Water

How 8 Glasses a day keeps fat away

By Donald S. Robertson, MD, M Sc.

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

 Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize 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 can’t function properly without enough water.  When they don’t work to capacity, some of their load in dumped into the liver.  One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into energy for the body.  But, if the liver has to do some of the kidney’s work, it can’t operate at full throttle.  As a result, it metabolizes 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 every drop.  Water is stored in extra cellular spaces (outside the cells).  This shows up as swollen feet 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 is to give your body what it needs.  Plenty of water.  Only then will the stored water be released.  If you have a constant problem with retention, excess salt may be the blame.  Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentrations.  The more salt you eat the more water your system retains to dilute it.  But getting rid of the unneeded salt is easy, just drink, more water.  As it’s forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium.  The overweight person needs more water than the thin individual.  Larger people have larger metabolic loads.  Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water.

 Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles the natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration.  It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that follows weight loss---shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which plumps 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 metabolized fat must be shed.  Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste.  Water can help relieve constipation.  When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources.  The colon is one primary source.  Results?  Constipation.  But when a person drinks enough water the normal bowel functions usually return.

So, far, we’ve discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss: 

• The body will not function properly without enough water and can’t metabolize stored fat 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 the average, a person must drink eight 8-oz glasses every day.  That’s two quarts (1/2 gallon) However, the overweight person needs an additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight.  The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry.  Water should be preferably cold, it’s absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water; ands some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories!!