Water is indeed beneficial for health, including for those of you who crave the ideal body weight . Once considered a myth, some studies have shown that drinking water is effective in helping you lose weight.
How to drink water to lose weight
Drinking water can help you lose weight in the following ways.
1. Increase calorie burn
Water can apparently increase resting energy expenditure , aka the number of calories your body burns. This has been discussed in an old study of 173 obese menopausal women by Stookey and colleagues in 2008.
The study participants were asked to increase their water intake by at least one liter per day for 12 months. Water intake is believed to increase the burning of calories so that you lose weight. As a result, their weight loss increased by 2 kg.
Several similar studies also found the same thing. Drinking 1 – 1.5 liters of water every day for several weeks can actually reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI) , waist circumference, and body fat.
2. Controls hunger
Hunger sometimes arises not because you haven’t eaten, but because of a condition called false hunger . False hunger can arise from stress, the influence of being with friends, nervousness, or the most common causes such as dehydration.
This is where the experts think that you can lose weight by drinking water. A 2015 study in Oxford showed that adults who drank 500 mL of water 30 minutes before eating tended to eat less.
According to the study, drinking water before eating can fill your stomach without increasing your calorie intake . In this way, you will eat less and therefore lose weight slowly.
3. Reduce calorie intake
Water has absolutely no calories. So, no matter how much water you drink, your calorie intake and weight will not increase. On the other hand, this habit can actually help you reduce your calorie intake.
With so many sugary drinks out there, water is also a good choice for weight loss. Imagine, the number of calories from a glass of iced coffee with cream alone can reach 100-500 kcal.
In addition, you can also use plain water to make a variety of low-calorie drinks such as infused water . Just add slices of your favorite fruit and this drink will be a refreshing tummy tuck.
How to lose weight by drinking water
Interested in trying to lose weight by drinking water? Try some of the following tips.
1. Prioritize drinking water
People who are diligent in drinking water will naturally reduce their calorie intake as well. So, from now on, try to make water as your main drink. Don’t forget to do the same when you eat at a restaurant.
2. Drink first when hungry
When you are hungry, attempt drinking a glass of water. Then, do the activity for a while and feel if you are still hungry or this is just fake hunger. In addition to helping meet the body’s fluid needs , this method is also effective for maintaining weight.
3. Drink cold water
An old study showed that resting energy expenditure can be increased by 25% after drinking cold water. In other words, the body burns more calories. This is because the body needs more energy to warm the cold water.
4. Adjust to your needs
You don’t necessarily have to drink eight glasses of water per day . This number can be more or less, depending on various factors. Everyone’s water needs can be influenced by body conditions, physical activity, weather, and various other things.
Drinking water can indeed help you lose weight in several ways. Even so, you should drink enough water when you feel thirsty.
Do not drink too much water, especially in a fast time. The reason, drinking water in large quantities can harm your body. The key to healthy weight loss remains with physical activity and the right foods.