2011/07/09

Water: A Weight-Loss Catalyst

Water has always been known as the key to hydration and life itself. As humans, we couldn't survive without it and its resources have always been of concern to us. However, scientists and doctors are beginning to believe that water has many more benefits than previously thought. Among the newly recognized benefits for water are its properties to aid in weight loss efforts. Contrary to the previous thought that water would add pounds, when you're attempting to lose weight, your water intake should not decrease but increase.

When your body is deprived of water, it mistakenly thinks that it needs food. Instead of sending thirst signals, most people's thirst mechanisms are so weak that their dehydration results in extreme hunger. This leads to binge-eating, causing the need for more hydration, which ends up in a vicious cycle of hunger and overeating. This mixture can lead to not only obesity, but other serious diseases such as diabetes or hypertension.

When your body does not have enough water, it goes into a mode of "conservation." This forces the body to retain the water you have in your system, giving you that bloated, puffy look. Most people consider using a diuretic or cutting down on water intake to solve this problem, but this is the exact opposite of what should be done. The only way to get rid of that unwanted water is to drink more water. Your body will realize it has more than enough water and shed the excess liquid in your system.

The kidneys are the main source of filtration for your body. When the kidneys don't have enough water to use for filtration, the liver is the "back-up plan" for removing toxins. The liver is responsible for metabolizing sugars and fat in your body, but when it is needed for filtering purposes, it can't properly metabolize fat, leading to weight gain. To alleviate stress from the liver while reducing body-fat, simply increase water intake.

The general rule of thumb for water consumption is eight glasses a day (eight ounces each). However, if you're trying to lose weight, you should increase this up to 80 ounces per day or ten glasses. If you drink alcohol or caffeine regularly, actively exercise, have high blood pressure, are at least 15 pounds overweight, or have a diet high in sugar, you should drink even more than that. Furthermore, the water you drink should be pure as to avoid introducing chemicals into your system. The water will keep you feeling full and your metabolism working at its optimal rate. Besides it obvious importance to your health, water may be the catalyst to weight loss many have been looking for.

For more information on where to get pure water and achieve your weight-loss efforts, visit http://www.puriteam.com/.


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