Everybody knows that drinking water is important for good health. However, though all Americans have access to clean drinking water, most people prefer to guzzle beverages like coffee, tea, juices and sodas. What is worrying is the fact that we continue to ignore health care experts’ warnings about how calorie-loaded beverages can affect our wellbeing.
A Harvard Health article reports on recent research from the University of Illinois that provides even more evidence as to why drinking plain water is important. According to the study published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, drinking water can help in weight loss. It was based on data relating to the eating (and drinking) habits of 18,311 adults recorded in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2005-2012. The participants were asked about their intake of plain water, other beverages and energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Here are the interesting findings of the research:
- Those who drank more plain water every day consumed fewer total calories. They drank only fewer sweetened beverages, and had less total fat, saturated fat, sugar, salt, and cholesterol.
- Those who increased plain water consumption by one to three cups a day were able to decrease calorie intake by 68 to 205 calories a day.
These observations led the researchers to conclude that drinking more plain water will considerably reduce calorie intake over time, leading to weight loss. These findings support the evidence provided by earlier studies that drinking water before meals and substituting water for sweetened beverages can reduce calorie intake and support weight control goals.
Other benefits of drinking more plain water every day include:
- Increases energy level
- Removes toxins through metabolic processes and improves performance of body organs
- Enhances skin texture
- Improves digestive function and brain function
So if you are looking to lose weight and improve your health, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t ignore plain water.
