How can water increase your metabolism, you say? Well, water is actually involved in all types of cellular processes in your body. When you become dehydrated, these processes become less efficient. This includes your metabolism. If you do not get enough water in your body, you will not be able to burn off fats quickly to lose weight. Take note that your metabolism is a series of chemical reactions inside your body.
You need to stay hydrated in order for these chemical reactions to go smoothly. Even if you are just one percent dehydrated, your metabolism will be affected. Also, you should realize that your body may have difficulty identifying if you are hungry or thirsty. So if you think that you are hungry, you may actually just be dehydrated. Instead of eating, you should try to drink water and see if you still feel hungry afterwards.
If you are trying to lose weight, you should drink a glass of water before your meal. This will make you feel fuller, so you will eat less. A lot of people also claim that they are able to eat more carefully when they drink water before eating. According to a study, people who drink water before a meal are able to reduce their calorie consumption. If you habitually drink water before eating, you can lose about eight pounds per year.
Furthermore, drinking water can help improve your digestive system. When you drink water, you are able to digest your food properly. Water lets your kidneys function well and filter things that have to be filtered. This allows you to have smooth bowel movements and avoid constipation. If you do not drink enough water, minerals such as calcium can accumulate in your urine.
This can make it harder for you to urinate and you can be at risk of urinary and kidney stones. Chronic dehydration can cause painful kidney stones. So how much water do you really need? How will you know if you are getting sufficient amounts of water to maintain your metabolism and keep your digestive system normal? In the past, doctors and medical professionals said that eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day is enough.
Today, however, experts say otherwise. How much water you need to take depends on your weight, size, location and activity level. Generally, you have to drink between one-half ounce and one ounce of water for every pound you weigh each day. For instance, if you are one hundred and fifty pounds, you have to drink seventy-five to one hundred and fifty ounces of water per day.
You have to drink a lot of water if you live in a place where the climate is hot or if you exercise vigorously. On the other hand, if you live somewhere cooler and does not exercise frequently, your need for water may be on the lower end of such range. Basically, your need for water depends on your body size and lifestyle.
Another way on how you can tell how much water you need is by checking your urine. If it is clear or light in color and is odorless, you are properly hydrated. Otherwise, you are dehydrated and you need to drink more water. As mentioned earlier, the darker and more concentrated your urine is, the more dehydrated you are.