Drinking water isn't an end all be all to weight problems: anyone who chokes down two double cheeseburgers for lunch won't be saved from extra baggage simply by sipping on a liter or two of water. But, for those who eat sensibly and exercise regularly, the consumption of water may help speed up metabolism and take a few calories right off the top (or, perhaps, the bottom).
According to a recent study, water may increase your metabolic rate by as much as thirty percent on a daily basis. It doesn't take a mathematician to know that's quite a bit. Normally, in regards to weight loss, water was shoved down our throats (forgive the pun) in an attempt to make us feel full and thus, more likely to pass on that third slice of pizza. Nowadays, however, water is proving to do more than fill us up: it's a much more talented liquid than we previously thought.
In 2003, an article was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. It spoke of a study involving seven healthy men and seven healthy women. All participants were of normal weight. Each participant consumed 500 ml of water per day. When their metabolic rates were measured, the researchers found that all metabolic rates were
increased by roughly 30 percent.
This spike in the metabolism, according to the study, occurred quickly after water consumption: the metabolism was at its greatest spike within a half an hour and was maintained for more than an hour. The reason for this? Well, it's all really pretty simple: the water enters the body cold and must be warmed up in the stomach. This "warming up" causes the body's metabolism to skyrocket.
This study further substantiates the idea that ice water, in particular, can help burn calories. Just as the researchers stated above, the ice water in your system must be warmed up by your body. It goes in cold, but when it exits - unless you find yourself peeing icicles - it's no longer freezing. The conversion from ice water to warm water burns calories.
A person who consumes the recommended eight glasses of water a day - and adds in a few ice cubes - can burn around 70 extra calories on a daily basis. While 70 extra calories doesn't seem like much, over time it does add up.
Drinking water without adopting other weight friendly goals probably won't get you fitting into your tight jeans anytime soon, but it can help. It's easy, it's simple, and it provides all sorts of other benefits so why not raise a glass to H2O. Bottoms Up!
