DID YOU KNOW that drinking water can aid in weight loss?
This could be one of the reasons why many dieticians and celebrities insist on drinking water and staying hydrated?
However, water has the ability to affect many organs and systems of your body, including skin, joints, brain, heart, kidney, and immune system.
Before diving into how water helps in weight loss and how it supports different organs, let’s first assess whether you are drinking enough water or are dehydrated.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE DEHYDRATED?
• Is your urine dark in color? Ideally, urine should be pale yellow.
Dark urine is most commonly due to dehydration.
OTHER SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION INCLUDE:
• fatigue
• weakness
• dry skin
• cracked lips
• headaches
• constipation
• decreased urination
• low blood pressure
• confusion
• dizziness
• poor concentration
All the above are some symptoms that we might not necessarily associate with dehydration.
Let’s peek into the biggest reasons that will make you sip water more often.
WHY DRINK WATER THROUGHOUT THE DAY:
AIDS IN WEIGHT LOSS:
• Our body can mistake thirst for hunger. So before reaching out for a snack or a sweet beverage, people who drink a glass of water in such a situation say that they end up not eating the snack after all.
TRY IT OUT WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE HAVING A SNACK THE NEXT TIME.
• Additionally, water is needed to burn off stored fats and the fat from the food and drinks we consume.
• Water also increases metabolism, which means you can burn more calories while sitting and during activity.
• BIG ALERT! Inadequate hydration can result in sugar cravings. Combat such calorie-demanding urges with water that has ZERO CALORIES.
HELPS IN FOCUSING AND MOOD MAINTENANCE:
• Studies suggest that even mild dehydration may inhibit the ability to focus, and impair mood. Grumpiness can kick in if one is dehydrated. A glass of water may be all you need next time you feel irritated without any particular reason.
PUMPS UP ENERGY LEVEL:
• Inadequate hydration hinders the flow of nutrients into our cells and hampers the ability of our cells to produce energy. Next time fatigue kicks in, a glass of water can be the solution.
SKIN HEALTH
• Chronic dehydration can lead to dry and wrinkled skin. Staying hydrated can help out here.
HEALTHY JOINTS:
• Joint cartilage is made up of 80% water. Water cushions and lubricate joints. Joint health is vital as we age. No one wants mobility issues with age.
KIDNEY STONE PREVENTION:
• Just like water flushes the toilet in our house, water inside the body helps the kidneys remove waste from the blood. Water also dilutes the substances in urine that lead to stones. So, water may prevent the formation of kidney stones.
Indeed, water considerably holds much more power in achieving overall good health than one can think of.
Institute of Medicine and the European Food Safety Authority recommend 2–2.7 liters of water per day for an adult woman and 2.5–3.7 liters of water per day for adult men.
Time to set some water goals!
Keep a bottle handy. On your work table, in your vehicle, or in your bag. The visual reminder helps.
Spread your water intake throughout the day and keep yourself hydrated.