The Key To Any Successful Diet Is Water

Following any diet that is restrictive will not be effective if you are dehydrated according to Dr. Thomas Chi, of the University of San Francisco. Most people focus on the new eating plan and forget about drinking enough water; extreme diets typically have higher sodium content and are less hydrated. 

Being dehydrated when you eat a lot of meat can result in unwanted complications such as kidney stones. The body has developed a way to let you know that you need to stay hydrated, being thirsty is an alert to let you know you need to drink more water.

Regular water intake has been shown to be just as important as following a healthy diet, especially for preventing dehydration. Sometimes people interpret thirst as hunger which can lead to overeating, when all that was needed was to rehydrate.

Drinking water alone will not make you lose weight, but a healthy lifestyle includes key habits such as exercise, sleep, managing stress, healthy foods, and staying hydrated. To lose weight more effectively one should devise a plan that takes into account your current condition, how much you weigh, how much you want to lose, and how you are going to drop the unwanted weight. 

Water does not contain additional fat, sugars, or carbs unlike soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, or other sugary beverages. According to Dr. Chirag Shah of Rutgers University water intake promotes weight loss by boosting fat metabolism and decreasing feeding. 

A study published in the journal Nutritional Epidemiology including over 18,000 adults found that those who consumed more water were consistently more satisfied and consumed fewer calories, less cholesterol, less fat, and less salt.

The journal Obesity published another study which suggests those who consumed water before a meal had greater weight loss success which was poisted to be because water has a filling effect that helped the participants to eat less.

To help stay hydrated if you think you are hungry try drinking some water and wait a few minutes before you reach for that snack. Try carrying a bottle of water with you whenever you leave your home to take sips and feel refreshed. If you forget to drink water try setting an alarm for once an hour. If you are not fond of plain water try infusing some fruit or veggies into your water. Increasing your intake of hydrating fruits and veggies such as celery, cucumber, watermelon, and oranges can help to keep you hydrated. 

Making sure you drink enough water is important if you want to lose weight or follow a more balanced diet to boost overall health.