Water

Water Water Water

How eight glasses a day will keep fat away!

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly, the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take it for granted, water may be the only ‘magic potion’ for permanent weight loss.

Water suppresses the appetite naturally, and helps the body metabolise stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. Here’s why. The kidneys cannot function properly without enough water. When they don’t work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver.

One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolise stored fat into usable energy for the body. But, if the liver had to do some of the kidneys work, it cannot operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolises less fat, more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival, and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored outside our cells. This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.

Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat, and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus the condition quickly returns.

The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give the body what it wants, plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.

If you have constant problems with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in certain concentration. The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it. But getting rid of excess salt is easy, just drink more water. As it is forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium.

The overweight person needs more water than the thin one. Larger women have metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the over weight person needs more water.

Water helps us maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract, and by preventing dehydration. It helps also to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss. Shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which pumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.

Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of, all that metabolised fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out water.

So far we have discovered some remarkable truths

regarding water and weight loss:

The body will not function properly without enough water

and cannot metabolise stored water efficiently.

Retained water shows up as excess weight.

To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.

Drinking water is essential to weight loss.

How much water is enough? On average a person should drink 8, 8oz glasses every day. That is about 2 quarts. However. the overweight person needs one additional glass of water for every 25lbs of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly, or if the weather is very hot and dry.

Water should preferably be cold, it is absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water, and some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories.

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the ‘break through point’.

What does this mean?

Endocrine-gland function improves.

Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.

More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to

metabolise stored fat.

Natural thirst returns.

There is a loss of hunger almost overnight.

If you stop drinking water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain, and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you will have to go back and force another ‘break through’.