Why water?

Water is necessary for many bodily functions. In fact, water is essential for all bodily tasks.

I’d like to emphasise that drinking water isn't just about staying hydrated, yes it’s important, but it’s also essential for liver detoxification, proper kidneys function, preventing fatigue and pain, boosting metabolism and overall improving cellular health.

When it comes to weight loss, most people tend to overlook this one important ingredient. What is it? You can guess, of course, it’s water!

For some of you the effect of pure (filtered) water may sound too simple, too good to be true, however, there are reasons why drinking sufficient amount of water during the day can help decrease weight and improve your health.

How exactly does water help with weight loss and health? Here are my thoughts and recommendations.

1. Speeds up your metabolism. When you are well hydrated your organs are able to perform optimal functions. This allows your metabolism to speed up. In addition, cold water stimulates thermogenesis. These positive effects of water will help you to burn more calories!

2. Improves muscle tone. If you are dehydrated you won’t see the attractive muscles from all the hard work of lifting weights at the gym.

3. Improves digestion. We need lots of fluids for our digestive system to function well. Lack of hydration causes intestinal dryness, subsequently irregular bowel movement and often abdominal cramps.

4. Supports detoxification. Each day our cells in the body produce natural waste from basic functions such as breathing or digesting food. Elimination of these toxins is necessary and helpful for weight loss and health because organic toxins are stored in fat cells. Water will help to flush these toxins from your body.

5. Improves energy. When you are dehydrated the blood volume is reduced, therefore less oxygen circulates in the body. This causes lower energy, headaches and inability to stay active. Remember, when you are tired drink a large glass of pure (filtered) water to boost oxygen distribution in the blood stream!

6. Prevents drinking high calorie beverages. By drinking pure water you will naturally eliminate drinking high sugary beverages. I don’t need to explain that these nasty drinks cause weight gain and headaches due to inducing blood glucose spikes.

7. Improves joints health. Water helps to lubricate your joints, therefore reduces stiffness and often pain.

8. Prevents overeating. In my practice I always recommend drinking water with fresh lemon before meals to control the amount of eating food. By implementing this habit you will eat less. A research study done by Brenda Davy PhD. in Virginia Tech, the College of Agriculture and Life Science found that drinking 8 ounce of water before meals can help to lose weight and keep it off. If your goal is to lose weight, I advise to drink ½ ounce of water per pound of your body weight.

As you can see, water serves many important functions in the body. In fact, dehydration is probably one of the most common problems I observe with my clients. This supports interesting statistics that 75% Americans are chronically dehydrated. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms of dehydration.

Here are few acute signs of dehydration you should be aware of:

Fatigue

Concentrated urine

Sagging skin

Headaches

Dizziness

Dry eyes

Dry lips

I should also warn that chronic signs of dehydration could lead to kidney problems, constipation, variety of digestive issues including heartburn, joint and back pain,.

On the other note, if you are hungry you most likely thirsty, too! Be sure to enjoy a glass of water with freshly squeezed lemon at the first sign of hunger.

Here is also my advice for those of you who love to drink few cups of coffee a day or energy drinks. Caffeinated beverages are diuretics, which, like all diuretics, increase blood flow to the kidneys. This forces you to lose more water. I recommend, for every cup of coffee you enjoy 2 cups of water to prevent dehydration.

This article should convince you why hydration is essential to your well being. Pay attention to your water intake starting today.

Cheers to your health!

Remember, I am here to help you!

Maria Pawlicka  M.Sc., BAA, CNP

Certified and Registered Nutritionist