Many women like to lose weight, but there are some things to keep in mind when trying to lose weight by drinking water. Here are a few tips.
Drinking water in the morning can help reduce belly fat.
Drinking a glass of plain water, diluted honey water, or water with added fiber before breakfast can accelerate intestinal peristalsis, expel waste and metabolites from the body overnight, and reduce the chance of developing a small belly.
Drinking water before meals reduces appetite
Many people are not obese, but after eating, you can see a bulging stomach protruding. This is the most typical baby fat. Even if you haven't eaten, you need to suck in your breath to cover up this small stomach.
Drinking a glass of water before meals is a good idea. It can reduce hunger and decrease food intake, which will eventually reduce your appetite. It can also replenish the body's water needs and speed up metabolism.
Drinking water in the afternoon helps reduce excess fat
The most prominent manifestation of obesity is excess fat, caused by prolonged sitting and high-calorie foods. Afternoon tea time is often when people feel tired and lethargic, making it a vulnerable period for consuming unnecessary calories due to emotions – the price being excess fat. Drinking a cup of herbal tea can dispel these emotional urges to eat, and the aroma of herbs can also reduce appetite, thus setting the stage for eating only until you're about 70% full at dinner.
Drinking plenty of water daily can help with detoxification and weight loss; however, excessive water intake can also harm health. The average adult consumes 2000-2500 ml of water per day. Since the oxidation of substances in the body produces about 300 ml of water, a daily intake of 2200 ml is necessary, including the water content from food. In summer, a daily intake of around 3000 ml is needed to meet the body's needs. So how much is 3000 ml of water? A typical disposable cup holds about 250 ml, meaning you would need to drink approximately 12 cups of water per day (using disposable cups as a guideline; the exact number depends on the size of your cup).
Do not drink too much water in a single hour. Excessive water intake dilutes the blood in the blood vessels due to osmosis, leading to a decrease in the concentration of oxygen and nutrients in the blood. To meet the body's energy needs, the heart must work harder, increasing its workload. Over time, this is extremely harmful to health, especially for those with anemia. Experts point out that drinking large amounts of water daily for weight loss can lead to water intoxication within a month. Excessive water intake forces the body to excrete the excess water through urine. This excreted water contains important electrolytes. If this continues for too long, the body's electrolytes, primarily sodium, will be diluted. Initial symptoms include fatigue, weakness, lower back pain, cold intolerance, rapid heartbeat, and loss of skin elasticity. In severe cases, it can even lead to convulsions, altered consciousness, and coma. Furthermore, excessive water intake can cause edema in internal organs. Because water flows downhill, excess water tends to accumulate in the waist and lower limbs, causing swelling in these areas.
Among all types of drinking water, boiled water is undoubtedly the best choice.
Mineral water: Not necessarily well absorbed
Mineral water and mineral spring water are very different. Mineral water is simply purified water with mineral concentrate added in a certain proportion. The artificially added minerals in the water may not be well absorbed by the human body.
Functional water: should not be considered "medicinal water".
Electrolyzed water, magnetized water, spectrum water, and energy water—these mysterious types of water are functional waters, belonging to the category of artificial biomimetic products. They utilize biomimetic principles and high-tech methods to treat water. While the physical techniques differ, their effects are largely similar, such as relieving high blood pressure and constipation. However, a small number of people may experience allergic reactions.
Mineral water: Not suitable for everyone
Truly high-quality mineral water is rich in various trace elements and minerals needed by the human body. These elements are relatively stable in content and easily absorbed and utilized by the body, without any artificially added minerals. According to national standards, 54 water quality indicators must be tested for the development of mineral water sources, nine of which are threshold indicators; one or more of these must meet the requirements. However, the types and amounts of minerals contained in mineral water produced by different companies vary, as does the hardness, but most are alkaline. Even hygienic and qualified natural mineral water is not suitable for everyone, because the types and amounts of trace elements required by each person are different.
Purified water: Not suitable for long-term consumption
At one time, purified water was very popular, but in recent years, its popularity has decreased, and experts have warned that it is not suitable for long-term consumption.
According to relevant data, most purified water sold on the market lacks minerals. Li Fuxing stated that 10%-30% of the minerals a person needs daily come from water. A lack of minerals can easily lead to osteoporosis. Furthermore, purified water is slightly acidic; therefore, people with acidic constitutions should not drink it long-term. He cautioned that purified water can be consumed occasionally but is not suitable for long-term daily drinking, especially for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those working in high-temperature environments.
