Does Water Cause You To Lose Weight?

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We know that being hydrated is a good idea, but where did the recommendation for 8 glasses of water come from?
How much water do we really need and does it affect your weight?

Drinking water causes your to burn more calories for about an hour. We can be strategic and us this data, but let's look at some more research first.

A study had individuals drink 2 glasses (1/2 litre) of water before a meal and they burned 24% more calories despite being completely inactive during the time evaluated. Participants lost 2-5 pounds per month over the several months they were observed.

Another study had participants either drink 1 glass of water before a meal or no water. Those who drank the water ate 24% less calories at their meal and were completely satisfied as compared to the control group who ate more.

A very exciting study out of Germany published in April 2023 in the Journal Children evaluated what happened when some secondary schools had water fountains installed. In addition to the presence of the fountains, the children were educated as to the importance of drinking water. The control group consisted of several other secondary schools that didn't have the fountains installed and similarly received no pro-water education.

The results were rather outstanding. The children, followed for a year, drank, on average an extra 1.1 glasses of water AND their obesity risk dropped 31%! 

It turns out the 8 glasses of water recommendation stems from a 1945 dietary paper that included not only how many water an individual drank but also the fact that food contains water. Watermelon is  more than 90% water. Many fruits and vegetables also contain high percentages of water and even animal protein contains some. Therefore, the recommendations were misunderstood to mean ONLY water consumption as a beverage instead of including food sources

Where does that leave us? The sweet spot seems to be about 5 1/2 glasses of water with the rest coming from a healthy diet.

Those who need more water include the following:
If you suffer from UTIs (urinary tract infections)
Constipation
Kidney stones or cysts - these individuals are often recommended to consume up to 12 glasses.
A pregnant or nursing woman
Diarrhea.

If you're having trouble losing weight, feel free to reach out for a consultation.
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