How Much Water to Drink for Health and Weight Loss

Drinking at least eight glasses a day of plain water is required to keep the body healthy and is also linked to weight loss.

Water is the only beverage recommended for hydration and weight loss. For those who do not like the taste of plain water, nutritionists recommend flavoring water with lemon or True Lemon. True Lemon is crystallized lemon with 100% natural ingredients in convenient, portable packets. True Lemon has no carbohydrates, no sugar, no caffeine, no calories, no artificial colors or sweeteners, no gluten, no sodium and no preservatives.

An independent survey by a major California university found a 61 percent increase in water consumption with daily True Lemon use.

Water for Your Everyday Needs

Drinking enough water is important to keep the body functioning normally. Adequate hydration is needed for:

-digestion and absorbing food’s nutrients
-healthy skin
-controlling muscle and joint inflammation
-proper circulation
-eliminating toxins.

Water for Weight Loss

Water is not only necessary for everyday health, drinking plenty of water is also beneficial for losing excess weight. As many as 75 percent of adults in the U.S. are chronically dehydrated, which can lead to weight control issues. Research has shown that even mild dehydration slows the metabolism as much as three percent, causing weight gain.

Along with maintaining a healthy metabolism, the Franz-Volhard Clinical Research Center performed a study that found drinking six 8-ounce glasses of water per day can burn approximately five pounds of fat per year. Other research at the Virginia Tech Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise found that adults who drank 2.1 cups of water half an hour before meals ate 13 percent less at each meal.

How much water does a healthy adult need?

Urine output for adults averages about 6.3 cups daily. Another 4 cups of water a day is lost through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Many foods contain water, and can account for 20 percent of total fluid intake, so drinking slightly more than 8 cups along with your normal diet should replace lost fluids.

Urine color is a good guide to your water level. If you are drinking plenty of water and your urine is nearly colorless, your fluid intake is probably adequate.

When you need more water

- Exercise that makes you sweat requires an extra 1.5 to 2.5 cups of water. Strenuous exercise lasting more than an hour requires more water or possibly a sports drink.
- Hot or humid weather, heated indoor air and high altitudes require additional water intake.
- Fever, vomiting or diarrhea dehydrates the body, and extra water should be consumed.
- Pregnancy or breast-feeding women need additional water to stay hydrated, as much as 10 to 13 cups per day.

Nutritionists advise eliminating sodas and caloric beverages from your diet, with the exception of low-fat milk. The only liquid that is essential is water, and for health and weight loss you must consume adequate amounts daily.

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