Water is the key to life, and it turns out it's also one of the easiest ways to help your metabolism. Drinking water increases your metabolism by up to 25% for nearly an hour after drinking it. That means if you drink a few cups of water every hour, you'll keep your metabolism at peak performance all day.
Drinking more water may help with weight loss by temporarily increasing your metabolic rate. Most of our metabolic processes take place in the presence of water. Water helps in the digestion of food and consequently, helps burn more calories. This will lead to losing belly fat.
Drinking water can reduce overall liquid calorie intake
Replacing even a few high-calorie drinks each day for water or other no-calorie beverages, such as herbal tea, may have long-term weight loss benefits.
Drink more water
However, drinking water may also temporarily speed up your metabolism ( 8 ). According to one 2013 review, a small study showed drinking 17 ounces (500 mL) of water increases resting metabolism by 30% for about an hour ( 9 ).
The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men. About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.
1 The study authors calculated that people burn 50 calories per 1.5 liters of water. This would be about 17 calories per water bottle (0.5 liters), the equivalent of 4 M&M candies. The authors estimated that a third of the calories burned after drinking are due to thermogenesis (5 to 6 calories per water bottle).
You'll feel less hungry and may even lose weight. You'll probably experience more comfortable digestion (less heartburn). Bowel movements might be easier and more regular. Your teeth and gums will be healthier and more resilient.
The triglycerides release fat as carbon dioxide and water atoms during fat metabolism or oxidation. In other words, fat leaves the body as carbon dioxide when you exhale. The fat which becomes water mixes into your circulation until it's lost as urine, tears, sweat and other bodily fluids.
Eating too few calories
Eating too few calories can cause a major decrease in metabolism. Although a calorie deficit is needed for weight loss, it can be counterproductive for your calorie intake to drop too low.
It simply takes time. Another common reason why people report not losing weight despite reducing their calories is that they don't give it enough time. Our bodies will do their utmost to hold on to our fat reserves and you often have to be in a calorie deficit for a while before you will see any meaningful weight loss.
Drinking plenty of water can help you lose weight. This is because water can increase satiety and boost your metabolic rate. Some evidence suggests that increasing water intake can promote weight loss by slightly increasing your metabolism, which can increase the number of calories you burn on a daily basis.
As a general rule, you can use this simple calculation. Water (in litres) to drink a day = Your Weight (in Kg) multiplied by 0.033.
In fact, even mild dehydration affects your blood vessels (making them less springy) about the same as smoking a cigarette. Skimping on water also leads to less blood in your body, which can lower your blood pressure and raise your heart rate. It takes just 15 to 20 minutes for enough water to even things out.
Any extra water being held in the body is referred to as “water weight.” When water builds up in the body, it can cause bloating and puffiness, especially in the abdomen, legs, and arms. Water levels can make a person's weight fluctuate by as much as 2 to 4 pounds in a single day.
According to the University of Washington, drinking cold water will increase metabolism — but only slightly. When you drink a cup of ice water, you burn about 8 more calories than when you drink room temperature water.
Hot water does have numerous health benefits as compared to cold water. But when it comes to weight loss, the temperature of the water does not really matter. It is important to drink plenty of water when trying to lose weight, but there is no evidence to prove that hot water accelerates the weight loss process.
The Eatwell Guide says we should drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count.
Here is one more reason to enjoy that morning cup of joe: “Coffee counts toward your daily water intake,” says Lauren DeWolf, MS, RD, a registered dietitian with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Centers. The water in coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages helps us meet our daily fluid needs.
Drinking too much water can be dangerous
Symptoms of hyponatremia include weakness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and — in severe cases — even death ( 22 ). Although your kidneys can excrete up to 20–28 liters (4.5–6 gallons) of water per day, they can only process 800–1,000 ml (27–34 ounces) of water per hour ( 23 ).