You’ve done a lot of exercises to achieve a flat belly, and you’re willing to work on many other methods. But did you know that a trivial task like drinking water can help you lose belly fat?
It’s so simple that it’s too good to be true. But in essence, drinking water can help you burn more calories and achieve your goal of a flat belly, along with ensuring a more enjoyable and active life.
In this article, we will summarize the findings and give you tips on how that can happen for you. The most important takeaway here is that you can realize your dream by simply having the right mindset and discipline to reach your goal.
How Drinking Water Can Make You Burn More Calories?
Drinking water is part of our daily activity. You may have never thought about how drinking water helps burn calories because it is something you do every day.
But the fact is, drinking water increases the number of calories you burn. More specifically, it is known as resting energy expenditure. In a 12-week group test, it was found that drinking water before eating any meal helped reduce more weight compared to those who did not.
In another test, a group of adults was also found to have an increase in energy expenditure of 24–30% within 10 minutes of drinking water. And to support this study, another test done on obese children showed a 25% increase in resting energy expenditure after drinking cold water.
A study on overweight women has revealed that an increased intake of water to over a liter a day caused them to lose an extra 2kg (4.4lbs) weight without any lifestyle change over the course of 12-months. It is an impressive finding.
Drinking half-liter (17 oz) of water more every day will burn an extra 23 calories every day. Adding those for a year will result in 17,000 calories or over 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of fat. Not bad for just drinking water!
How Does Drinking Water Help Lose Belly Fat?
If you’ve noticed an increase in your waistline, then it’s something that you should be wary about. Having a large belly indicates that there is a high level of visceral fat on your abdomen.
Visceral fat is dangerous as it is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and may lead to colorectal cancer. But the good thing is this type of fat can be reduced by drinking water and regular exercise.
Here are the other means that can reduce belly fat.
1. Water Helps Burn Calories
Drinking water may not be thought of as something you do to reduce weight. It purges thirst, but it is not seen as something you do to remove fat.
But studies have found that it increases the burning of calories through resting energy expenditure, which is another term for calories burned while resting. In fact, drinking cold water enhances the calorie-burning benefits. This is mainly because your body will generate heat from the water to help in digesting.
2. Water Helps Remove Waste from the Body
Water allows your kidneys to filter out more toxins and waste. With the kidneys working well, you retain more nutrients that keep you healthier.
Staying hydrated helps your body move, which also loosens the hardened stool. In addition, since dehydration causes constipation and lumpy stool, water also helps with digestive problems like indigestion and diarrhea.
3. Water Reduces Calorie Intake
When drinking soda, teas, caffeine, and juices, you accumulate a lot of calories because of the added ingredients in them. These add up to cause belly fat. Artificial sugars also cause diabetes and obesity, which are all health risks that should be avoided.
So instead of going for a sweetened drink, reach for cold water instead. This is the most natural way of getting hydrated as well as reducing the buildup of belly fat.
4. Water Burns Up Fat
Did you know that water molecules interact with fat to make glycerol and fatty acids? Thus, drinking an ample amount of water will help digest more fat, and therefore, can help reduce unwanted weight and girth of your belly.
5. Water Before Meals Reduce Appetite
Studies made with middle-aged individuals show a reduction in appetite when drinking water before a meal. This is important as with less appetite, you also reduce the cause of more calorie intake.
Water is a natural suppressant and can help reduce the fat in the belly as well as other parts of the body as well.
6. Water Increases Stamina When Working Out
Exercise is one of the most important factors in weight loss. Water helps muscle tissues and joints move correctly and safely. Drinking water before, during, and after exercise reduces the risk of cramps and fatigue.
It also helps internal organs like the heart and lungs work effectively during a workout routine. Be sure to have water nearby, especially when working out in hot or humid conditions.
How Much Water Should You Drink?
We’ve all been taught to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, which amounts to about two liters.
But the truth is, that number is completely random and is just an estimate. The amount of water you drink still depends on each individual.
On average, that is a good ballpark amount. Based on studies, one to two liters of water a day will help keep your body hydrated.
On the other hand, factors like daily activity and lifestyle should still affect this amount.
People who sweat a lot need more water intake because they tend to lose more water. Also, people who exercise, lose more water and thus need more every day.
Breastfeeding mothers also need to drink more water because of the amount of milk they produce. So, they need to monitor how much they take in daily.
If you find yourself a little cranky, constantly hungry, and getting headaches frequently during the day, chances are you are dehydrated.
Water is not just an essential need for every human being; it is also something that can greatly help in weight loss and losing belly fat.
Drinking water is way more beneficial than drinking sugary liquids. But take note that you still need to do proper and regular exercise if you want to lose a significant amount of fat and weight. Water is just one of the many factors that can help you achieve your fitness goals.