Health Report – Water Consumption

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possible the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off.  Although most of us take it for granted, water may be the only true “magic potion” for permanent weight loss.

Water suppresses the appetite and helps the body metabolize stored fat.  Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

Got to Fill Those Kidneys

Here’s why. The kidneys cannot function properly with out enough water.  When they do not work to capacity, some of the load is dumped onto the liver.  One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body.  If the liver has to do some of the kidney’s work; it cannot work at full throttle.  As a result, it metabolizes less fat; more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.

Shed Water with Water

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention.  When the body gets less water, it perceives this a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop.  Water is stored in extra cellular spaces (outside the cells).  This shows up as swollen feet, hands, and legs.  Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best.  The force out stored water along with some essential nutrients.  Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity.  Thus, the best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs  - plenty of water.  Only then will stored water be released.  If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame.  Your body will tolerate sodium only in certain concentrations.  The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it.  Getting rid of unneeded water is easy – just drink more water.  As it is forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium.

The overweight person needs more water than the thin one.  Larger people have larger metabolic loads.  Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water.

Water helps maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration.  It helps prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss.  Shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.

Water helps rid the body of waste.  During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of – all that metabolized fat must be shed.  Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste.

Water Relieves Constipation

Water can help relieve constipation.  When the body gets to little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function returns.

So far, we have discovered some remarkable truths about water and about weight loss.  The body will not function properly without enough water and cannot metabolize stored fat efficiently.  Retained water shows up as excess weight. To get rid of excess water, you must drink more water.  Drinking water is essential to weight loss. How much water is enough?  On the average, a person should drink eight (8oz) glasses everyday.  However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 lbs. of excess weight.  The amount that you drink should be increased if you exercise or if the weather is hot and dry.  Water should preferably be cold – it is absorbed more quickly into the system than warm water.  Some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually burn calories.  To utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, follow this schedule:

Morning:  One quart consumed over a thirty-minute period.

Noon:  One quart consumed over a thirty-minute period.

Evening:  One quart consumed in the early evening between 5:00 & 8:00 PM.

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced.  When this happens, you have reached the “breakthrough point”.  What does that mean?  Endocrine gland function improves.  Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.  More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.  Natural thirst returns.  There is a loss of hunger almost over night.  If you stop drinking enough water, your body Fluids will be thrown out of balance again and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst.  To remedy this situation you have to go back and force another breakthrough.

Taken from “The Snowbird Diet” by Donald S. Robertson, M.D. M.Sc. and Carol Robertson