If you are planning diet, you may like to include something which cost you nothing but perhaps your utility bill - Water. Water consists of approximately 75% of the human body. All the enzymatic and chemical reactions in our body requires water as a medium, including fat metabolism. Everything from fat-burning to fat-forming is in one way or another related to water intake. On top of the amount of water you received from foods with high water content, you should aim to consume another four 8- to 12- ounce glasses of water every day. Based on a research, drinking 500 ml of water increased metabolic rate by 30% (The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism;88 (12):6015-6019), a good news for those who can't wait to lose weight. To achieve the best effect, try to drink cold water but drink it sip by sip. This is to ensure that your body absorb as much water as possible.
Increasing your fluid intake have a couple of benefits. You will experience smoother bowel movement, and you will notice that you are less likely to crave for food. When you are craving for food it could mean two things - your body genuinely requires food, or your body probably has been craving fluids all along. The latter has been true for most people because they are misinterpreting their body's cue to drink more fluids. To determine if your body is genuinely hungry, try drinking a glass of water before you proceed to eat your meal. If you still feels hungry 5 to 10 minutes later despite drinking a glass of water, it could mean it is time to consume your meal.
Drinking sufficient water may be the solution to weight loss. It is the body's natural reaction to retain water if there is inadequate water intake. This hampers your kidney function and as a result, your liver will have to work harder to flush out the impurities in your body, minimizing one of its main function to metabolize stored fat into usable energy.
