Health experts have explained the importance of drinking plenty of water for weight loss.
When it comes to slimming, there is no shortage of advice and diet plans that claim to be the ultimate solution. While they can differ, all will usually advise eating a calorie deficit to consume less energy than you burn to shed pounds.
Regular exercise is also a must if you want to see results. But if you want to speed things up, then drinking more water is essential, according to experts. One doctor advises anyone on a weight loss journey to drink even more water on top of the recommended daily intake.
The human body requires water for optimal health as it keeps us hydrated, which is important when it comes to slimming. The Mirror reports that whatever diet plan you follow, experts recommend drinking plenty of H20 with it.
She recommends thinking of water as more of a “maintenance tool” than a “magic bullet” for weight loss. The pro says sipping water regularly throughout the day is essential to preventing feelings of thirst, as when you’re thirsty it is a sign that you are already dehydrated.
If you continually sip water you’ll have “better appetite regulation” throughout the day.
While water may be able to help you curb hunger short term, it doesn’t last for a very long time, according to the expert. She says you need a “proper intake of protein, fat and fibre” to “trigger your satiety signals and truly feel full”
Water can also help you burn more calories while you rest, as it raises your resting energy expenditure (REE). According to Dr Linda Anegawa, physician in internal medicine and obesity medicine and medical director at PlushCare, the REE can increase by as much as 30 per cent within 20 minutes of drinking water.
So how much water should you drink in order to aid weight loss? According to Dr Anegawa, you should aim to drink around six 8oz glasses of water a day – one-and-a-half to two litres – or more if you are in a hot climate.