintain proper kidney function - allowing the liver to burn fat more efficiently.
- Being fully hydrated helps to increase your energy levels.
- Replacing sugary drinks such as sodas and juice with water means that you are also replacing all of those calories with zero calories! That means that by replacing just one 110-calorie soda with water per day for a month would equal 3,300 calories. Thats almost a pound just for replacing one sugary drink with water a day. If you consume 3 sodas per day, that would equal 2.83 lbs. per month - with such a simple switch!
- People who are fully hydrated tend to eat less because the extra water helps to create a satisfied feeling.
- When you aren’t fully hydrated, your body starts to store what little water it gets - everywhere! This causes bloating and excess weight that you would not otherwise hold onto.
How much water should you drink? Most people do well with 8 glasses of water a day (2 quarts). This sounds like a lot at first, but as your body adjusts you will find that you are able to drink more with less frequent bathroom breaks. Drink the water throughout the day and not all at once. Drinking it all at once will not give your body enough of a chance to fully process the water.
Here are some helpful tips for getting the water that you need:
- For a special treat, add a slice of lemon, lime, apple, or cucumber to your water.
- If you prefer cool water to warm (or are simply trying to burn a few more calories), keep bottles of water in your refridgerator so that you always have cool water at hand.
- Some people also find that drinking their water from a special glass (such as a goblet) helps to ensure that they get enough water throughout the day.
- Before consuming a meal or snack, drink a glass of water. This will help you to feel fuller faster.
- Can’t stand drinking plain water? Try herbal tea. Iced is even better!
Keep in mind that when you first begin to consume more water, you will also naturally begin to visit the restroom more often. This inconvenience is actually quite temporary and will eventually start to decline as your body becomes accustomed to being fully hydrated. Until then, plan ahead for frequent restroom visits.