Water: A Natural Weight Loss Tool: Part I

As incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take it for granted, water may be the true “magic potion” for permanent weight loss.

Why Water? 
Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps your body metabolize stored fat. Without enough water, your kidneys can’t function properly. When the kidneys do not operate at capacity, some of their workloads are then dumped into the liver. One of the liver’s primary functions is metabolizing stored fat into usable energy for the body. If your liver has to do the extra work of your kidneys, it can’t operate at full throttle. As a result, the liver metabolizes less fat, and more fat remains stored in the body leading to weight gain. 

Retaining Water
Most food is served overly salted. If water retention is an issue for you, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium at a certain concentration level. The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute the salt. Too much salt can create fluid retention in your body. Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When your body is not getting enough water, it perceives this deficit as a threat to survival and begins to hold onto water. Water is then stored outside the cells showing up as swollen feet, legs, and hands.

Diuretics offer a temporary solution to excess water retention, forcing out stored water and essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives this as a threat and will replace the lost water as quickly as possible. Thus, water retention quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs – plenty of water. 

How Much Water Do You Need?
How much water should you drink in a day? On average, you should drink eight 8-ounce glasses daily, which equals about 2 quarts of water. However, your body might need more depending on your weight. Add one additional 8-ounce glass of water per 25 pounds of excess weight. Check out this handy calculator to see how much your body needs.

Drink Up,
Jenny