Drinking water – best way to loose weight and for good health

To stay adequately hydrated, you should drink approximately three quarts (96 ounces) of water a day. For weight loss, you should drink an additional 8 ounces of water for every 25 pounds you are over your ideal body weight. Also, water consumption should be increased in hot climates or during vigorous exercise.

There are a variety of reasons to drink plenty of water each day. Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Substituting water for beverages high in calories can also help control weight. Follow the steps below to make sure you’re getting enough of this most basic necessity.

Determine how much water you need. You’ve probably heard the “8 by 8″ rule (drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, that means 2 Qts/1.8 L). But the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his/her weight and activity level. A better way to determine your specific recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day. For example, if you weigh 160 lbs., strive to drink 80 ounces of water daily. For those who use the Metric system, divide your weight (in kilograms) by 30 (ex. somebody weighing 90 kg is going to need 3 litres per day).

Measure your daily intake of water. Do this for a few days. If you find that you’re drinking less than the recommended quantity, try some of the following tips.

1. Carry water with you everywhere you go in a bottle or other container. Before long, you’ll find yourself reaching for it without a second thought.
2. Keep a glass or cup of water next to you whenever you’ll be sitting down for a long time, such as when you’re at your desk at work. Drink from it regularly as you’re working.
3. Try wearing a digital watch that beeps at the beginning of each hour. Use that as a reminder to pour yourself a glass of water. Vow to drink that water before the next beep. If you drink only one small (6 ounce or 180 ml) cup per hour, you’ll have consumed 48 ounces (1.4 L) by the end of an 8-hour workday.
4. Get a water purification system. Purified water tastes very good and it may help make drinking water more appealing to you. Be aware, though, that as you grow accustomed to purified water, you may find that tap water leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
5. Add lemons or limes to your water, it makes it taste better and makes you want to drink more of it. Be careful not to make it too sour, just a splash of sourness should do the trick.
6. Some mint leaves can be added to a pitcher of water which should be allowed to sit overnight. These are cheap alternatives to the bottled flavoured water.
7. Eat water rich foods, such as fruits like watermelon, which is 92% water by weight. Blend up some seedless fresh watermelon flesh with some ice and place a few sprigs of mint (optional) – one of the most refreshing drinks, especially for the summertime. Cranberry juice is also another option, and has a bitter taste. It is advised to patients suffering from urinary infection caused by insufficient intake of water to drink cranberry juice and watermelon if not plain water everyday. A tomato is 95% water. An egg is about 74% water. A piece of lean meat is about 70% water.

TIPS:

