Does drinking water and weight loss have anything in common? Can you lose weight simply by filling up on water? Drinking water certainly helps to eliminate toxins from your system. It also reduces bloating thus giving you the appearance of weight loss. Ironically by drinking more water, you can reduce fluid retention problems and that will cause the pounds to fall off.
But drinking water alone will not help you to lose weight over the longer term. You cannot live on water as it doesn’t contain the minerals and nutrients your body needs to thrive. You should aim to drink at least 2 litres of water a day, more if you are exercising regularly.
If you drink some water first thing in the morning, try adding some freshly squeezed lemon juice. Not only will it make the liquid more palatable but it will also kick start your digestive system.
Now if you are really serious about weight loss you will need to make other changes to your diet. You should aim to eat food as close to their natural state as possible. This means eating an apple rather than putting it in a juicer. Eat more vegetables, nuts and seeds. Aim to vary the colour and type of vegetables you consume. We need to eat at least five a day but it doesn’t work if all you eat is broccoli or carrots.
You could try eliminating wheat from your diet to see if this helps you to lose weight. Wheat can cause bloating and water retention, not ideal when your aim is to lose pounds. If you intend on trying this, you need to increase the amount of whole grains in your diet so that you still get vital B vitamins, fibre and nutrients.
We all should be eating more pulses and sprouted beans in our diets. Sprouted beans in particular are a rich source of enzymes and minerals as well as providing low fat protein. Introduce these foods gradually as some people have reported an increase in embarrassing gasses not ideal if you are working in an open plan office.
Drinking water and weight loss will go hand in hand if you add exercise to the equation. You should always drink more water when exercising to prevent dehydration. If you wait until you are thirsty, dehydration has already started to kick in.
Skip the salt and flavour your food with fresh herbs and spices. These will help digestion as well as adding variety to your diet. You need to include good fats when trying to lose weight. Cold pressed oils can help make salads more interesting while providing a good source of omega 3 (Pumpkin or Flaxseed) or omega 6 oils (Sesame and Sunflower). Store these oils in a dark place as they do not react well to sunlight and never use them when frying.
Drinking water and weight loss go hand in hand especially when you add other hints and tips to the equation.
