Why water?

[Seaswimmer593]

Why is drinking lots of water recommended by so many people. I hate the stuff, hardly ever drink it (max 1 v small glass a day). I am hydrated and don't suffer any of the effects of dehydration. I drink about 4 cups of tea and 1 cup of coffee but it sounds like its not enough. Any thoughts?

[EllaMidlands]

I don't know the answer but I do know it fills me up and makes my skin better.

[DartmoorDumpling Restart Feb 2024]

Sometimes people mistake thirst for hunger and reach for food when a drink would probably satisfy their need, so drinking plenty of water is recommended when trying to lose weight. High water content foods, fruit teas, tea and coffee are all excellent "filler-uppers" and help prevent feeling those hunger pangs! Try a glass of water before every meal, (or a low calorie drink that you like), to take the edge off your appetite.

[Seaswimmer593 in reply to DartmoorDumpling]

Thanks. Love your username!

[jopo]

Hi Seaswimmer593

I found this an interesting article. I know it's not a huge amount (4.4lbs) over a year you may say but 'Every Little Helps' and your kidneys will certainly thank you

Jo

Most of the studies listed below looked at the effect of drinking one, 0.5 liter (17 oz) serving of water.

Drinking water increases the amount of calories you burn, which is known as resting energy expenditure.

In adults, resting energy expenditure has been shown to increase by 24–30% within 10 minutes of drinking water. This lasts at least 60 minutes.

Supporting this, one study of overweight and obese children found a 25% increase in resting energy expenditure after drinking cold water.

A study of overweight women examined the effects of increasing water intake to over 1 liter (34 oz) per day. They found that over a 12-month period, this resulted in an extra 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of weight loss.

Since these women didn't make any lifestyle changes except to drink more water, these results are very impressive.

Additionally, both of these studies indicate that drinking 0.5 liters (17 oz) of water results in an extra 23 calories burned. On a yearly basis, that sums up to roughly 17,000 calories — or over 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of fat.

Several other studies have monitored overweight people who drank 1-1.5 liters (34–50 oz) of water daily for a few weeks. They found a significant reduction in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body fat.

These results may be even more impressive when the water is cold. When you drink cold water, your body uses extra calories to warm the water up to body temperature.

[Seaswimmer593 in reply to jopo]

Useful info there, thanks.

[RG07 Maintainer]

tea and coffee are diuretics especially caffeinated versions (make you pee more) also as Dartmoor Dumpling mentions, sometimes we get hunger pangs but we are thirsty not hungry so often drinking 2 glasses of water helps the hunger pangs go away and removes temptation. Don't know why the body mixes thirst with hunger but it does!!! Maybe gradually increase the number of glasses of water you have in a day- and increase each week or every 2 weeks?

[Dipper]

I couldn't survive on 5 cups of fluid a day, I usually have 5 peppermint teas before lunch time.

[blackbeauty99]

I never ever liked drinking water but since coming to this forum i am drinking it, maybe still not as much as i should, but more than before. I couldn't last on 4 cups of tea and 1 coffee, as i find i get too dehydrated. I do put the tiniest bit of blackcurrant in my water sometimes, but it is hardly anything, but just gives it a bit of taste.

Have a good week