1. If you really can’t stand the taste of your water, try adding a tiny bit of fruit juice or a squeeze of lemon or lime, just enough to slightly change the taste. Refrigerating your water may also help make it more palatable.
2. For a feeling of accomplishment, fill two 32-ounce (1 L) water bottles (or one big 64-ounce (2 L) bottle, as in the full “8×8″ (2 L) amount) in the morning and make sure you have consumed the contents of both by the end of the day.
3. Drinking a full glass of water first thing in the morning helps wake the body up. So kick-start your day with water!
4. Water helps you look good. By flushing out toxins and impurities, water can make your skin clearer, smoother and younger looking.
5. Drinking water helps you control hunger. Drink a large glass of ice water 20 minutes before meals. The cold causes your stomach to shrink somewhat, which will make you feel full more rapidly.
6. Whether drinking tap or bottled water, do some research on the source. In some places, such as Philadelphia, the tap water actually contains the same electrolytes that are in Gatorade. On the other hand it’s also possible that your bottled water may be from a different source than its name suggests. If the bottle says ‘Municipal Water Supply’ or something to that effect, then the company has simply bottled tap water, and you’re probably wasting your money.
7. If you find out you have lead plumbing, and water is abundant in your area, let the water run for about thirty seconds before filling your glass. This can reduce the amount of lead–and the bad taste that accompanies it–in the water you drink. If you live in an area with a shortage of water, however, this is probably not a good option. But you should probably just buy a refillable jug from the local grocery store and refill it with purified, lead-free water so you don’t waste water and get lead poisoning.
8. Every time you walk past a water fountain, take a sip or two.
9. Gradually increase your daily intake of water by starting with, for example, 1 L. Keep a 1 L bottle of water in the fridge and aim to have it finished by the end of the day. Increase this amount every day.
10. Vow to drink only water for a month. Once your body becomes accustomed to it, it will be hard not to drink enough water. Also, by the end of the month water starts to taste delicious…no lie!
11. To get the needed 8 oz. (250 ml) glasses of water, say 8, put 8 hair ties or rubber bands on your right hand to represent each glass of water you need. When you drink one of the glasses, switch one rubber band to your left hand. Your goal is to get 8 hair ties on your left hand before the day is up! Or simply start with a 2 L bottle of water and make sure it’s empty by the end of the day.
12. If you don’t like the taste of water try hot water. It’s a different taste and it feels good on your throat!
13. Try drinking cold water out of a glass instead of a plastic or paper cup. The glass will retain the cold better than other materials and will keep your water crisp and fresh-tasting longer.
14. Crystal Light flavours water and has practically no calories or carbs, but don’t use too much…just a pinch to flavour your water
    Try getting a really cool waterbottle that you enjoy having around, it makes drinking water more fun!
15. Also you can try eating saltier foods before having a glass of water; it’ll make your mouth a bit drier and you’ll feel the need to drink more water.
16. Eat ice, it’s water and it tastes really good! Just don’t chew it; that will ruin your teeth.
    Try setting a glass of water near where you are, for example if you’re sitting at a computer for a long period of time. Sometimes, you will automatically drink without realizing it. Your mind knows when you’re thirsty, even if you don’t.
17. If you don’t want to put anything fruity in your water, try adding a Splenda to your plain water. It gives it a bit of a sweet taste and makes it easier to drink if you don’t like the taste of water.
18. Take a hot bath and keep a few bottles of water on the shelf of the bathtub. The heat will make you thirsty and the water will taste great.
    Don’t like the taste of water? Use a straw. You won’t taste the water as much, because it will skip part of your tongue.
19. If you like the bubbly aspect of soda and want to get your daily water needs, try drinking seltzer/club soda/carbonated soda. Seltzer also comes in lots of different flavors too.

WARNING:

1. Increasing your water intake may cause you to have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. To avoid this, you may want to stop drinking water a few hours before bedtime–or make sure you visit the toilet before bed!
2. While adequate water is essential to health, it is possible to drink too much water or any other beverage, and there has been considerable scientific debate surrounding how much water a person really needs per day.
3. People with some heart conditions, high blood pressure or swelling of the lower legs (edema) need to avoid excess water. If you have a history of kidney problems, especially if you have had a transplant, consult your doctor before increasing your fluid intakes.
   You shouldn’t drink too much water while eating as it dilutes your stomach acid and can cause digestion problems.
4. If you live in a place with a lot of heat (e.g., the desert), you will have to drink extra water.
   DO NOT drink too much water, water intoxication is a real and fatal thing. This is high risk to runners, or people suffering from over exertion, or heat stress.
5. Never eat something very cold (like ice cream) followed by something hot (such as coffee). This may crack the enamel on your teeth.
6. Crystal Lite, Gatorade and other electrolyte drinks contain acetic acid which can increase rates of tooth decay.
7. Be aware that some elderly individuals with difficulty walking may avoid drinking adequate amounts of water, as they have difficulty tranferring/walking to the bathroom. In such cases, a bedside commode may be useful. If you are caring for such an individual, encourage them to drink the necessary amount of water and reassure him/her that you can help them with the transfer to the commode.

(drinking water, weight loss by just drinking water, weight loss, drinking water)