Water is the basis of every single reaction taking place in our body. From digesting food to building hormones, all take place in a water medium. Up to 60% of our body weight is water, as it’s found in our tissues, bones, and blood. We also lose water regularly through breathing, sweating, and going to the bathroom. Diet, especially consuming foods that are naturally diuretic increases urination and overall water loss. Products such as tea, coffee, and alcohol contain diuretic properties and can increase water loss. The human body on average loses 2-3 liters of water a day but, depending on the personal physical activity level and environment this number can significantly increase.
More than just replenishing lost water, drink it to increase stomach volume. So, if you are eating a meal, be sure to drink a large glass of water alongside. This has the following benefits:
- If you are drinking water, you are less likely to be drinking soda or juice to wash your food down.
- Drinking water along with food fills up the stomach by volume. Thereby, signals feedback mechanism in the brain to terminate the meal, as the stomach fills up.
- Consuming sugar-sweet beverages (SSB)—juice or soda—with a meal greatly increases overall caloric amount prior to turning off the satiety signals in the brain.
Quick and Easy way to do this:
- Start and end your day with a glass of water. When you wake up, the first thing is to drink at least 8oz glass of water either cold or room temperature. This glass of water on an empty stomach initiates a number of internal processes increasing overall metabolism.
- Before and during a meal drink another 8oz glass of water.
- Enjoy a calorie-free tea, flavored with mint or lemon after the meal. The tea decreases chances of reaching for dessert and once again, helps to increase stomach volume.